Romans 8 21

Romans 8:21 kjv

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Romans 8:21 nkjv

because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Romans 8:21 niv

that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

Romans 8:21 esv

that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Romans 8:21 nlt

the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay.

Romans 8 verses

Romans 8 21 Meaning

Romans 8:21 profoundly declares that the entire created order, presently subjected to decay and futility due to sin, eagerly anticipates and will definitively be liberated from this inherent "bondage of corruption." This future release is inextricably linked to the unveiling and full realization of the glorious freedom and divine sonship experienced by God's redeemed children. Creation will thus participate in, and be characterized by, the magnificent liberty infused with divine glory, a liberation from sin's pervasive effects that currently afflicts all existence.

Romans 8 21 Context

Romans chapter 8 is a profound exposition of life in the Spirit, a "holy of holies" within Paul's theological framework. Beginning with the declaration "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (v.1), the chapter develops themes of liberation from the law of sin and death, the indwelling Spirit, and the believer's adoption as God's child and co-heir with Christ (v.12-17). Verse 21 appears within a section (v.18-30) that balances the reality of present suffering with the certainty of future glory. The immediate preceding verses (Rom 8:19-20) set the stage by stating that "creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God" because it was "subjected to futility, not willingly but because of him who subjected it, in hope." Thus, verse 21 explicitly states what this longed-for liberation entails: creation's deliverance into a glorious state. This perspective acknowledges that the sin of humanity (Gen 3) had cosmic consequences, bringing a curse upon the natural world, and therefore, God's plan for redemption is equally cosmic in scope. Historically and culturally, while the concept of a renewed world resonated with Jewish prophetic hopes, Paul's specific linkage to the "glorious liberty of the children of God" offered a distinct Christian theological grounding for this cosmic renewal, challenging purely materialistic or fatalistic worldviews.

Romans 8 21 Word analysis

• that (ὅτι - hoti): A conjunction introducing the content or purpose of the previous statements in Rom 8:19-20. It connects creation's eager anticipation to the definitive promise of its future liberation.
• the creation (ἡ κτίσις - hē ktisis): Refers to the entire created cosmos apart from humanity. The immediate context of Rom 8:19-22 specifies it as distinct from "we ourselves" (v.23). It encompasses the non-human physical universe—the natural world, animals, plants, and even broader cosmic elements—underscoring the comprehensive reach of God's redemptive plan.
• itself (αὐτή - autē): An emphatic pronoun. It strongly emphasizes that creation distinctively and personally will experience this deliverance, not merely as a passive background or an indirect consequence of human redemption. It affirms creation's inherent value and direct role in God's redemptive work.
• also (καί - kai): Conveys the sense of "even" or "too." This strengthens the emphasis, signifying that not only humans but even the creation itself will be delivered, further highlighting the vastness and completeness of God's plan.
• will be delivered (ἐλευθερωθήσεται - eleutherōthēsetai): The future passive indicative of ἐλευθερόω (eleutheroō), meaning "to set free, liberate." The future tense expresses the absolute certainty of this event. The passive voice indicates that this liberation is an action performed on creation by a divine agent (God), not an inherent or autonomous process. This divine action brings genuine, external freedom.
• from the bondage (ἀπὸ τῆς δουλείας - apo tēs douleias): "From the slavery/servitude." δουλεία (douleia) signifies a state of being enslaved, lacking autonomy, subject to an external master or controlling power. This illustrates creation's current inability to fully manifest God's original design, operating under compulsion.
• of corruption (τῆς φθορᾶς - tēs phthoras): φθορά (phthora) encompasses decay, perishableness, destruction, moral corruption, and futility. Here, it refers to the pervasive effects of the Fall on the natural world – the cycles of death, entropy, disorder, deterioration, and dissolution that mar creation's intended perfection and flourishing. This is the specific oppressive "bondage" from which creation yearns for deliverance.
• into the glorious liberty (εἰς τὴν ἐλευθερίαν τῆς δόξης - eis tēn eleutherian tēs doxēs): "Into the liberty of glory." ἐλευθερία (eleutheria) denotes genuine freedom, deliverance from servitude or restraint. The genitive "of glory" (τῆς δόξης - tēs doxēs) acts as a genitive of quality, indicating a freedom that is characterized by divine splendor, radiant honor, and majesty. It's the opposite of corruption and describes creation's ultimate destination – a state infused with divine magnificence.
• of the children of God (τῶν τέκνων τοῦ Θεοῦ - tōn teknōn tou Theou): "Of God's children." τέκνον (teknon) emphasizes a loving, parental relationship. The "glorious liberty" that creation will receive is of the same kind as the glorious liberty God's children will fully experience (Rom 8:23) or signifies that creation's liberation occurs in the context of and is attendant upon the full adoption and glorification of God's people. Their destinies are intimately intertwined. When believers enter their full, glorified state, creation will participate in and reflect that redeemed reality.

Words-group Analysis

• "the creation itself also will be delivered": This phrase powerfully underscores the universal and direct redemption of the natural world. It asserts that God's salvation plan extends beyond individual humanity to encompass the entire cosmos, actively delivering it.
• "from the bondage of corruption": This concisely identifies the current, fallen condition of creation. It's not just a state of imperfection but one of active slavery to decay, emphasizing the profound, pervasive consequences of human sin (the Genesis 3 curse) on the physical realm.
• "into the glorious liberty of the children of God": This highlights both the ultimate destination and the quality of creation's redemption. It implies that creation will not merely be free from corruption but will be freed into a state characterized by God's inherent glory. This renewed state is directly linked to the full, perfected state of God's people, suggesting that creation shares in the glorified environment of redeemed humanity.

Romans 8 21 Bonus section

This verse provides a profound theological foundation for Christian environmental ethics. By declaring that creation itself groans and awaits deliverance, it imparts a sacred value to the non-human world, discouraging its exploitation or disregard. It portrays creation as not merely a backdrop for human history, but an active participant in God's redemptive story. The intertwined destiny of creation and "the children of God" suggests that the palingenesia (renewal, regeneration, Matt 19:28) encompasses both human beings and their cosmic environment, leading to a restored universe that is truly "new heavens and a new earth." This grand eschatological vision offers a unique cosmic optimism, contrasting sharply with any nihilistic or purely materialistic worldview, by asserting that God's ultimate plan is for a full, material, and spiritual reconciliation of all things.

Romans 8 21 Commentary

Romans 8:21 stands as a powerful testament to the cosmic scope of God's redemptive plan, revealing a future that transcends individual human salvation to encompass the entire physical universe. Creation, presently afflicted by a pervasive "bondage of corruption"—a state of decay, futility, and dissolution resulting from humanity's fall—is not destined for mere obliteration, but for a magnificent and radical transformation. This verse posits that the liberation of the natural world is inextricably tied to the full manifestation and glorification of God's children. Just as human beings await the full redemption of their bodies (Rom 8:23), the cosmos eagerly awaits its own deliverance, entering into a "glorious liberty" that reflects divine splendor and is free from the blight of sin. This divine act of setting creation free confirms its inherent goodness and ultimate purpose in God's design, painting a picture of universal renewal where physical existence will resonate with the unblemished glory of God and reflect the perfected freedom of His people.