Do We Have to Wait?

BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.  Romans 8:23  NASB

For our adoption – Once again Paul seems a bit confused.  Or maybe it’s just that old nemesis, Hellenism.  Does he really say that we are eagerly waiting to be sons of God?  I thought that occurred at salvation.  John doesn’t seem to think we need to wait (John 1:12).  Does Paul?  Does he really think that we need a bodily redemption?  I thought we put that Platonic dualism behind us.  Isn’t the Hebraic idea that we are embodied persons?  Why does Paul seem to separate body and soul?

Let’s start with the verb.

In the NT Paul has apekdéchomai for expectation of the end (Rom. 8:25). This expectation is focused on the transformation when the adoption enjoyed by faith will be manifested with the resurrection (8:14, 23) and creation will reach the goal for which it, too, is waiting (8:19). This consummation will come with Christ’s return, so that Christ himself is the content of expectation (Phil. 3:20). He is so as the hope of righteousness (Gal. 5:5). On the basis of the gospel that is already received (cf. déchomai), apekdéchomai thus characterizes Christian life as one of expectation of the great climax which gives not only this life but also the whole of creation its meaning[1]

Do you think Grundmann is right?  Is this Paul’s apocalyptic expectation?  If I could, I would ask him a few questions:

  1. What do you mean by “manifested in the resurrection”?  Is this the final resurrection of everyone before the Day of Judgment?  Are we waiting for that Day in order to become sons of God (notice that John 1:12 says we have been granted the “right,” not that we are)?
  2. Is the goal of creation really so anthropocentric?  Is it really all about us?
  3. When you say that this is about Christ’s return, do you think that Paul expected a 2000-year (or more) delay?  Does this mean that no one is really confirmed as a son of God until the Parousia, whenever that comes about?
  4. Since Paul wasn’t addressing Christians, any enlistment of this passage to support a “Christian” life is anachronistic.  What would it mean to Jews and Gentiles, not Christians?

I notice that Grundmann goes on to say, “In Rom. 9:26 (quoting Hos. 2:1) Paul finds the divine sonship of the eschaton fulfilled in the community.”[2]  Does this mean that “divine sonship” for Yeshua is also delayed until the return?  After all, we aren’t divine, even if we might (eventually) be called sons.  Is Grundmann suggesting that “Jesus” only becomes divine when the apocalyptic event occurs?

That’s enough about apekdéchomai.  Now we look at the other critical word, huiothesía.  It has some very strange implications.  First, “the LXX does not use the term, but Philo has it for the relation of the wise to God.”[3]  This means there really is no Hebrew equivalent.  Paul is using an entirely Greek word.  Why?

“In the NT only Paul uses the term. His aim is to show that the sonship of believers is not a natural one but is conferred by divine act. The term might refer either to the act or to the result.”[4]  Schweizer continues, “In Rom. 8:23 the adoption is future; this teaches us that we always need God, but also that his purpose does not change.”[5]

I understand the first part of this claim.  Yes, it certainly appears that Paul sets the real adoption in the future.  We wait.  When the resurrection occurs (if Fredriksen is correct, this is the resurrection, i.e., the general resurrection of everyone), our true status will be recognized and confirmed.  But there’s a problem.  Paul expected this event to occur in his lifetime.  Obviously, it didn’t.  So, theology has to rescue Paul from a mistake.  Schweizer does this by turning the passage into a homily.  It’s really not about Paul’s expectation.  It’s a lesson in spiritual dependence.  Do you think that explains the urgency and intimacy of Paul’s writing here?  It seems a little bland to me.

What did we learn?  Ah, that’s the wrong question today.  The right question is this:  How is it that you’ve read this verse probably dozens of times and you never thought to ask these questions?

Topical Index: adoption, wait, apekdéchomai, huiothesía, Romans 8:23

 

[1] W. Grundmann, The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged), p. 147.

[2] Ibid.

[3] E. Schweizer, The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged), p. 1215.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

NOTE:  Rosanne added a new recipe, perfect for the weekend.  Check it out at Rosanne’s Kitchen on the home page of skipmoen.com