The parts of speech outlined by John of Japan are critical to any understanding of scripture. Reading the Greek "underneath" the English, as well. Parts of speech are critical to every translation. It is frustrating that the translators, in many cases, fail to capture the depth of a word, sentence, paragraph, verse............ Hence we must study to show ourselves approved. Read that last sentence again! Think of the enormous implications of "ourselves approved." Whoa!
Here is my Romans 8:20-25 commentary......
20 Meanwhile (read what led up verse 20), humanity is confused. God made it this way (locked us out of the garden) in the calm, confident assurance that eventually (by the Cross) we would be set free from decay, having believed, then share in the glorious freedom, here & now and hereafter, of His born-again children.
We know, of course, that humankind is groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give birth. Take heart! The Holy Spirit has already assured we Believers about our status: Saved! The message is there for the world to read, as well. Every person knows in the heart that God exists. Reason enough to search the scriptures!
In spite of being saved, we groan silently, as we wait for God to show us Part Two, His eternity, when we pass from death unto life, when this mortal puts on the immortal! That is when our bodies will also be set free, just as our spirit already is. It is this calm, confident assurance that sustains us.
Now -- if we already have what we are assured of, there is no need to keep on hoping for it (looking for it, wondering about it, questioning it).
On the other hand, since we long now for Part Two, our home, our mansion in Heaven, which we have not yet seen, we are to wait patiently for it. :applause:
