Romans 8:23 · Bible study
Romans 8:23 Commentary: Firstfruits, Groaning, Bodily Redemption
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Paul explains why believers who have the Spirit's firstfruits still groan, waiting for full adoption and the redemption of their bodies.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The present possession of the Spirit is a foretaste of future glory, yet believers still long for the full redemption that includes the body.
- Key words: firstfruits (ἀπαρχή), groan (στενάζω), adoption (υἱοθεσία), redemption (ἀπολύτρωσις), body (σῶμα).
- Main debate: Whether 'firstfruits of the Spirit' refers to the Holy Spirit himself as the firstfruits (Cambridge, Wesley) or to the gifts/graces of the Spirit (Calvin, Gill).
- Theological theme: Already-not-yet eschatology: the new age has begun but awaits completion.
- Best use: Comfort for suffering believers; hope for bodily resurrection; validation of honest lament in prayer.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.
KJV King James Version 1769
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And not only so , but also we ourselves, having the first-fruit of the Spirit, we also ourselves in ourselves do groan, adoption expecting--the redemption of our body;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And not only [that], but even we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, we also ourselves groan in ourselves, awaiting adoption, [that is] the redemption of our body.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And not only it, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit: even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the sons of God, the redemption of our body.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y no sólo ellas, mas también nosotros mismos, que tenemos las primicias del Espíritu, nosotros también gemimos dentro de nosotros mismos, esperando la adopción, es á saber, la redención de nuestro cuerpo.
E não somente isso , mas também nós, que temos os primeiros frutos do Espírito, gememos em nós mesmos, esperando a adoção , isto é , a redenção do nosso corpo.
Et ce n’ est pas elle seulement; mais nous aussi, qui avons les prémices de l’ Esprit, nous aussi nous soupirons en nous-mêmes, en attendant l’ adoption, la rédemption de notre corps.
Nicht allein aber sie, sondern auch wir selbst, die wir haben des Geistes Erstlinge, sehnen uns auch bei uns selbst nach der Kindschaft und warten auf unsers Leibes Erlösung.
En niet alleen dit, maar ook wij zelven, die de eerstelingen des Geestes hebben, wij ook zelven, zeg ik, zuchten in onszelven, verwachtende de aanneming tot kinderen, namelijk de verlossing onzes lichaams.
non solo essa, ma anche noi, che abbiamo le primizie dello Spirito, anche noi stessi gemiamo in noi medesimi, aspettando l’adozione, la redenzione del nostro corpo.
A nie tylko ono stworzenie, ale i my, którzy mamy pierwiastki Ducha, i my sami w sobie wzdychamy, oczekując przysposobienia synowskiego, odkupienia ciała naszego.
и не только она, но и мы сами, имея начаток Духа, и мы в себе стенаем, ожидая усыновления, искупления тела нашего.
不 但如此，就是 我們 這 有 聖靈 初結果子的，也是 自己 心裡 歎息，等候 得著兒子的名分，乃是我們的 身體 得贖。
And not only so, but we who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we have sorrow in our minds, waiting for the time when we will take our place as sons, that is, the salvation of our bodies.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Romans 8:23
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Romans 8:23 expresses the 'already-not-yet' tension of Christian experience. Believers have the Spirit as a firstfruit (ἀπαρχή), a sample and pledge of the full harvest to come, as Barnes and the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges note. Yet they groan inwardly (στενάζομεν) because the full adoption, the redemption of the body at the resurrection, has not yet arrived. Calvin emphasizes that the Spirit's beginnings in us are only a few drops compared to the coming fullness. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown call this groaning under 'this body of sin and death.' Gill adds that the groaning is not merely for personal deliverance but also for the completion of the church. All affirm that the longing is not for escape from the body but for the body's transformation (Bengel, cited by Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). This verse validates the honest struggle of every believer who knows God's presence yet aches for more.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Believers with the Spirit still experience present suffering and long for final redemption, which includes the resurrection of the body.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of the firstfruits | All agree it is a foretaste and pledge of the full harvest of glory to come. | Some interpret 'firstfruits of the Spirit' as the Spirit himself being the firstfruits (Cambridge, Wesley), while others see it as the gifts or graces produced by the Spirit (Calvin, Gill). |
| Timing of adoption | All agree that believers are already adopted as children of God (Romans 8:15) and that this adoption will be fully realized in the future. | Some emphasize the public manifestation of sonship at the final judgment (Barnes), while others focus on the redemption of the body itself as the moment adoption is completed (Gill, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). |
| Identity of the groan | All see the groan as faithful longing, not complaint or doubt. | Some stress inner conflict with sin (Cambridge), some the longing for the church's full inclusion of the Gentiles (Clarke), and some the burden of present suffering under 'vanity' (Calvin). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul writes to a Roman church familiar with Jewish festival traditions and Roman legal customs. The term 'firstfruits' (ἀπαρχή) evokes the Old Testament practice of offering the first portion of the harvest to God (Exodus 23:19; Leviticus 23:10). The first sheaf was a proof that the full harvest was ripe and coming. Paul uses this image to show that the Spirit given to believers is a foretaste and guarantee of the full redemption to come.
Roman adoption (υἱοθεσία) was a legal act that changed a person's status completely. Adopted sons received all inheritance rights. In Romans 8:15 Paul says believers already 'received the Spirit of adoption,' but here he speaks of waiting for adoption. This is not a contradiction. As Wesley notes, Roman adopted children were sometimes not publicly acknowledged until a future ceremony. The full manifestation of our sonship, when every eye sees it, awaits the resurrection.
The phrase 'redemption of our body' (ἀπολύτρωσις τοῦ σώματος) draws on the imagery of a ransom paid to set slaves free. Paul insists that salvation includes the physical body, not just the soul. In Greek thought the body was often seen as a prison; but Jewish and Christian hope centered on resurrection. Paul earlier cried out 'Who will deliver me from this body of death?' (Romans 7:24). Here he answers: the deliverance will come when God redeems the body itself from decay to glory.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Romans 8:23. The Greek text is well established, with minor differences in punctuation (such as whether a comma precedes 'the redemption of our body'). The reading 'the firstfruits of the Spirit' is universally attested.
Reception History
Romans 8:23 has anchored Christian hope in bodily resurrection throughout church history. Early fathers such as Irenaeus and Tertullian cited it against Gnostic denial of the body's salvation. Augustine used it to teach that even the most advanced saints still live in the tension of the already and not yet. The verse appears in funeral liturgies across Western and Eastern traditions, and has been set to music in hymns like 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel' in its focus on redemption. Reformers like Calvin made it a centerpiece of their pastoral counsel for suffering believers. In the Wesleyan tradition, the 'firstfruits of the Spirit' are linked to the earnest of entire sanctification and the hope of glorification. The verse continues to be a favorite for those facing illness, aging, or persecution, offering a framework to groan honestly without despair.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- What we already have: the firstfruits of the Spirit, a real taste of heaven, the presence of God, and a pledge of more.
- What we still feel: groaning within ourselves, the weight of sin, suffering, and incompleteness that no amount of spiritual experience removes.
- What we are waiting for: adoption fully realized, the redemption of our bodies, when what is true in the spirit becomes visible in the flesh.
Five-point outline
- Not only creation, believers join the cosmic groan (v.22-23a).
- Firstfruits people, we have the Spirit as a sample, not the full harvest.
- Inward groaning, honest acknowledgment that the present does not match the promise.
- Waiting for adoption, the future public declaration that we are God's children.
- Redemption of the body, God cares about our physical existence, not just our souls.
Illustration hooks
- You receive a small sample jar at the farmer's market. It tastes good but you want the whole bushel. The Spirit is that sample; we groan for the feast.
- A couple gets engaged and moves in together, but hasn't yet had the wedding. They are committed, but the public celebration is still ahead. Adoption is already ours; the feast is coming.
- An athlete trains hard and sees small improvements, but still feels the ache of not yet breaking the record. The Spirit's work in us shows progress, but we ache for the finish line.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If I have the Holy Spirit, why does my life still feel so hard?
- Is it okay to groan as a Christian? Doesn't joy mean I should never complain?
- What does it mean that my body will be redeemed? Does that include aging, illness, disability?
Leading a Discussion
This passage helps small groups talk honestly about the gap between what God has promised and what we experience. Paul does not pretend that having the Spirit removes all struggle. Instead, he reframes our groaning as a sign that we are alive to the hope to come.
Discussion questions
- What does Paul mean by 'firstfruits of the Spirit'? How does that image shape your understanding of the Spirit's work in you?
- Why do believers groan if they already have the Spirit? What does this tell you about the normal Christian life?
- How is the groaning of believers (v.23) connected to the groaning of creation (v.22) and the groaning of the Spirit (v.26)?
- Paul says we 'wait for adoption' even though he already called us adopted in v.15. How would you explain this already-but-not-yet to a new Christian?
- What is 'the redemption of our body'? How does this hope affect the way you view sickness, aging, and death?
- In what areas of your life do you most feel the tension between present gift and future hope?
- How does hoping for what we do not see produce patience (v.25)? How can your group help one another wait well?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Luke 20:36 | For they can’t die any more, for they are like the angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. |
| Luke 21:28 | But when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.” |
| Romans 5:5 | and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. |
| Romans 7:24 | What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death? |
| Romans 8:15 | For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” |
| Romans 8:16 | The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; |
| Romans 8:19 | For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. |
| Romans 8:25 | But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights that even believers who already have the Spirit's firstfruits still groan inwardly, waiting for the full adoption that comes with bodily redemption. This groaning places them alongside the rest of creation, sharing its patient hope for deliverance. Neither Jews nor Gentiles have yet received the complete freedom that awaits at the resurrection.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes argues that the firstfruits of the Spirit means Christians were among the first people to receive the Spirit's converting influence, not a foretaste of heaven. He also distinguishes the initial secret act of adoption at conversion from its full public completion at the last day, particularly in the resurrection of the body.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin reads this as a comparison from the lesser to the greater: if even irrational creation longs for future glory, how much more should believers, who have the Spirit, groan with firm hope. He also insists that the "first-fruits" of the Spirit belong to all the faithful, not just apostles, though they receive only a few drops.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator highlights that believers groan not mainly from outward troubles but from inner conflict, because they already have the Spirit as a pledge of what is yet to come. The full adoption as God's children will finally include the redemption of the body, a hope unique to revealed religion.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
And not onely the creature, but we also which haue the first fruites of the Spirit, euen we doe sigh in our selues, waiting for the adoption, euen the redemption of our body.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill identifies the "firstfruits of the Spirit" as the extraordinary gifts given to Jewish believers at Pentecost, alluding to the Feast of Firstfruits. He argues that the groaning and waiting for adoption refers not to Christ's finished redemption but to the future resurrection of the body and the full manifestation of sonship, which the saints eagerly await.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB stresses that believers groan even while possessing the Spirit as a firstfruit of their full redemption. The redemption they wait for is not deliverance from the body but the redemption of the body itself from the grave.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights a striking contrast: in earthly families only the firstborn inherits, but in God's family every believer is an heir. This heirship comes purely by God's act of adoption, not by human merit or purchase. The present life is not yet the inheritance but a time of preparation for it.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley draws a parallel to Roman adoption practices, where a privately adopted child was later publicly acknowledged in the forum. For him, the same principle applies at the resurrection: believers already have the Spirit as a first installment, but their full adoption will be publicly declared when their bodies are redeemed from death.