IF SO BE WE SUFFER

[Doug]

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

I do not see this verse saying, as some do, that we are heirs; but to be joint-heirs, we must suffer with Christ.

I see this verse saying, that if so be, can be understood as saying, seeing, though, if indeed, or if it is so. Then the verse can be understood as; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together; or, if it is so that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

The emphasis in this verse is our glorification. we are heirs and joint-heirs, and will be glorified together with Christ.

We are to view suffering in light of our future glorification. Our response to suffering is to contrast our present sufferings to future glory, and acknowledge that our glorification far outweighs our sufferings. Romans 8:18

We are to comprehend that no suffering can seperate us from the love of God, in Christ. Romans 8:39

 

[Arsenios]

8:17
And if children, then heirs;
heirs of God *,
and joint-heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with (5719) him,
that we may be also glorified together (5686) .

ei de tekna kai klhronomoi
But if children also heirs

klhronomoi men yeou sugklhronomoi
Heirs on the one hand of God

sugklhronomoi de Xristou
yet co-heirs of Christ

eiper sumpasxomen
if indeed we are co-suffering

ina kai sundoxasywmen
in order that we also should be co-Glorified.

The last line is a hINA clause - IN ORDER THAT - It states the condition of our co-Glorification, which means that without it, there is NO co-Glorification...
And THAT condition is that ONLY IF we ARE co-suffering with Christ will we then be co-Glorified with Him... It is not even enough to be suffering, but we must be CO-suffering for the sake of His Glory...
It is somewhat built into this clause that co-suffering with Christ IS to be Glorified with Christ because such suffering Glorifies Christ Who Himself suffered on the Cross...


Arsenios