Thank you, Rex. Those who struggle with real pain and senseless, tragic loss (and it is all usually senseless and tragic) can find great comfort in these words.
Did you notice there’s a lot of “groaning” going on in these few verses? Creation groans, we groan, the Spirit groans--and all of this forms a synergy that is expressed in verse 28.
The old NEB follows the Alexandrian variant in verse 28: “...and in everything, as we know, he co-operates with us for good with those who love God and are called according to his purpose” (the NEB suggests it is the Spirit who groans with us in our prayers who is using our prayers to make the good take place). The RSV, also following the Alexandrian variant translates it as
"We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.”
Recently, this translation made even N. T. Wright turn his head and rethink the traditional translation of Romans 8:28. The word sunergei (to work with) is found in verse 28 and Wright thinks the RSV is on to something. He would say, "We know that God is working all things for the good with and through those who love him—those who are called according to his purpose.”
In other words, rather than throwing out Romans 8:28 to those struggling with pain and suggesting that somehow the tragedy is good or makes things good--Paul *may* be saying, “No. We pray in our intense pain and in our struggles--not even knowing how to pray or what to say--our pain is too raw, but the Spirit reads it, understands the intent of our hearts, and with and through our prayers (not just this but certainly including them) he will work with us to bring “the good”--redemption in all its forms-- to creation; even in the middle of horrible evil and tragedy.
Thank you, Rex. Those who struggle with real pain and senseless, tragic loss (and it is all usually senseless and tragic) can find great comfort in these words.
Did you notice there’s a lot of “groaning” going on in these few verses? Creation groans, we groan, the Spirit groans--and all of this forms a synergy that is expressed in verse 28.
The old NEB follows the Alexandrian variant in verse 28: “...and in everything, as we know, he co-operates with us for good with those who love God and are called according to his purpose” (the NEB suggests it is the Spirit who groans with us in our prayers who is using our prayers to make the good take place). The RSV, also following the Alexandrian variant translates it as
"We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.”
Recently, this translation made even N. T. Wright turn his head and rethink the traditional translation of Romans 8:28. The word sunergei (to work with) is found in verse 28 and Wright thinks the RSV is on to something. He would say, "We know that God is working all things for the good with and through those who love him—those who are called according to his purpose.”
In other words, rather than throwing out Romans 8:28 to those struggling with pain and suggesting that somehow the tragedy is good or makes things good--Paul *may* be saying, “No. We pray in our intense pain and in our struggles--not even knowing how to pray or what to say--our pain is too raw, but the Spirit reads it, understands the intent of our hearts, and with and through our prayers (not just this but certainly including them) he will work with us to bring “the good”--redemption in all its forms-- to creation; even in the middle of horrible evil and tragedy.