Romans 8:24–25

Context

This passage belongs to chapter 8 of Romans, the letter Paul wrote to the church in Rome, which he had not yet visited. Beginning in verse 18, Paul compares "the sufferings of this present time" with the glory that is to be revealed. The whole creation groans as it waits for restoration (vv. 19–22), and believers, who have received "the firstfruits of the Spirit," also groan as they wait for "the redemption of our body," that is, the time when even the body will be fully saved (v. 23). These verses explain why such waiting is necessary. The verses that follow, from verse 26 onward, speak of the Spirit helping believers in their weakness.

Interpretation

• Eschatological reading: Many commentators hold that this passage speaks of both the "already" and the "not yet" of salvation. Believers have already been saved (the verb in verse 24 is in the past tense), but the consummation of that salvation is not yet visible. The life of the saved therefore takes the form of hope. The passage is often cited in discussions of eschatology.
• Reformed reading: The Reformed tradition understands this hope not as a vague expectation but as a certain waiting grounded in God's decree. It often reads the passage together with the chain of calling, justification, and glorification in verses 28–30 of the same chapter and connects it with the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints.
• Wesleyan reading: The Wesleyan tradition understands salvation as a process that includes sanctification and tends to emphasize "patience" as the active perseverance by which believers walk in faith to the end.

Debates and Issues

The passage is not the subject of major doctrinal controversy among denominations. Several questions, however, have been raised.

• The meaning of "by hope": Renderings such as that of the New Korean Revised Version, "saved by hope," can be read to mean that hope is the means of salvation. English translations also differ: the KJV has "saved by hope," while the ESV has "in this hope we were saved." Many scholars explain that because Paul identifies faith as the means of salvation, it is more natural to take this verse to mean that believers were saved "in hope," that is, as people who possess hope.
• Manuscript variation: In some manuscripts, the verb corresponding to "hope for" at the end of verse 24 is reportedly "wait for" instead. The difference does not significantly affect the meaning.
• The nature of "patience": The original Greek word hypomonē is understood to be closer to steadfast endurance than to passive tolerance.
• Application: The passage is sometimes cited in criticism of movements such as prosperity theology that treat presently visible blessings as evidence of faith.

Related Passages

• Romans 8:18
• Romans 5:2–5
• 2 Corinthians 4:18
• Hebrews 11:1