Whose Apocalypse? The Identity of the Sons of God in Romans 8:19

Abstract

(ProQuest Information and Learning: Foreign text omitted.) ... For I am not ashamed of gospel; it is power of salvation to all who believe-to Jew first and also to Greek. For it righteousness of is being apocalypsed from faith to faith, just as it is written, the one who is righteous faith will (Rom 1:16-17) For anxious longing of waits eagerly of of God. (Rom 8:19) these of God Rom 8:19, and how does their awaited relate to present of righteousness of Rom 1:17? The question at first seems odd. Surely we already know who these sons are: they those who now have of Christ, who Spirit of God, and who know through that same Spirit of that they children and heirs of (Rom 8:9, 14-18). If this is case, then their future will be public revelation of their now-hidden status as God's children, when through bodily resurrection they share divine glory.1 This is most common reading of Paul's statement Rom 8:19. The present article will propose a different interpretation, reading 8:19 light of letter's thematic proclamation of gospel as saving power of for Jew first, and also Greek, and thus as ... of God's righteousness (Rom 1:16-17).2 Such a reading illuminates ways Rom 8:19 contributes to structure and argument of Romans as a unified whole. It also attends to scope of eschatological vision that Paul limns Rom 8. If 8:19 refers only to those already in Christ, then chapter holds forth hope of bodily resurrection individual Christians suffering under weight of present suffering and mortality, and hope of deliverance from bondage of decay natural order (8:10-11, 21). Oddly, resulting picture of eschatological redemption leaves out rest of humanity, not least Jews mentioned 1:16. How can such a picture accord with breadth of apostle's vision, both Rom 1:16-17 and 11:32? I propose that apocalypse of of God enacts, completes, and vindicates God's rectifying activity gospel of Jesus Christ. This anticipated picks up theme of epistle from Rom 1:16-17 and drives argument forward into chs. 9-15 raising question, Who these of whose eagerly longs? This is question that will drive our discussion forward as well, as we explore: (1) of God? and (2) What or who is creation? What might identity of of God Rom 8:19 tell us about relationship between Rom 1-8 and 9-15? How inclusive is hope of redemption that Paul proclaims here? What might identities of both of God and creation tell us of Paul's understanding of church relationship to Israel, time between apocalypses? I. Are Sons of God? In immediate context of Rom 8, of God qualified Spirit a dialectical movement between present experience and future promise. Paul first identifies of God as those who are being led Spirit of God Rom 8:14. What then marks of Spirit's leadership? First, Spirit enables a paradoxical death, which brings with it promise of life, so that, v. 13, as one is led Spirit one puts to death deeds of body by Spirit, with attendant paradoxical promise that so doing one will live. Second, v. 15 expands role of Spirit as of adoption, who establishes believers as children or of (here, apparently, Paul uses terms interchangeably), inspiring cry of Abba, Father! This cry expresses present experience of adoption ... which is present work of Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we children of God (8:16). …