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the inheritance, and those who not only were made meet, but who will, additionally,
receive a reward of the inheritance.
The structure of the section before us is as follows:--
Romans 8: 17-21.
Suffering and Glory.
A | 17. SUFFERING AND GLORY.
a | Joint-heirs (sun).
b | Suffer together (sun).
a | Glorified together (sun).
B | 18. REVELATION OF GLORY.
c | Reckoning.
d | Present Suffering.
c | Comparing.
d | Future glory (apokalupto).
B | 19. REVELATION OF SONS.
c | Expectation.
d | Of creature.
c | Revelation (apokalupsis).
d | Of sons.
A | 20, 21. LIBERTY AND GLORY.
a | Subjection of the creature.
b | In hope.
a | Emancipation of the creature (eleutheria).
b | From bondage.
a | Liberty of children (eleutheros).
We have stated our belief as to the meaning of the apostle when he used the two words
"heirs" and "heirs together"; but in order that none shall feel that we have spoken
without investigation, we refer to the other passages where sugkleronomos occurs. The
next reference in order to Rom. 8: is that found in Eph. 3: 6, "That the Gentiles
should be fellow-heirs".
We can imagine the criticism, This reference nullifies the idea expressed above on
Rom. 8: 17. To this we would reply, The truth revealed in Eph. 3: 6 was unknown at
the time the apostle wrote to the Romans; that it reveals the constitution of the mystery,
making known the glorious equality that exists between all members of the One Body,
whereas Rom. 8: 17 is a revelation concerning "fellow-heirs" of Christ in connection
with suffering. No such qualification is to be found in Eph. 3: The next reference,
Heb. 11: 9, 10, is more in line with Rom. 8: 17:--
"By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in
tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked for a
city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."
"The land of promise" was Abraham's by gift. No suffering could win it or make it
more secure. The promise of the land made by God, and recorded in Genesis, is