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The Epistle to the Romans.
#62. The Goal: Conformity to the Image of His Son.
(1) An examination of difficult words (8: 29, 30).
pp. 32 - 37
We now commence the study of another member of the structure of Rom. 8:,
namely, verses 29 and 30. This member corresponds to verses 5-15, as follows:--
B | 5-15. Led by Spirit of Christ. SONS now (huios).
B | 29, 30. Conformed to the image of His SON then (huios).
"For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of
His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He did
predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and
whom He justified, them He also glorified" (Rom. 8: 29, 30).
The analysis of the passage is simple, and is as follows:--
A | PREDESTINATION.--Conformity. Steps leading to.
B | PURPOSE.--Christ. Firstborn among many brethren.
A | PREDESTINATION.--Glory. Steps leading to.
But before we can appreciate its magnificence we shall have to arrive, with some
certainty, at the meaning of several of the words used.
Foreknowledge.--How are we to understand this word? The word proginosko, to
foreknow, occurs five times in the N.T., and the noun, prognosis, twice, making seven
references in all. The passages are as follows:--
"Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have
taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain" (Acts 2: 23).
"My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at
Jerusalem, know all the Jews; which knew me from the beginning" (Acts 26: 4, 5).
"For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate" (Rom. 8: 29).
"God hath not cast away His people which He foreknew" (Rom. 11: 2).
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father" (I Pet. 1: 2).
"Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world" (I Pet. 1: 20).
"Ye, therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before" (II Pet. 3: 17).
It will be observed that the usage subdivides this list into three groups. (1:) God.--It
is used of God in connection with Christ and His sacrifice for sin. (2:) God.--It is
used of God in connection with His people who are called the elect, or the chosen.
(3:) Man.--It is used of man in the sense of knowing beforehand, or of having previous
information. The grouping of these occurrences may be made more evident if set out as
follows:--