Matthew Poole and continuators on Romans 8:19

19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the Sons of God .

This word is four times used in this and the three following verses, only in the 22. verse, tis rendred Creation; that is the subject of which all that followeth is predicated. One main question therefore is this, Of what Creature the Apostle here speaks of? Divers answers are or may be given, I will fix upon two only. 1. By the Creature or the Creation (and v. 22. the whole Creation or every Creature) is meant all mankind, both Iewes and Gentiles, and especially the latter. vid. Mar. 16.15. there Christ gives it in Commission to preach the Gospel to every Creature; 'tis the same word. And in 1 Pet. 2.13. They are commanded to submit themselves to every Ordinance of Man. In the Original it is to every humane Creature, the same word which is in the Text before us; he mean▪ the Gentile or Heathen Magistrates in Authority over them. In the Scripture the Gentiles are sometimes called the World, chap. 11.12, 15. and sometimes the Creature or the Creation. 2. By the Creature is meant the whole World with all the Creatures therein, or the whole Frame and body of the Creation. The Creature in this sence by a Prosopopeia is here spoken of as a rational Person; it is usual with the Spirit of God in Scripture, to fasten upon unreasonable Creatures, such expressions, as are proper only to those that are reasonable. vid. Psal. 96.11, 12. Hab. 2.11. Iames 5.4. So here the Creature (in this sence) is said to expect, wait, &c.

The expectation of the Creature expecteth: An Hebrew Pleonasme: It expecteth with the head lift up or stretched out, Phil. 1.20.

i. e The time when the Sons of God shall be manifested. The Arabick Interpreter puts the Word Glory into the Text, and reads the word thus, the earnest expectation of the Creature waiteth for the manifestation of the Glory of the Sons of God; their Glory for the present is hidden, but it shall be discovered and manifested, 2 Cor. 3.18. The Creature in the sence of the word (as above) waiteth for this, because then it shall be restored to its primitive liberty and lustre, at that time there will be a Restitution of all things. Act. 3.21. But those who understand the Creature in the first sence, do put a quite different interpretation upon this last clause; and that is, that the Gentile world are now earnestly expecting and waiting to see what the Iewes will do, whether they will discover themselves to be the Sons of God, or not, by their receiving or rejecting Christ.

The Apostle Peter speaking of the Epistles of our Apostle in 2 Pet. 3.16. he saith, that there are some things in them hard to be understood, and some think by reflec[illegible: 1 letter] ing upon some particular passages in that Chapter, he doth more especially respect this Context. There is indeed a great deal of obscurity in it.

Marginal references: 1 Joh. 3.2.