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NASB | Romans 8:23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 8:23 And not only this, but we too, who have the first fruits of the Spirit [a joyful indication of the blessings to come], even we groan inwardly, as we wait eagerly for [the sign of] our adoption as sons--the redemption and transformation of our body [at the resurrection]. [2 Cor 5:2, 4; Eph 4:30] |
Bible Question: What does it mean by firstfruits of the Spirit? (Rm8:23) |
Bible Answer: Most Bible scholars believes this is an allusion to the day of firstfruits (Deuteronomy 26:2, Exodus 23:19, Numbers 18:13, 28:6). There is not a concensus, however, in that these firstfruits could be any of the following: 1) The apostles most of whom received the gift extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (which was the day of firstfruits) 2) The Jewish converts in general (the promise of the Messiah was to the Jews, and to them He came first) 3) The Roman believers to whom Paul was writing (the Holy Spirit had been sent down to make efficacious the preaching of the Gospel, and these believers were among the first to be so influenced) Some have have suggested that this might be refering to sealing of the Holy Spirit as a pledge. This is because the firstfruits were a pledge of the harvest, indicating that is was ripe. Albert Barnes, however, points out that this word is not used in this sense anywhere else in the New Testament. (It can be found in Romans 8:23, 11:16, 16:5, 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23, 16:15, James 1:18, and Revelation 14:4.) |