Groaning
Groaning
The verb occurs three times in Romans 8 (vv. 22, 23, 26) and twice in 2 Corinthians 5 (vv. 2, 4), denoting the distress caused apparently not be much by physical suffering and material decay as by the conflict in the present order between matter and spirit. The whole creation is conceived as involved in this painful struggle-it groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now (Rom 8:22).
St. Pauls figure may have been suggested by the Jewish tradition of the birth-pangs of the Messiah: (F. Weber, Altsyn. Theol., Leipzig, 1880, p. 350f.; cf. Mat 24:7-8 : Nation shall rise up against nation, and there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places. These things are the beginning of travail), although the Apostles thought is more psychological. For the sympathy of Nature with mans fall and restoration see Weber, pp. 222f., 380f., 398.
The larger life of the Spirit presses painfully against the limitations of the present material world. Not creations physical sufferings under the bondage of corruption, but her earnest expectation of deliverance from it, creates the sense of almost intolerable strain; the firstfruits of the Spirit for the moment intensify the burden of the flesh; the deepest groanings of the saint arise from his sense of exile, from his longing to be clothed upon with his habitation from heaven (2Co 5:2). The soul in its holiest moods groans in its impotence. Its highest yearnings, though known to the Searcher of hearts, have no language but a painful cry.
The groanings which cannot be uttered with which the Spirit maketh intercession for us (Rom 8:26) seem to be those of the saints spiritual nature. In St. Paul, mans higher faculties take highly personified forms-the indwelling Divine is the Spirit of Christ (cf. Philos Logos, identified with the archangel, etc., or the Logoi, identified with Jewish angels and Greek daimons. See J. Drummond, Philo Judus, 1888, ii. 235f., for a discussion of the suppliant Logos, ). The Spirit of Romans 8 is distinguished from God; the heart of man and the mind of the Spirit seem synonymous, and the unutterable groanings suit better a limited human soul than a heavenly power.
But the stirrings of the Spirit which make the soul conscious of earths broken arcs give the promise of heavens perfect round-of the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward (cf. St. Augustines Confessions, bk. xiii.; also Brownings Abt Vogler).
H. Bulcock.
Fuente: Dictionary of the Apostolic Church
Groaning
GROANING.See Sighing; and Anger, p. 62b.