Divine Reward and the Groaning of Creation

Having worked according to what is beneficial and fitting for each of the two peoples according to the value of both. He showed through this that the soul also is called spirit when it is spiritual, and the gift of the Spirit is spirit. This is therefore what he says elsewhere: for what we ought to pray we do not know, but the Spirit itself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings (Rom 8:26). And this indeed requires interpretation; and there is such a gift of prayer, which is upon the apostles.

Since many times we also ask for things not beneficial, therefore someone standing upon the apostles, the one having the gift of prayer upon the people, asked God for the beneficial things, using inexpressible groanings, in order that he might draw all toward reverence and fear. And this is what he says elsewhere: each of you has a psalm, has a prayer. So surely both to sing was a gift and to pray was a gift. And it testifies with our spirit, because the one having the gift prayed in the Spirit on behalf of the whole people, while praying, said, 'Our Father in the heavens' (Matt 6:9). Therefore, he says, the Spirit of prayer testifies with our spirit which we have through baptism, that we are children of God; for the Spirit cries out this: it is the gift of prayer, 'Abba the Father.'

If we suffer, he says, so that we may also be glorified with him (Rom 8:17-18). To suffer does not mean to be physically joined or to be mixed with the one who has suffered, according to the logic of habit; for Christ did not suffer anything against his will, nor did he grow weak, desiring to defend those who grieved. What then is to suffer with Christ? To choose the same sufferings, to endure what Christ endured, who, representing the truth, was suffering under the Jews. If we endure being persecuted in the same manner, not being dishonored or being distressed, if we are ready for death for the sake of piety, sympathizing with him, we shall be glorified in becoming children of God and co-heirs of Christ. And since he said the...

That suffering for Christ becomes a cause for us to be glorified with him, and it seemed that such toil was a wage and not a gift of grace, even though the greatest gift is the amnesty granted to those who have overcome sins. Correcting this, he brought forward that the fruit of the citizenship from God is not measured to us according to an analogy of toils, but is manifold and far exceeds the value of those who have labored; for God, being both good and just, preserves the just regarding those who sin, giving to the sinner only what the hypothesis of the sins requires, but the good is shown regarding those who are upright, not only giving to them according to their merit, but also exceeding the analogy of their lives with gifts.

He says that we shall be in such a state of God's good gifts, so that the hope and expectation of creation awaits the revelation of the sons of God (Rom 8:19), as if their hidden blessedness were to be revealed a little later. The written things give an intention to the many, as if the seen creation is animated and the world has some kind of rational perception. For if it groans and sighs and awaits the revelation, it is clear, he says, that it also perceives and is moved by thought. But it is not so; rather, he speaks of a creation now, not of soulless matter, but of the standing powers that God has established to pervade the creation according to the will of the Creator, according to what is written: when the Most High divided the nations, as he scattered the sons of Adam, he set the boundaries of nations according to the number of the angels of God (Deut 32:8). Thus also, regarding the blessing of cold and heat and again hail and snow and the like, it should be understood as being through the powers standing over these; for one is not exhorted to praise God through unfeeling matter. Just as 'let all the earth worship you and sing to you' (Ps 67:5) and 'as the Lord has reigned, let the earth rejoice' (Ps 96:11), the people on the earth...