Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Romans 8:20

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

To vanity, that is to corruption, the creation "was subjected," that is, it became corruptible through you, O man. Since you received a body that is mortal and subject to suffering, the earth also brought forth thorns and thistles, and the heaven, having grown old, has need of change. But in what way did creation become corruptible through another? Because it was created entirely for man. …

Commentary on Romans ↗

Cosmas Indicopleustes

And that the heavenly bodies are moved by the invisible Powers, divine scripture intimates this also, when it says: For the creation was made subject to vanity not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it in hope that the creation itself shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God; meaning by this, that at the final consummation, the angels shall be delivered from this bondage, and from the ministrations which they render on account of men, for men, having then …

The Christian Topography, Book 9 ↗

Western Saints

Ambrose of Milan

But the creature itself also shall be delivered from the servitude of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the children of God, when the grace of divine recompense shall shine forth.

The Six Days of Creation (Book 1) ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then he explains this waiting, at "for the creature." First, the need to wait; second, its end, at "because the creature"; third, the sign of waiting, at "for we know that every creature." Now the need to wait is due to a defect to which the creature is subject. For a thing subject to no defect has no need to wait for something. …

Commentary on Romans ↗