Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Romans 8:21

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"That the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption." Now what is this creation? Not thyself alone, but that also which is thy inferior, and partaketh not of reason or sense, this too shall be a sharer in thy blessings. …

Homily on Romans 14 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

So then, creation itself also "shall be delivered"; not you alone, but also that which is far inferior to you, having neither soul nor sense — even this, I say, shall share with you in the good things and shall no longer be corruptible, but shall become corresponding to you. When your body became corruptible, creation also became corruptible. Likewise, when your body shall become incorruptible, creation too shall become incorruptible. …

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

Paul shows that the grace of the soul is no small thing, for by its strength and power the human race rises to the adoption of sons of God, having in itself that which was given to it in the image and likeness of God.

Letter 51 ↗

Jerome

The sun therefore and the moon and the stars are for our sake, they serve us. The apostle too says that the very creation groans together and is in travail for the deliverance of the sons of God. But when the sons of God shall have been taken up, then the creation itself also is set free from this servitude.

Homily 58, on Psalm 148 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then he indicates the end of this waiting, when he says, "because the creature also." For its waiting or hope is not in vain, because the creature also itself will be delivered from the servitude of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the sons of God. If by creature is meant the just man, "from the servitude of corruption" means his care in seeking food and clothing and the other things which serve our mortal life. …

Commentary on Romans ↗