Present Suffering And The Glory To Come

Life in the Spirit makes us able to understand and endure suffering.

Paul’s analysis of the present suffering and our future glory: they cannot be compared to each other.

a. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared”: Paul was not ignorant or blind to the sufferings of human existence; he experienced more of them than most any of us today. Yet he still considered that the future glory far outweighed the present sufferings.

b. “The glory which shall be revealed in us": Without a heavenly hope, Paul considered the Christian life foolish and tragic (1 Corinthians 15:19). Yet in light of eternity, it is the wisest and best choice anyone can make.

c. “Revealed in us": This coming glory will not only be revealed to us but it will actually be revealed in us.   

• God has put this glory into the believer right now. In heaven, the glory will simply be revealed. “The glory will be revealed, not created. The implication is that it is already existent, but not apparent.” (Leon Morris)

Based on the Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik