In Romans 8:22–23 the unwillingness and obstinacy of man when it comes to death and futility is expressed as groaning. First, from the whole of creation: For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
Just as a woman unwillingly (out of necessity) endures the pains of childbirth with groans, creation experiences this time (until now
) as a time under which it is weighed down. This refers to the personal, social, and political unrighteousness that causes distress not only to people, but also to animals and the environment in general. Through it, life often becomes painful under the prospect of death (Romans 1:18–32). Man complains, protests, and curses about this this reality without ceasing. Creation is not content at all, and he only common agreement to be found is the general feeling that the world ought to be different. The universality of this feeling is expressed in the Greek when Paul twice uses a verb that emphasises the fact that we groan together in the pain of childbirth: sustenazein; sunodinein. This global groaning does not only exclaim human unwillingness, but also at the same time expresses the general and not yet fully fleshed-out expectation of a better world.1
22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.