Romans 8:29

Foreknew (proegnw). Second aorist active indicative of proginwskw, old verb as in Acts 26:5 . See Psalms 1:6 (LXX) and Matthew 7:23 . This fore-knowledge and choice is placed in eternity in Ephesians 1:4 . He foreordained (prowrisen). First aorist active indicative of proorizw, late verb to appoint beforehand as in Acts 4:28 ; 1 Corinthians 2:7 . Another compound with pro- (for eternity). Conformed to the image (summorpou th eikono). Late adjective from sun and morph and so an inward and not merely superficial conformity. Eikwn is used of Christ as the very image of the Father ( 2 Corinthians 4:4 ; Colossians 1:15 ). See Philippians 2:6 for morph. Here we have both morph and eikwn to express the gradual change in us till we acquire the likeness of Christ the Son of God so that we ourselves shall ultimately have the family likeness of sons of God. Glorious destiny. That he might be (ei to einai auton). Common idiom for purpose. First born among many brethren (prwtotokon en polloi adelpoi). Christ is "first born" of all creation ( Colossians 1:15 ), but here he is "first born from the dead" ( Colossians 1:18 ), the Eldest Brother in this family of God's sons, though "Son" in a sense not true of us.