Romans 8:20

“For the creature was made subject to vanity, etc..] This designs the vanity and emptiness of the minds of the Gentiles, who were without God and Christ, and the Holy Spirit, without the law and Gospel, and grace of God; also the vain conceits they had of themselves, of their wisdom, knowledge, learning, and eloquence; likewise their vain philosophy, particularly their gross idolatry, their polytheism, or worshipping of many gods; together with their divers lusts and vices, to which they were addicted, to such a degree, that they might be truly said to be made subject thereunto, being under the government of these things, slaves unto them, and in such subjection, as that they could not…”

“For the creature--"the creation." was made subject to vanity, not willingly--that is, through no natural principle of decay. The apostle, personifying creation, represents it as only submitting to the vanity with which it was smitten, on man's account, in obedience to that superior power which had mysteriously linked its destinies with man's. And so he adds but by reason of him who hath subjected the same--"who subjected it." in hope--or "in hope that."”

“For the creature - The renewed creature; the Christian mind. This is given as a reason for its aspiring to the full privileges of adoption, that the present state is not one of choice, or one which is preferred, but one to which it has been subjected for wise reasons by God. Subject to vanity - The word “subject to” means placed in such a state; subjected to it by the appointment of another, as a soldier has his rank and place assigned him in an army. The word “vanity” here ματαιότης mataiotēs is descriptive of the present condition of the Christian, as frail and dying; as exposed to trials, temptations, and cares; as in the midst of conflicts, and of a world which may be emphatically…”

“The creation was made subject to vanity - Abuse, misery, and corruption. By him who subjected it - Namely, God, Gen 3:17, Gen 5:29. Adam only made it liable to the sentence which God pronounced; yet not without hope. Romans 8:21”

“the creature: Rom 8:22; Gen 3:17-19, Gen 5:29, Gen 6:13; Job 12:6-10; Isa 24:5, Isa 24:6; Jer 12:4, Jer 12:11; Jer 14:5, Jer 14:6; Hos 4:3; Joe 1:18 Romans 8:21”