The Spirit of Adoption

Romans 8:16-17 (KJV)

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

8:1–13 is about “the Spirit of life,” then 8:14–17 are about “the Spirit of adoption.” God has made us his children through the work of his Spirit.

Moo, Douglas J.: The NIV Application Commentary: Romans. Grand Rapids, MI : Zondervan Publishing House, 2000, S. 260

Among the Greeks and Romans, when a man had no son, he was permitted to adopt one even though not related. He might, if he chose, adopt one of his slaves as a son. The adopted son took the name of the father, and was in every respect regarded and treated as a son. Among the Romans there were two parts to the act of adoption: one a private arrangement between the parties, and the other a formal public declaration of the fact.

Freeman, James M. ; Chadwick, Harold J.: Manners & Customs of the Bible. Rev. ed.]. North Brunswick, NJ : Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998, S. 537

William Barclay offers a detailed explanation of Roman practices of adoption and their applications to this text. He identifies several key elements of this procedure: First, the adopted son lost all rights to his previous family and assumed the standing of a fully legitimate child of his new family. In this legal standing, he then became a full heir to the father’s estate (Then we are … heirs of God [8:17]). Finally, all the obligations, debts, legal charges and other aspects of the son’s former life were canceled. The adopted son entered his new family relationship as a new person with his former identity blotted out. One could understand why Paul might use adoption to illustrate the themes of justification as God’s gift!2

2 William Barclay, The Letter to the Romans, (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1957), pp. 109ff.

Bence, Clarence L.: Romans: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. Indianapolis, IN : Wesleyan Publishing House, 1996, S. 145

1 John 3:24 (KJV)

24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

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