The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Parallel translations
- WEB The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;
- KJV The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
- NKJV The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
- NASB The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
- NLT For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Spirit Himself confirms to our spirit that we are God's children. God gives believers inward assurance of their adoption.
Overview
Paul describes the Spirit's witness, a deep inner confirmation of our standing as children of God. This testimony works alongside our own spirit, giving believers assurance grounded in God Himself. Such assurance is a gracious provision strengthening confidence in our relationship with the Father.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 1 Jn 4:13By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.
- 2 Cor 1:22placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come.
- 2 Cor 5:5And God has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come.
- Eph 1:13And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
- Rom 8:26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.
- 1 Jn 3:19–22And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence:
- Eph 4:30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
- 2 Cor 1:12And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
- Rom 8:23Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
- 1 Jn 5:10Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 8:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.