The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
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:
- BSB The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
- NKJV The Spirit Himself bears witness 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, because he has given us of his Spirit.
- 2 Cor 1:22who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.
- 2 Cor 5:5Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.
- Eph 1:13in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation — in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
- Rom 8:26In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered.
- 1 Jn 3:19–22And by this we know that we are of the truth, and persuade our hearts before him,
- Eph 4:30Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
- 2 Cor 1:12For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
- Rom 8:23Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.
- 1 Jn 5:10He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who doesn’t believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning 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.