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Romans 8:16

in Romans 8

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV

ASV

The Spirit himself beareth witness 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:

This verse in Romans 8

Commentary

3 notes on this verse

on Romans 8:16-17

MY brethren, what a contrast there is between the present and future estate of the child of God! The believer is here the brother to the worm; in heaven he shall be next of kin to the angels. Here he is covered with the sweat and dust which he acquired by Adam’s fall; there his brow shall be bright with the immortality which is conferred upon him by the resurrection of Christ.

This site's exposition

testifies with our spirit

on Romans 8:16-17

The Greek verb summartureo means to bear witness alongside, so two testimonies agree, the believer's own spirit and the Spirit of God. Being children makes them God's heirs and co-heirs with Christ. The heirs are glorified with Him if indeed they suffer with Him.

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

The one expresses the dignity to which we are admitted; the other the new life which we receive. The latter is more suitable here; because a son by adoption might not be heir of the property, whereas a son by birth certainly is, and this is what the apostle is now coming to.

The words behind it

11 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Ephesians 1:13

    And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

    it leads to

    • Ephesians 4:30

      And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

      Reached by 3 separate paths from here.

    • 2 Corinthians 1:22

      placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

  • Through

    Romans 8:26

    In 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.

    it leads to

    • Matthew 10:20

      For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

    • Ephesians 6:18

      Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.

    • Galatians 4:6

      And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

    • John 14:16

      And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—

    • Jude 1:20–21

      But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

  • Through

    2 Corinthians 1:22

    placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come.

    it leads to

    • Ephesians 1:13–14

      And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

Where this verse is studied

About Romans

The Crucifixion, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Crucifixion, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.

This page draws on Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans; Charles Spurgeon, The New Park Street Pulpit, Sermon No. 339: “The Sons of God” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible and John Calvin, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans.