Concerning Adoption in the New Testament

Christopher Orick
Christopher Orick Unconfirmed, Member Posts: 2 ✭
in English Forum

So, I am wondering if I am missing something.

  1. It is my understanding that in Biblical Rome, the standard custom of adoption was to adopt a person who was full grown and had already proven their value to the adopting family. (This is for Historical context).
  2. I understand Romans 8:15 to mean that I have received the "Spirit of Adoption" (which is the Holy Spirit) at the new birth (in the same split millisecond as justification) and that I cry "Abba, Father" by the Holy Spirit. I can present more reasons for this but will not here.
  3. Romans 8:23 says that we (as Christians) are "waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body"; therefore, the adoption has not yet occurred according to this verse and, in context, is what all of creation "the creature" is waiting for. Romans 9:4 (still in the same context) states that this adoption pertains to the Israelites (The Abrahamic Covenant which I understand us to have been grafted into).
  4. Gal. 4:5 tells us that the child and servant are waiting for the "adoption of sons". Further, we are told that Christ came "that we might receive …" (subjunctive in the Greek so I understand it to mean in order to make us able to receive and not referring to the actual receipt of) which still leaves the child and the servant waiting for the adoption.
  5. Gal. 4:6 says "And because ye are sons", which I believe is the best argument in the English for past adoption; however, the Greek word for "And" is G1161 ("de") which is "a particle adversative, distinctive, disjuctive". Therefore, I understand the "And" to mean that while the Gal. 4:5 statement and the Gal. 4:6 statement are true, they are not related and do not build on each other.
  6. Eph. 1:5 states "Having predestinated us unto the adoption …". As this list is to encourage the Christian to praise the Load, and the verb tense is present perfect; I understand this statement to refer to our current state as Christians and (according to Thayer's) G1519 in this instance refers to the universal end for which we were predestinated. Therefore, I understand this to mean that the universal end for which I am being sanctified (to which I understand predestination to refer) is the adoption (which leaves adoption in the future, as my sanctification is not yet complete).

And so, I have gone through every instance of the word "adoption" in the New Testament and studied the Historical context and I fail to see sufficient support for adoption at the moment of Justification / New Birth (the closest is Gal 4:6 which I currently reject because the Greek word is G1161 ("de") and not G2532 ("kai") and yet it is preached as fact regularly. Am I missing something?!?!?! I would really like to know.

Please note, I am using KJV on blueletterbible.org for my study and using Thayer's definitions. When the reference is in the Thayer's Scripture index, I use that definition

Comments

  • Bill Anderson
    Bill Anderson Member Posts: 510 ✭✭

    Welcome to the Logos forums.

    I would love to engage in a theological dialogue with you on the subject of adoption as It is very dear to my heart, but it is a rule of participation in the Logos forums that we not engage in theological discussions. The forums are to discuss Logos Bible Software and users come from all spectrums of the Christian faith. So, you may want to consider re-phrasing your question along the lines of, how can I find references on adoption using Logos, which Logos tools will help me find what I am potentially missing in studying adoption, or are their particular resources that are available in Logos on the subject of adoption that I might want to consider purchasing?

    Again, welcome!

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