Romans 8:16

Romans 8:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
• New International Version (NIV)The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
• New King James Version (NKJV)The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Context of Romans 8:16

14For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies and confirms together with our spirit [assuring us] that we [believers] are children of God. 17And if [we are His] children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory. 18For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us!

Romans 8:16 word by word

αὐτὸ τὸ πνεῦμα συμμαρτυρεῖ τῷ πνεύματι ἡμῶν ὅτι ἐσμὲν τέκνα θεοῦ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The Spiritὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• The Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• itselfαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• beareth witness withσυμμαρτυρέωsummartureō · to testify withG4828
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• we areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the childrenτέκνονteknon · childG5043
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for Romans 8:16

• Romans 8:23And not only this, but we too, who have the first fruits of the Spirit [a joyful indication of the blessings to come], even we groan inwardly, as we wait eagerly for [the sign of] our adoption as sons—the redemption and transformation of our body [at the resurrection].
• 2 Corinthians 1:22it is He who has also put His seal on us [that is, He has appropriated us and certified us as His] and has given us the [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as a pledge [like a security deposit to guarantee the fulfillment of His promise of eternal life].
• 2 Corinthians 5:5Now He who has made us and prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the [Holy] Spirit as a pledge [a guarantee, a down payment on the fulfillment of His promise].
• Ephesians 1:13In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God].
• Ephesians 4:30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [but seek to please Him], by whom you were sealed and marked [branded as God’s own] for the day of redemption [the final deliverance from the consequences of sin].
• 1 John 4:13By this we know [with confident assurance] that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given to us His [Holy] Spirit.
• 2 Corinthians 1:12This is our [reason for] proud confidence: our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world [in general], and especially toward you, with pure motives and godly sincerity, not in human wisdom, but in the grace of God [that is, His gracious lovingkindness that leads people to Christ and spiritual maturity].
• 1 John 3:19By this we will know [without any doubt] that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart and quiet our conscience before Him
• 1 John 5:10The one who believes in the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies confidently on Him as Savior] has the testimony within himself [because he can speak authoritatively about Christ from his own personal experience]. The one who does not believe God [in this way] has made Him [out to be] a liar, because he has not believed in the evidence that God has given regarding His Son.

Commentaries on Romans 8:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit - , that same Spirit, the Spirit of adoption; that is, the Spirit who witnesses this adoption; which can be no other than the Holy Ghost himself, and certainly cannot mean any disposition or affection of mind which the adopted person may feel; for such a disposition must arise from a knowledge of this adoption, and the knowledge of this adoption cannot be given by any human or earthly means; it must come…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16The Spirit - The Holy Spirit. That the Holy Spirit here is intended, is evident, (1)Because this is the natural meaning of the expression; (2)Because it is of the Holy Spirit that the apostle is mainly treating here; (3)Because it would be an unnatural and forced construction to say of the temper of adoption that it bore witness. Beareth witness - Testifies, gives evidence. With our spirit - To our minds. This pertains to the adoption; and it means that…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-17Verses 10-17 If the Spirit be in us, Christ is in us. He dwells in the heart by faith. Grace in the soul is its new nature; the soul is alive to God, and has begun its holy happiness which shall endure for ever. The righteousness of Christ imputed, secures the soul, the better part, from death. From hence we see how much it is our duty to walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. If any habitually live according to corrupt lustings, they will…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. The Spirit itself--It should be "Himself" (see on Ro 8:26). beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children--"are children" of God--The testimony of our own spirit is borne in that cry of conscious sonship, "Abba, Father"; but we are not therein alone; for the Holy Ghost within us, yea, even in that very cry which it is His to draw forth, sets His own distinct seal to ours; and thus, "in the mouth of two witnesses" the thing is established…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 8:16

• Adoption
• Assurance
• Heir
• Holy Spirit
• Inheritance
• Regeneration
• Religion
• Righteous

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Children of God
• Adoption
• Allow
• Assurance
• Bondage
• Carnal
• Enmity
• Father

Commentaries on Romans 8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings