English Standard Version
Romans 8:16
16The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
- New Living Translation (NLT)For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
Context of Romans 8:16
14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Read all of Romans 8Romans 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 the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
- 2 Corinthians 1:22and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
- 2 Corinthians 5:5He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
- Ephesians 1:13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
- Ephesians 4:30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
- 1 John 4:13By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
- 2 Corinthians 1:12For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.
- 1 John 3:19By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;
- 1 John 5:10Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning 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
In the dictionaries
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
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Commentaries