God’s Word Translation
Romans 8:16
16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
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
14Certainly, all who are guided by God’s Spirit are God’s children. 15You haven’t received the spirit of slaves that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the spirit of God’s adopted children by which we call out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17If we are his children, we are also God’s heirs. If we share in Christ’s suffering in order to share his glory, we are heirs together with him. 18I consider our present sufferings insignificant compared to the glory that will soon 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 8:23However, not only creation groans. We, who have the Spirit as the first of God’s gifts, also groan inwardly. We groan as we eagerly wait for our adoption, the freeing of our bodies ⌞from sin⌟.
- 2 Corinthians 1:22In addition, he has put his seal ⌞of ownership⌟ on us and has given us the Spirit as his guarantee.
- 2 Corinthians 5:5God has prepared us for this and has given us his Spirit to guarantee it.
- Ephesians 1:13You heard and believed the message of truth, the Good News that he has saved you. In him you were sealed with the Holy Spirit whom he promised.
- Ephesians 4:30Don’t give God’s Holy Spirit any reason to be upset with you. He has put his seal on you for the day you will be set free ⌞from the world of sin⌟.
- 1 John 4:13We know that we live in him and he lives in us because he has given us his Spirit.
- 2 Corinthians 1:12We are proud that our conscience is clear. We are proud of the way that we have lived in this world. We have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity, especially toward you. It was not by human wisdom that we have lived but by God’s kindness.
- 1 John 3:19This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and how we will be reassured in his presence.
- 1 John 5:10Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony of God in them. Those who don’t believe God have made God a liar. They haven’t believed the testimony that God has given about 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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