Romans 8 · Verse 16

Romans 8:16

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Romans 8:16, King James Version

Romans 8:16 in other translations

BSBThe Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
WEBThe Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;
ASVThe Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God:
YLTThe Spirit himself doth testify with our spirit, that we are children of God;
DARBYThe Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are children of God.
BBEThe Spirit is witness with our spirit that we are children of God:
WebsterThe Spirit itself testifieth with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

What does Romans 8:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. 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. The apostle had before called us "sons of God," referring to our adoption; here the word changes to "children," referring to our new birth. 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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. The 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 the Holy Spirit furnishes evidence to our minds that we are adopted into the family of God. This effect is not unfrequently attributed to the Holy Spirit, 2Cor 1:22, 1Jn 5:10,11; 1Cor 2:12. If it be asked how this is done, I answer, It is not by any revelation of new truth; it is not by inspiration; it is not always by assurance; it is not by a mere persuasion that we are elected to eternal life; but it is by producing in us the appropriate effects of his influence. It is his to renew the heart; to sanctify the soul; to produce "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance," Gal 5:22,23. If a man has these, he has evidence of the witnessing of the Spirit with his spirit. If not, he has no such evidence. And the way, therefore, to ascertain whether we have this witnessing of the Spirit, is by an honest and prayerful inquiry whether these fruits of the Spirit actually exist in our minds. If they do, the evidence is clear. If not, all vain confidence.of good estate; all visions, and raptures, and fancied revelations, will be mere delusions. It may be added, that the effect of these fruits of the Spirit on the mind is to produce a calm and heavenly frame; and in that frame, when attended with the appropriate fruits of the Spirit in a holy life, we may rejoice as an evidence of piety.

That we are the children of God. That we are adopted into his family.

(w) "witness with our spirit" 2Cor 1:22, 1Jn 4:13

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit - Αυτο το πνευμα, 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 from God himself: therefore the αυτο το πνευμα must have reference to that Spirit, by whom alone the knowledge of the adoption is witnessed to the soul of the believer. With our spirit - In our understanding, the place or recipient of light and information; and the place or faculty to which such information can properly be brought. This is done that we may have the highest possible evidence of the work which God has wrought. As the window is the proper medium to let the light of the sun into our apartments, so the understanding is the proper medium of conveying the Spirit's influence to the soul. We, therefore, have the utmost evidence of the fact of our adoption which we can possibly have; we have the word and Spirit of God; and the word sealed on our spirit by the Spirit of God. And this is not a momentary influx: if we take care to walk with God, and not grieve the Holy Spirit, we shall have an abiding testimony; and while we continue faithful to our adopting Father, the Spirit that witnesses that adoption will continue to witness it; and hereby we shall know that we are of God by the Spirit which he giveth us.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 8:10-17

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…

Read the full comment on Romans 8:10-17 →

Romans 8:16 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

αὐτὸautoHimselfG846
τὸtotheG3588
πνεῦμαpneumaSpiritG4151
συμμαρτυρεῖsummartureibears witness withG4828
τῷtōtheG3588
πνεύματιpneumatispiritG4151
ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἐσμὲνesmenwe areG1510
τέκναteknachildrenG5043
θεοῦ.theouof God.G2316

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 8:16

  • 1 John 4:13

    Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:22

    Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:5

    Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

  • Ephesians 1:13

    In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

  • Romans 8:26

    Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

  • 1 John 3:19-22

    And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

  • Ephesians 4:30

    And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:12

    For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

  • Romans 8:23

    And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

  • 1 John 5:10

    He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Spirit.
23,26; 2Co 1:22; 5:5; Eph 1:13; 4:30; 1Jo 4:13
with our.
2Co 1:12; 1Jo 3:19-22; 5:10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Romans 8:15

    For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

  • Romans 8:16

    The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

  • Romans 8:17

    And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Read all of Romans 8

Romans 8:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque el mismo Espíritu da testimonio á nuestro espíritu que somos hijos de Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		L’Esprit lui-même rend témoignage avec notre esprit, que nous sommes enfants de Dieu;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Geist selbst zeugt mit unserem Geiste, daß wir Kinder Gottes sind.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ipse enim Spiritus testimonium reddit spiritui nostro quod sumus filii Dei.