Adoption as a Biblical Concept in Christian Theology
Adoption, as a biblical concept, refers to the act of God's grace by which individuals are brought into His redeemed family and granted the privileges of children [2]. This concept is primarily articulated by the Apostle Paul, who uses the term to describe the present and future benefits of Christians [1]. Paul likely drew from the Roman custom where a person without natural children could adopt a child from other parents, establishing a relationship that mirrored that of a natural father and son [1].
The Bible presents several facets of adoption. It can be natural, as when Pharaoh's daughter adopted Moses or Mordecai adopted Esther [2]. There is also a national adoption, where God adopted Israel as His people [2, 11]. However, the spiritual adoption of believers is a key theme, signifying a new relationship with God [2]. This spiritual adoption is rooted in God's grace and is received through faith in Christ [3]. Ephesians 1:5 states that believers are "predestined... for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire" [4].
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in this adoption, serving as a witness to it (Romans 8:16) and providing the "Spirit of adoption" (Romans 8:15) [3]. Being led by the Spirit is considered evidence of this adopted status [3]. This new relationship brings believers into an intimate bond with God, where He acts as a father to them [10]. The love of God for His adopted children is described as sovereign, great, abiding, unfailing, unalienable, constraining, and everlasting [5].
The concept of adoption also highlights the privileges and responsibilities of believers within this covenant relationship [7]. It signifies that believers are welcomed into God's fellowship and treated as family, just as Christ accepted them despite their flaws [9]. This assurance of adoption provides believers with confidence in their relationship with God and their eternal inheritance [6, 8].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Adoption — an expression used by St. Paul in reference to the present and prospective privileges of Christians. (Romans 8:15,23; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5) He probably alludes to the Roman custom by which a person not having children of his own might adopt as his son one born of other parents. The relationship was to all intents and purposes the same as existed between a natural father and son. The term is used figuratively to show the close relationship to God of the Christian. (Galatians 4:4,5; Romans 8:14-17) He is received into God's family from the world, and ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Adoption — The giving to any one the name and place and privileges of a son who is not a son by birth. (1.) Natural. Thus Pharaoh's daughter adopted Moses (Ex. 2:10), and Mordecai Esther (Esther 2:7). (2.) National. God adopted Israel (Ex. 4:22; Deut. 7:6; Hos. 11:1; Rom. 9:4). (3.) Spiritual. An act of God's grace by which he brings men into the number of his redeemed family, and makes them partakers of all the blessings he has provided for them. Adoption represents the new relations into which the believer is introduced by justification, and the privileges connecte”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Adoption — Explained -- 2Co 6:18. Is according to promise -- Ro 9:8; Ga 3:29. Is by faith -- Ga 3:7,26. Is of God's grace -- Eze 16:3-6; Ro 4:16,17; Eph 1:5,6,11. Is through Christ -- Joh 1:12; Ga 4:4,5; Eph 1:5; Heb 2:10,13. Saints predestinated to -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:5,11. Of Gentiles, predicted -- Ho 2:23; Ro 9:24-26; Eph 3:6. The Adopted are gathered together in one by Christ -- Joh 11:52. New birth connected with -- Joh 1:12,13. The Holy Spirit is a Witness of -- Ro 8:16. Being led by the Spirit is an evidence of -- Ro 8:14. Saints receive the Spirit of -- Ro 8:15”
- Ephesians “having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, -- Ephesians 1:5”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love of God, The — Is a part of his character -- 2Co 13:11; 1Jo 4:8. Christ, the especial object of -- Joh 15:9; 17:26. Christ abides in -- Joh 15:10. Described as Sovereign. -- De 7:8; 10:15. Great. -- Eph 2:4. Abiding. -- Zep 3:17. Unfailing. -- Isa 49:15,16. Unalienable. -- Ro 8:39. Constraining. -- Ho 11:4. Everlasting. -- Jer 31:3. Irrespective of merit -- De 7:7; Job 7:17. Manifested towards Perishing sinners. -- Joh 3:16; Tit 3:4. His saints. -- Joh 16:27; 17:23; 2Th 2:16; 1Jo 4:16. The destitute. -- De 10:18. The cheerful giver. -- 2Co 9:7. Exhibited in The g”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Assurance — Produced by faith -- Eph 3:12; 2Ti 1:12; Heb 10:22. Made full by hope -- Heb 6:11,19. Confirmed by love -- 1Jo 3:14,19; 4:18. Is the effect of righteousness -- Isa 32:17. Is abundant in the understanding of the gospel -- Col 2:2; 1Th 1:5. Saints privileged to have, of Their election. -- Ps 4:3; 1Th 1:4. Their redemption. -- Job 19:25. Their adoption. -- Ro 8:16; 1Jo 3:2. Their salvation. -- Isa 12:2. Eternal life. -- 1Jo 5:13. The unalienable love of God. -- Ro 8:38,39. Union with God and Christ. -- 1Co 6:15; 2Co 13:5; Eph 5:30; 1Jo 2:5; 4:13. Peace with ”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:7: 21:7 All who are victorious: God’s children who persevere in life will inherit his blessings. Adoption is a covenant relationship; the language of adoption certifies their privileges and responsibilities (cp. Gen 17:8; 2 Sam 7:14-16; Jer 31:33; Ezek 34:24).”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 3:19: But I said,.... Within himself, in the thoughts of his heart, when he took up a resolution concerning their conversion, open adoption, and return to their own land, as a symbol of the eternal inheritance: how shall I put thee among the children? among the children of God, who are so by special adopting grace, which is a high and honourable privilege, greater than to be the sons and daughters of the greatest potentate on earth; who as they are high birth, being born of God, so they are brought up, and fed, and clothed as the children of the King of kings; they have”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 15:7: 15:7 To accept each other means more than grudgingly putting up with each other. We are to welcome other believers, with all their flaws and sins, into our fellowship and treat them as family (see study note on 12:10), just as Christ has accepted us, with all our flaws and sins, into his fellowship and family (5:8-11).”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 6:17: And will be a father unto you,.... The same is promised to Solomon, Sa2 7:14 and said of Israel, Jer 31:9 which is thought to be referred unto. This is not to be understood of the first commencement of this relation, as though God now began to be their Father; nor indeed of the first manifestation of it, which had been already made to their souls by the Spirit of adoption, witnessing to their spirits that God was their Father, and they were his children; but of his acting, and continuing to act the part of a father to them; which he does, by pitying his childre”
- Zechariah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zechariah 8:8: 8:8 They will be my people, and I will be . . . their God: This adoption formula depicts the intimate bond between Israel and God in covenant relationship (see Exod 19:5-6; Jer 30:22; 31:33; Ezek 34:30-31; Hos 2:23).”