Rom 8:15-16 | TNotes | STEP | 8:15 you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children: According to Greco-Roman customs of adoption, a man had the right to adopt a son and to confer on that child all the legal rights and privileges that would be given to a natural child. This practice extended even to the imperial family. The Roman emperor Julius Caesar adopted Octavian as his heir; Octavian, using the name Augustus, later ruled the Roman Empire. Paul’s concept of adoption is also rooted in the Old Testament and Judaism (Exod 4:22 ; Deut 1:31 ; Hos 11:1 ; see also Rom 9:4 ; Gal 4:5 ; Eph 1:5 ). • Abba: This word was used in an intimate family context (“Daddy”). Jesus used this word to address God (Mark 14:36 ); all those who become children of God through Jesus have the privilege of addressing God in the same way.

a8:15►

bExod 4:22►

cDeut 1:31►

dHos 11:1►

eRom 9:4►

fGal 4:5►

gEph 1:5►

hMark 14:36►

‏ Romans 8:15-16

8:15 ^a you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children: According to Greco-Roman customs of adoption, a man had the right to adopt a son and to confer on that child all the legal rights and privileges that would be given to a natural child. This practice extended even to the imperial family. The Roman emperor Julius Caesar adopted Octavian as his heir; Octavian, using the name Augustus, later ruled the Roman Empire. Paul’s concept of adoption is also rooted in the Old Testament and Judaism (Exod 4:22 ^b; Deut 1:31 ^c; Hos 11:1 ^d; see also Rom 9:4 ^e; Gal 4:5 ^f; Eph 1:5 ^g).

• Abba: This word was used in an intimate family context (“Daddy”). Jesus used this word to address God (Mark 14:36 ^h); all those who become children of God through Jesus have the privilege of addressing God in the same way.