Romans 8:16
New International Version
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

New Living Translation
For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

English Standard Version
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Berean Standard Bible
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Berean Literal Bible
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

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

New King James Version
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

New American Standard Bible
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

NASB 1995
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

NASB 1977
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Legacy Standard Bible
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

Amplified Bible
The Spirit Himself testifies and confirms together with our spirit [assuring us] that we [believers] are children of God.

Christian Standard Bible
The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,

American Standard Version
The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God:

Contemporary English Version
God's Spirit makes us sure that we are his children.

English Revised Version
The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

Good News Translation
God's Spirit joins himself to our spirits to declare that we are God's children.

International Standard Version
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

Majority Standard Bible
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God?s children.

NET Bible
The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God's children.

New Heart English Bible
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;

Webster's Bible Translation
The Spirit itself testifieth with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Weymouth New Testament
The Spirit Himself bears witness, along with our own spirits, to the fact that we are children of God;

World English Bible
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
[This] One—the Spirit—testifies with our spirit, that we are children of God;

Berean Literal Bible
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Young's Literal Translation
The Spirit himself doth testify with our spirit, that we are children of God;

Smith's Literal Translation
The Spirit itself testifies with our spirit, that we are children of God:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For the Spirit himself giveth testimony to our spirit, that we are the sons of God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For the Spirit himself renders testimony to our spirit that we are the sons of God.

New American Bible
The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

New Revised Standard Version
it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And this Spirit bears witness to our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And that Spirit testifies to our spirit that we are sons of God;
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
The Spirit itself testifies with our spirit, that we are the children of God;

Godbey New Testament
The Spirit Himself witnesses along with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

Haweis New Testament
The same spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

Mace New Testament
the same spirit testifies to our spirit, that we are the children of God.

Weymouth New Testament
The Spirit Himself bears witness, along with our own spirits, to the fact that we are children of God;

Worrell New Testament
The Spirit Himself testifieth with our spirit, that we are children of God;

Worsley New Testament
So that the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Heirs with Christ
15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.…

Cross References
Galatians 4:6
And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

1 John 3:24
Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us.

1 John 4:13
By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.

2 Corinthians 1:22
placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come.

Ephesians 1:13-14
And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, / who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.

John 14:17
the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.

John 15:26
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me.

1 John 5:10
Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.

2 Corinthians 5:5
And it is God who has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come.

1 Corinthians 2:12
We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

Hebrews 10:15
The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says:

Acts 5:32
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Ezekiel 36:27
And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

Isaiah 63:11
Then His people remembered the days of old, the days of Moses. Where is He who brought them through the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is the One who set His Holy Spirit among them,

Jeremiah 31:33
“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.


Treasury of Scripture

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

Spirit.

Romans 8:23,26
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…

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.

with our.

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.

1 John 3:19-22
And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him…

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.

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Romans 8
1. Those who are in Christ are free from condemnation.
5. What harm comes of the flesh;
13. and what good of the Spirit.
19. The glorious deliverance the creation longs for,
29. was beforehand decreed from God.
38. Nothing can sever us from his love.














The Spirit Himself
This phrase emphasizes the personal nature of the Holy Spirit. In the Greek, "autos to pneuma" underscores that the Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force but a distinct person within the Trinity. The use of "Himself" rather than "itself" affirms the Spirit's active role in the believer's life. Historically, the early church fathers defended the personhood of the Holy Spirit against heresies that denied His divinity and personality. This personal involvement of the Spirit is a source of comfort and assurance for believers, as it signifies a direct and intimate relationship with God.

Testifies with our spirit
The Greek word "symmartyrei" means to bear witness together or to confirm. This joint testimony between the Holy Spirit and our spirit is a profound mystery, indicating a deep, internal assurance of our identity as God's children. In the historical context of Roman law, a testimony was crucial for establishing identity and rights. Similarly, the Spirit's testimony confirms our spiritual status. This assurance is not based on external circumstances but on an internal, divine affirmation that transcends human doubt and fear.

That we are God’s children
The phrase "tekna Theou" refers to the status of believers as children of God. In the Roman world, adoption was a powerful legal act that granted the adoptee all the rights and privileges of a biological child. This imagery would resonate deeply with Paul's audience, who understood the permanence and security of such a relationship. Scripturally, this concept is rooted in the Old Testament, where Israel is often referred to as God's son (e.g., Hosea 11:1). In the New Testament, this identity is expanded to include all who are in Christ, highlighting the inclusivity and grace of God's family. This assurance of being God's children is foundational to the believer's identity and hope, providing a sense of belonging and purpose in the divine family.

(16) The Spirit itself beareth witness.--What is the nature of this concurrent testimony? It would seem to be something of this kind. The self-consciousness of the believer assures him of his sonship. The relation in which he feels that he stands to God he knows to be that of a son. But, besides this he is aware of an eternal objective cause for this feeling. That cause is the influence of the Holy Spirit.

This passage makes it clear that the Apostle, in spite of the strongly mystic tone of his language elsewhere, never confuses the human and the divine.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
The
τὸ (to)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Spirit
Πνεῦμα (Pneuma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.

Himself
αὐτὸ (auto)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Neuter 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

testifies with
συμμαρτυρεῖ (symmartyrei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4828: To bear witness together with. From sun and martureo; to testify jointly, i.e. Corroborate by evidence.

our
ἡμῶν (hēmōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

spirit
πνεύματι (pneumati)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

we are
ἐσμὲν (esmen)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

God’s
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

children.
τέκνα (tekna)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 5043: A child, descendent, inhabitant. From the base of timoria; a child.


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Romans 8:15
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