The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
What does Romans 8:16 mean?
If the Spirit be in us, Christ is in us. He dwells in the heart by faith.
Key themes
Read with
Keep this verse inside Romans 8:16-17 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Romans 8:16
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 infrequently attributed to the Holy Spirit, 2 Corinthians 1:22 ; 1 John 5:10-11 ; 1 Corinthians 2:12 .
Context in Romans 8
Show chapter context
Romans 8 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as justification and Abraham. Romans is Paul’s fullest sustained exposition of sin, grace, righteousness, faith, Israel, the Spirit, and transformed life in Christ. Read this chapter with the wider themes of justification, grace, and faith in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
Explore by topic
Passages on trusting God, receiving Christ, persevering without sight, and the relation between faith and lived obedience.
Key passages on God's unmerited favour, the grace of Christ, salvation by grace through faith, and how grace transforms the way believers live.
Passages on the nature of truth, honesty, deception, the word of God as truth, and Jesus' claim to be the truth.