|
|
The act of taking voluntarily a child of other parents as one's child; in a theological sense, the act of God's grace by which sinful people are brought into his redeemed family.
In the New Testament, the Greek word translated adoption literally means "placing as a son." It is a legal term that expresses the process by which a man brings another person into his family, endowing him with the status and privileges of a biological son or daughter.
In the Old Testament, adoption was never common among the Israelites. Adoption in the Old Testament was done by foreigners or by Jews influenced by foreign customs. Pharaoh's daughter adopted Moses <Ex. 2:10> and another pharaoh adopted Genubath <1 Kin. 11:20>. Furthermore, there is no Hebrew word to describe the process of adoption. When the Pharaoh's daughter adopted Moses, the text says, "And he became her son" <Ex. 2:10>.
By New Testament times, Roman customs exercised a great deal of influence on Jewish family life. One custom is particularly significant in relation to adoption. Roman law required that the adopter be a male and childless; the one to be adopted had to be an independent adult, able to agree to be adopted. In the eyes of the law, the adopted one became a new creature; he was regarded as being born again into the new family-- an illustration of what happens to the believer at conversion.
The apostle Paul used this legal concept of adoption as an analogy to show the believer's relationship to God. Although similar ideas are found throughout the New Testament, the word adoption, used in a theological sense, is found only in the writings of Paul <Rom. 8:15,23; 9:4>.
In Ephesians, Paul's emphasis was that our adoption rests with God, who "predestined us to adoption as sons" <Eph. 1:5>. In his letter to the Romans, Paul used the term to describe Israel's place of honor in God's plan <Rom. 9:4>. However, Gentile believers have also been given the "Spirit of adoption," which allows them to cry, "Abba, Father" <Gal. 4:6>.
God's adoption of the believer also has a future dimension, the assurance that the believer's body will be resurrected <Rom. 8:23>.
(from Nelson's Illustrated
Bible Dictionary)
(Copyright (C) 1986,
Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Click on the 'back' button to return to where you were.
