THE MEANING AND USAGE OF THE WORDS
Adoption
The Greek word is huiothesia. It occurs
five times only in Paul’s Epistles. (Rom. 8:15, 8:23, 9:4, Gal. 4:5, Eph. l:5)
It is a compound of huios (son) and tithemi (to place), and means to place as
a son. It is translated always "Adoption" which was doubtless the best
English word available, but because of popular usage, it needs explanation.Usage of huiothesia in N.T. times. Its background of Roman law and custom is referred to in Gal. 4:1-2. At a certain time the male child with appropriate ceremony was formally and legally "adopted", that is, placed in the position of a Son and given all the privileges of a Son. Adoption did not make him a child. He was born a child. But it placed him in the legal position of a son. Cf. Meyer on Gal. 4:1 ff. "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differs nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;" "But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father."
Our popular use of word "Adoption".
This is not same as in the Bible.
To us a son by "adoption" is not a child by birth. But in the Bible,
a son of God by adoption is always a child of God by birth. We never adopt our
own children. God never adopts any others.
Son
Since
Adoption is literally Sonship, we must examine the word "Son".Greek word is "huios". It is translated in N.T. by "Son" and "child". ("child" - 50 times, "son" - 120 times, as applied to man.) This was unfortunate, for these words are not synonymous in the N.T. We become children of God by the New Birth. But we become sons of God by Adoption. "Child" describes our life relation to God. "Son" describes our legal relation to God.
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Some corrections should be made.
In
John 1:12-13, change "sons" to "children". "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."In Gal. 3:26, change "children" to "sons". "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."
In Eph. 1:5, change "children" to "sons". "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."
In Luke 20:36, change "children" to "sons". "Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection."
In Matt. 5:9, 45, change "children" to "sons". "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
Usage of the name "Son" in the Bible.
Mark
1:1 - Christ is the only begotten (essential) Son. "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God."Job 1:6 - Angels are created Sons. "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them."
Luke 3:38 - Adam was a created Son. "Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God."
Rom. 9:4 - Nation of Israel was an adopted Son. National matter in in O.T., not individual. "Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises."
Gal. 3:26 ARV - N.T. believers are adopted Sons. "For ye are all the sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus."
We
deal with only the last in these articles.
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