Huiothesia

**!! INCOMPLETE !!** Last update August 3, 2025

Etymology

The greek word huiothesia ("Adoption") is found only in Pauline writtings. There are five occurences of huiothesia in the Pauline epistles (Romans 8:15,23; 9:4; Galatains 4:5; Ephesians 1:5).

#bdag According to BDAG 4th Edition, huiothesia is a legal technical term of 'adoption' of children. In Pauline literature, the senses are a) that of a son or daughter relationship between God and humans, b) the acceptance of Israel as son of God (Exodus 4:22) and b) of those who believe in Christ and are accepted by God as God's children with full rights — "the believers enter into the full enjoyment of their huiothesia only when the time of fulfillment releases them from the earthly body".

In understanding the usage and implications of huiothesia in Paul's epistles attention is well-given to consideration to similar concepts like adoption in ancient Greek and Roman cultures and adoption in the Old Testament context.

#schoenberg IN GREEK CULTURE "A comprehensive description of adoption among the Greeks is given by W. J. Woodhouse. According to his analysis, adoption as an institution among the Greeks was the result of a need created by their system of family organisation. ... The institution of adoption was therefore a necessary outcome of the desire to perpetuate the family and the family cultus whenever there was no natural-born son in the family."

#schoenberg IN ROMAN CULTURE "A good description of the Roman attitude toward adoption and the consequent practice is given by J. S. Candlish, who stresses the following points. Among the Romans the rights of fathers over their sons (patria potestas) was extreme and almost despotic. ... As long as the father lived, his rights could be terminated only by certain legal proceedings analagous to those by which slaves were sold or redeemed. ... Adoption, when thus legally performed, put a man in every respect in the position of a son by birth of him who had adopted him. He possessed the same rights and owed the same obligations."

Two Frames

There are at least two extant theological framings of adoption [huiothesia]. These two framings are similar in that both directly explain adoption as part of the salvation experience of those born of God, but each has a particular emphasis on different aspects of the salvation experience.

In the sum of the related Biblical testimony exists a tension of "present" and "future" aspects of adoption. The resolution of this tension, may result in at least one out of two framings of the theological concept of adoption. What is agreed is that adoption is both future and present. What is contested is in what ways is it future and in what ways is it present.

TODO: FURTHER CONSIDERATION NEEDED It is important to note that "Framing B" is by far in the minority of acceptance. Further research is needed here, but my tentative conclusion is that Framing A is more historically accepted and Framing B has been promoted by-and-large the Wesleyan and its resulting movements: holiness, keswickianism, latter rain, William Branham, charismatic, etc..

TODO: FURTHER CONSIDERATION NEEDED I am not entirely comfortable CONTRASTING these "two" framings. There is too much nuance here to overesimplify the discussion as "opposing" framings. They share more in common than they do difference. I am thinking with further consideration, I may be able to come up to something closer to a harmony with differences in "emphasis". One possible caveat to this is the fact there are among the supporters of viewing adoption through the lense exclusively of justification a hard line that the realizing of the "fullness of sonship" cannot be experienced but beyond the grave. Wben viewed through the lense of sanctification, adoption can be realized before that hard finish line as in Wesley's "Entire Sanctification."

I beleive the preceding two considerations are major components to the interpretative directions often taken with huiothesia.

1. FRAMING A: Justification & Covenant: A Present Reality for those Born of God

Adoption is a metaphor for son/daughter relationship of Believers with God. This adoption of Believers is to be contrasted with Judaizers who are described as "children under tutors/the law" in Galatians 4. In this frame, "sonship" is a picture of justification and is the present reality for all those born of God.

adoption is “participation in the family of God” through justification. — Michael Gorman, Apostle of the Crucified Lord

The future aspect of this framing is that the "full rights of sonship" will not be experienced until in the resurrection. One example of this delayed inheritance is the "redemption of the body" (Romans 8:23).

2. FRAMING B: Sanctification → Glorification: A Future Reality for those Born of God

Adoption is a metaphor for the coming to full spiritual maturity and Divine acknowledgment of that development ("coming-of-age"). Adoption is the maturing of the child of God by their overcoming experience unto the measure of the stature of Christ. Sonship is future promise subsequent to justification, but possibly realized before resurrection. There is a lot of inerpretative weight placed on similar Greek and Roman practices of placing a child as full heir at a certain age as related to fully mature sons of God.

3. For More Detailed Exploration of this Subject

I have not reviewed this sources, but found references to them in research:

Author	Work	Notes
Trevor J. Burke	Adopted into God's Family: Exploring a Pauline Metaphor	Comprehensive theology on huiothesia. Distinguishes Roman/legal background from Jewish story.
N.T. Wright	Paul and the Faithfulness of God	Emphasizes covenantal context of “adoption” for Israel and Gentiles.
J.I. Packer	Knowing God, ch. 19: "Sons of God"	Classic evangelical summary of adoption as both privilege and status
Michael Gorman	Paul: Apostle of the Crucified Lord	Frames adoption as participation in Christ and inclusion in the covenant family.

II. What do these two framings share in common?

Passage	Usage
Romans 8:15	"Spirit of adoption" — present experience of sonship
Romans 8:23	Waiting for (Future) adoption = "redemption of our body"
Romans 9:4	Israel's privileges: the adoption belongs to them
Galatians 4:5	Christ redeems to give us adoption of sons
Ephesians 1:5	Predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ

Romans 8:15 — For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Romans 8:23 — 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.

Romans 9:4 — 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; {covenants: or, testaments}

Galaians 4:5 — To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Ephesians 1:5 — Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

III. Adam Clarke

[excerpts from wikipedia.com] Adam Clarke (1762 – 26 August 1832) was an influential Irish writer, biblical scholar, and Methodist theologian, best known for his extensive commentary on the Bible. At the age of 14, he was invited by Rev. John Wesley to attend the Methodist seminary at Kingswood, Bristol, where he converted to Methodism. He was a Methodist theologian who served three times as President of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference.

REFERENCE:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Clarke
- https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/acc/romans-8.html
- https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/acc/romans-9.html
- https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/acc/galatians-4.html
- https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/acc/ephesians-1.html
SUMMARY: Adam Clarke's commentary on Romans 8 and 9 is consistent with "Framing A: A Present Reality for those Born of God". Adam Clarke repeats adoption as a bringing into a family. Clarke cites Dr. Lightfoot to affirm that adoption refers not simply to legal status but to the future resurrection and bodily redemption (full adoption). Adam Clarke stresses that Gentiles form a major component of the mystical body awaiting redemption.

Romans 8:15 Commentary

8:15 KEY THOUGHTS: "Ye are brought into the family of God by adoption;" and "Adoption was an act ... by which a person was taken out of one family and incorporated with another."

But ye have received the Spirit of adoption — Ye are brought into the family of God by adoption; and the agent that brought you into this family is the Holy Spirit; and this very Spirit continues to witness to you the grace in which ye stand, by enabling you to call God your Father, with the utmost filial confidence and affection.

The Spirit of adoption — Adoption was an act frequent among the ancient Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans; by which a person was taken out of one family and incorporated with another. Persons of property, who had no children of their own, adopted those of another family. The child thus adopted ceased to belong to his own family, and was in every respect bound to the person who had adopted him, as if he were his own child; and in consequence of the death of his adopting father he possessed his estates. If a person after he had adopted a child happened to have children of his own, then the estate was equally divided between the adopted and real children. The Romans had regular forms of law, by which all these matters were settled.-See in Aulus Gellius. Noctes Attic., vol. i. cap. xix. p. 331. Edit Beloe; and the note there.

8:23 KEY THOUGHT: "waiting for the adoption; that is, the redemption of our mystical body"

And not only they, but ourselves also — Neither the Gentiles only, but we Jews also, (however we belong to a nation envious of the heathen,) to whom God hath granted the first fruits of the Spirit; we sigh among ourselves for their sakes, waiting for the adoption; that is, the redemption of our mystical body, whereof the Gentiles make a very great part. Lightfoot's works. vol. ii. p. 359 and 707.

8:26 KEY THOUGHT: "the Spirit that witnesses of our adoption and sonship, Romans 8:15; Romans 8:16, makes intercession for us"

But the Spirit itself — The same Spirit, viz. the Spirit that witnesses of our adoption and sonship, Romans 8:15; Romans 8:16, makes intercession for us. Surely if the apostle had designed to teach us that he meant our own sense and understanding by the Spirit, he never could have spoken in a manner in which plain common sense was never likely to comprehend his meaning. Besides, how can it be said that our own spirit, our filial disposition, bears witness with our own spirit; that our own spirit helps the infirmities of our own spirit; that our own spirit teaches our own spirit that of which it is ignorant; and that our own spirit maketh intercession for our own spirit, with groanings unutterable? This would have been both incongruous and absurd. We must therefore understand these places of that help and influence which the followers of God receive from the Holy Ghost;

Romans 9:4 Commentary

9:4 KEY THOUGHTS: "taken into the family of God" and "this adoption took place when God made the covenant with them at Horeb"

The adoption — The Israelites were all taken into the family of God, and were called his sons and first-born, Exodus 4:22; Deuteronomy 14:1; Jeremiah 31:9; Hosea 11:1; and this adoption took place when God made the covenant with them at Horeb.

Galatians 4 Commentary

Galatians 4 KEY THOUGHTS: "The whole Jewish people were in a state of nonage while under the law." "That we might receive the adoption of sons. — Which adoption we could not obtain by the law for it is the Gospel only that puts us among the children, and gives us a place in the heavenly family." "Thou who hast believed in Christ art no longer a slave, either under the dominion of sin or under obligation to the Mosaic ritual; but a son of God, adopted into the heavenly family."

Ephesians 1:4 Commentary

Galatians 4 KEY THOUGHTS: PREDESTINATION: "God's fixed purpose or predetermination to bestow on the Gentiles the blessing of the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ, which adoption had been before granted to the Jewish people;"

IV. Dr. Lightfoot's Work

REFERENCE:
- https://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/book_lightfoot_works.html
- https://archive.org/details/worrever02ligh/page/n3/mode/2up

John Lightfoot (1602–1675), a 17th-century English clergyman and Hebraist,

Page 359 (Horae Hebraicae section) of Volume II, lays foundational Talmudic or Jewish interpretive material on resurrection, firstfruits theology, or the metaphor of adoption as tied to bodily deliverance.
Page 707 most likely contains Lightfoot’s direct commentary on Romans 8, especially about verse 23—showing how Jewish‑Christian readers understood adoption as inclusive of future bodily resurrection, and how Gentile believers were seen as part of that mystical body awaiting full redemption (Clarke’s summary fits this exactly).

So also, "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." To all which, let me add this observation farther, that throughout this whole place; the apostle seemeth to allude to the Israelites' bondage in Egypt, and their deliverance out of it, with a comparison made betwixt the Jewish and the Gentile church. When God would deliver Israelfrom his bondage, he challengeth him for his son, and his firstborn, Exod. iv. 22. And in like manner, the people of the Gentiles do earnestly expect and wait for such a kind of manifestation of the sons of God within and among themselves. The Romans, to whom this apostle writes, knew well enough, how many and how great predictions and promises it had pleased "God to publish by his prophets, concerning gathering together and adopting sons to himself among the Gentiles: the manifestation and production of which sons, the whole Gentile world doth now wait for, as it were, with an outstretched neck. (Lightfoot, https://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/lightfoot/vol12.pdf)

John 1:12

"He gave them power. He empowered them, so Eccles. v. 19, and vi. 2. He gave them the privilege, the liberty, the dignity, of being called and becoming the sons of God. Israel was once the son and the first-born, Exod. iv. 22: but now the adoption of sons to God was open and free to all nations whatever.

John 1:13

they supposed the Gentiles might become the sons of God, being by their proselytism made Israelites, and the children of the covenant: for they knew of no other adoption or sonship.

These were the ways, by which the Jews thought any became the sons of God, that is, by being made Israelites. But it is far otherwise in the adoption and sonship, that accrues to us by the gospel.

V. Martin Luther

TODO: Review Martin Luther's related commentaries. Particularly: Galatians 4?

VI. A Divide within the Future Aspect of Adoption

There exists a further division of thought within the consideration of the future or eschatalogical interpretation of adoption. In the first, adoption is fully realized in the future resurrection and in the second, it is a glorification potentially realized in this life as a result of perfection or full spiritual development.

A. Future Adoption: FULLY BECOME SONS IN THE RESURRECTION

Irenaeus, Against Heresies (Book III) — emphasis on becoming fully sons in the resurrection.
John Lightfoot (on Rom 8:23): adoption = full redemption, including the body. He also quotes Talmud sources emphasizing that God calls "saints" only "once they are in the earth" (after this life).
John Calvin, Institutes (III.11.4; III.25.3): speaks of a “progressive” sonship culminating in glory.
Thomas Goodwin and Puritan thinkers: adoption as “sonship manifested” at the resurrection.

B. Future Adoption: FULLY BECOME SONS IN FULL SPIRITUAL MATURITY

a coming of age
an emphasis on sanctification → glorification
"Sonship" = "Brideship" Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr.
This emphasis I found to be very common in The Latter Rain Movement and its "children" as well as William Branham.
Bill Britton - Latter Rain
- https://youtu.be/LmoEaiHcuRU?si=HPRMMOJ4jprrQfgd
- https://youtu.be/JX7k_n1FlKg?si=6uSrnAAI7FdAw211

The placing of a full grown son.

Jack Miller, World harvest "Sonship Theology" (reformed, baptist)
William Branham, "manifested sons" message
Keswickianism, Higher Life Movement

Sources

TODO: convert to a detailed bibliography

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Clarke
https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/acc/romans-8.html
https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/acc/romans-9.html
https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/acc/galatians-4.html
https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/acc/ephesians-1.html
https://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/book_lightfoot_works.html
http://concernedbrothers.com/truth/huiothesia.pdf
https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/35603/does-%ce%a5%ce%b9%ce%bf%cf%84%ce%b7%ce%b5%cf%83%ce%b9%ce%b1-huiothesia-really-mean-adoption-in-galatians-45
https://ezraproject.com/huiothesia-a-different-kind-of-adoption/
https://archive.org/details/a-greek-english-lexicon-of-the-new-testament-and-other-early-christian-literatur/page/n11/mode/2up, BDAG 4th Edition
“Huiothesia: The Word and the Institution”, Martin W. Schoenberg, https://andrewcphiri.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Hiothesia.pdf
https://old-baptist-test.blogspot.com/2025/02/spirit-of-adoption-8.html
https://studybible.info/vines/Adoption