Romans 8 15

Romans 8:15 kjv

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 8:15 nkjv

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

Romans 8:15 niv

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

Romans 8:15 esv

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

Romans 8:15 nlt

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father."

Romans 8 verses

Romans 8 15 Meaning

Rom 8:15 explains the transformed spiritual identity of believers. It asserts that Christians do not possess a spirit that leads to slavery and the fear associated with it, as was often the experience under the Law, but rather have received the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of adoption, by whom they are legally recognized as God's children and enabled to cry out to Him intimately as "Abba! Father!" This signifies a profound shift from a relationship of distant awe and fear to one of secure, familial love and access.

Romans 8 15 Context

Romans chapter 8 stands as a pivotal theological exposition within Paul's letter, often referred to as the "Magna Carta of the Christian life" due to its emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit. Verse 15 is nestled within a discussion (8:1-17) that contrasts life "in the flesh" with life "in the Spirit," highlighting the freedom and new identity granted to believers through Christ and indwelt by the Spirit.Paul begins Chapter 8 declaring "no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (8:1), having just described the struggle with indwelling sin and the Law's inability to deliver in chapter 7. He then elaborates on how the Spirit liberates from the "law of sin and death" (8:2). Verses 5-11 describe the contrast between minding the flesh (leading to death) and minding the Spirit (leading to life and peace). Verses 12-14 explain that believers are debtors to the Spirit, not the flesh, and are led by the Spirit as sons of God. Rom 8:15 further clarifies how this sonship is experienced, specifically rejecting the spirit of fear and bondage (often associated with the Law's inability to fully justify or save, as discussed in earlier chapters) and affirming the Spirit of adoption that brings intimacy with God.

Historically, the original audience in Rome would have been familiar with both Roman legal adoption practices (which granted full legal rights and inheritance, often for adult males) and the concept of slavery prevalent in the empire. They would also understand the burden of religious law and the fear associated with it, whether from Jewish or pagan backgrounds. Paul directly addresses these cultural touchstones to explain the radical new relationship believers have with God.

Romans 8 15 Word analysis

• For you did not receive (οὐ γὰρ ἐλάβετε): Denotes a past action and the nature of what was received. The "did not" implies a deliberate contrast and rejection of a former or alternative state.
• the spirit (πνεῦμα - pneuma): Refers to a disposition, attitude, or governing principle. Here, it contrasts with the Holy Spirit later in the verse. This pneuma (lowercase) is distinct from the Spirit (Holy Spirit, uppercase Pneuma). It signifies a mindset or power.
• of slavery (δουλείας - douleias): This Greek term literally means "servitude" or "bondage." In ancient Rome, slavery was a harsh reality, completely stripping individuals of rights and personal autonomy. Paul uses this term metaphorically for the condition of being under the Law without Christ, or under the dominion of sin, which creates fear and restricts freedom.
• to fall back into (πάλιν εἰς - palin eis): Suggests a return or regression to a prior state. It implies a previous or potential experience of fear, reinforcing the idea of breaking away from that condition.
• fear (φόβον - phobos): A profound sense of dread, terror, or apprehension. In the context of slavery or the Law apart from grace, this fear is one of judgment, punishment, and separation from God. It stands in contrast to the reverent awe that believers might have, emphasizing an unhelpful, terror-inducing kind of fear.
• but you have received (ἀλλὰ ἐλάβετε - alla elabete): A strong adversative conjunction, "but," highlighting a direct contrast and a new, transformative reception.
• the Spirit (Πνεῦμα - Pneuma): This refers to the Holy Spirit. The capitalization signifies divine agency, distinguishing it from the earlier "spirit of slavery." It is God's empowering presence.
• of adoption as sons (υἱοθεσίας - huiothesias): A key theological term. In Greek, it literally means "placing as a son." In the Roman legal context, adoptio was a formal, often public, act by which a child (or even an adult) not naturally one's own, was legally brought into a family, granted all the rights, privileges, and inheritance of a natural-born child, and stripped of all former familial claims. This highlights the permanency, security, and full heirship that believers receive, not merely acceptance or forgiveness. It’s a complete change of legal and relational status.
• by whom (ἐν ᾧ - en hō): This phrase denotes the Holy Spirit as the active agent, the one enabling the believers to make the cry. The Spirit is the conduit and power source for this profound relational expression.
• we cry (κράζομεν - krazomen): This verb signifies a strong, urgent, emotional utterance, often a shout or loud call. It indicates not just speaking, but passionately proclaiming with deep feeling and conviction, suggesting intimacy and immediate access rather than a timid, formal request.
• ‘Abba! Father!’ (Ἀββά ὁ Πατήρ - Abba ho Patēr): "Abba" is an Aramaic word that was a very intimate and familiar term for "Father," equivalent to "Daddy" or "Papa," but retaining respect. It was common in family settings, even used by older children and adults to their fathers. Jesus Himself used it (Mk 14:36). Paul's inclusion of "Father" (Πατήρ - Patēr, Greek for "Father") alongside "Abba" likely serves two purposes: to translate the Aramaic for his Greek-speaking audience and to reinforce the intimacy and certainty of the father-child relationship, appealing to both Jewish and Gentile linguistic/cultural understanding of the term. The combination stresses both deep personal connection and universal paternal authority.

Words-group analysis

• "did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear": This phrase starkly contrasts the old covenant or former way of life with the new. It paints a picture of being constantly burdened by legalistic demands, sin's power, and a gnawing dread of divine judgment or failure, leading to a regress into fear.
• "received the Spirit of adoption as sons": This phrase establishes the radical change in believers' status. The Holy Spirit, rather than an internal sense of servitude, becomes the enabling power behind their new identity as legally and spiritually God's children. This emphasizes the security and rights of true sonship.
• "by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’": This culminating expression reveals the profound intimacy and immediate access that the Holy Spirit facilitates. It's a spontaneous, heartfelt cry from the depths of the heart, reflecting complete trust, belonging, and an unmediated relationship with God as their beloved Father, a privilege once unimaginable for Gentiles and a new depth even for Jews.

Romans 8 15 Bonus section

The concept of huiothesia (adoption) in the Roman context had deeper implications for Paul's original audience. A biological son, if grown, was sui iuris (his own master), but still under the father's patria potestas (father's power/authority). However, an adopted son immediately became sui iuris if he was adopted by someone without patria potestas (e.g., a woman or a deceased man), or became a new son in the adopting family if the father was alive. The point for believers is not just becoming "a son," but inheriting full rights and dignity, escaping previous familial obligations (or the "family" of sin and law). Paul's usage signifies a legal transfer of ownership and allegiance, creating a new, unbreakable bond, offering ultimate security and purpose. This isn't just about feeling like a child of God, but being legally, irrevocably, and eternally a child and heir in God's divine family.

Romans 8 15 Commentary

Romans 8:15 profoundly contrasts the Old Covenant experience of striving under the Law with the New Covenant's freedom and intimacy in Christ. The "spirit of slavery" is not the Holy Spirit but a disposition, perhaps fostered by the Mosaic Law, which, without Christ, highlighted sin and condemnation, generating "fear" of God's wrath and judgment. This state traps individuals in a cycle of perceived failure and dread, leaving them without the assurance of God's favor.

In stark contrast, believers have received the "Spirit of adoption." This is the Holy Spirit, who formally integrates them into God's family, bestowing all the legal rights and privileges of full-grown children and heirs. The Roman concept of adoption (υἱοθεσίας - huiothesias) was significant, ensuring the adopted individual received a full share in the family inheritance and social standing. This imagery highlights the complete and irreversible transformation of status for believers – from alienated outsiders or bondservants to legitimate heirs.

The immediate consequence and proof of this adoption is the ability to "cry, ‘Abba! Father!’" This fervent cry is not merely a cognitive acknowledgment but a deep, Spirit-enabled emotional expression of trust and affection. "Abba," an Aramaic term used by Jesus, denotes a profound, tender intimacy, like "Daddy" or "Papa," while "Father" (Patēr) grounds it in the Greek context, solidifying the familial bond for both Jewish and Gentile audiences. It signifies direct, unhindered access to God as a loving, compassionate Father, completely stripping away the former fear and replacing it with the assurance of unconditional love and acceptance.

This verse therefore encapsulates the radical reorientation of the believer's relationship with God: from dread of a master to the embrace of a loving Father, enabled by the indwelling Spirit.