¹⁴For those who are led by the Spirit of Godⁱ are the children of God.^j ¹⁵The Spirit^k you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again;^l rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^f And by him we cry, “Abba,^g Father.”^m ¹⁶The Spirit himself testifies with our spiritⁿ that we are God’s children.^o ¹⁷Now if we are children, then we are heirs^p—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings^q in order that we may also share in his glory.^r

Read in Logos

Romans 8:15: 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!”

Footnotes

fThe Greek word for adoption to sonship is a term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture; also in verse 23.
gAramaic for father

Cross references

iSee Gal 5:18
jver 19; Hos 1:10; Mal 3:17; Mt 5:9; See Jn 1:12; Gal 3:26; 4:5; Eph 1:5; Rev 21:7
kSee Jn 20:22
lSee 2 Ti 1:7
m Mk 14:36; Gal 4:5, 6
n 2 Co 1:22; Eph 1:13
oSee ver 14; See Jn 1:12
pSee Ac 20:32; Gal 3:29; 4:7; Eph 3:6; Tit 3:7
qSee 2 Co 1:5
r 2 Ti 2:12; 1 Pe 4:13

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 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!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

NLTNew Living Translation

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

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.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For all those who are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself confirms to our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer together with him so that we may also be glorified together with him.

KJV 1900King James Version

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 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. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Public Domain