This relationship we have by the new birth. Used in the New Testament only by Paul, the Greek word for “adoption” literally means a “placing as sons.” (Compare ASV, “adoption as sons”; NAB, “his adopted sons”.) Once (Rom. 9:4) Paul uses it of the covenant relationship between Israel and God (cf. Exod. 4:12), but everywhere else he uses it to emphasize the privileges that belong to believers. The complete manifestation of our adoption and the full realization of its privileges are yet future (Rom.