Adoption part 2

[Douglas Summers]

After studying ancient Roman-Greco history of adoption laws, I was surprised to see the absence of compassion for orphans. It was as though they did not want to be bothered with nor did they have any compassion on orphaned children. Orphaned children came from family members being killed in wars, or plagues (of which were many in those periods of time). If there were any adoptions of homeless children in those times, there is no records of it.. Greek and Roman culture placed less importance or value on young human life, conditioning and allowing such things as abortion and infanticide.

Roman culture was more open to the idea of adoption, but radically different then the Semitic tribes. The main reason behind Roman adoptions was neither as a solution to the large number of orphaned and abandoned children, or as a common response to infertility. The Roman idea of adoption was most frequently a means of securing political success.. Most of the records available for Roman Adoption concern with the legal and political success and inheritance. Roman legal adoptions were almost exclusively adoptions of adults.
Roman attitude overall was much more at ease with legal adoption of adults, and much less a home for the adoption of orphans and abandoned children. The Roman approach to adoption throughout the New Testament period was brutally uncaring toward children. Not only were orphaned completely ignored by the Roman Government, but also without no hope of any aid., the Roman law actually discouraged adoption of young children. adoption was, forbidden by Roman law until Antonius Pius, who became emperor in A.D.138 .
The one strength of Roman adoption was it's complete acceptance of the adoptee. Once adopted he everything in his past was erased (including debts) and legal family ties were severed.. The adoptee was expected to honor and respect his new parents. The adoptee was given all the rights as a blood son. But there were certain drawbacks to adoption in Roman society., At any time the adoptee could be emancipated by the adopting father. Emancipation revoked all the rights given to the adopted son, and all property rights and inheritance rights were revoked and completely lost.

References Adoptions in New Testament Times (Baina David King, Liberty University) Spring 2005
Beryl Rawson, The Family in Ancient Rome (London: Croom Helm, 1986)
David Chapman, In Marriage and Family in the Biblical World (Downers Grove Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 2003)

 

[WIP]

I'm not catching the point you wish to discuss/debate/defend here. Please clarify.

 

[Malachi]

Roman legal adoptions were almost exclusively adoptions of adults.

And this is precisely how Scripture uses the term adoption. Christians are not "adopted" by God (as in human adoptions) but actually born into God's family through the New Birth (John 1:12,13). But God goes way beyond simply giving His children the gift of eternal life. He gives them an eternal inheritance, and that is where "adoption" comes in. Believers are given the full rights and privileges of being heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, and are therefore "adopted" to the fullness of being sons of God.

As stated in Vine's Expository Dictionary "Adoption" is a term involving the dignity of the relationship of believers as sons; it is not a putting into the family by spiritual birth, but a putting into the position of sons.

 

[Douglas Summers]

Yes, But you are in a minority that understands what Paul is saying. The majority of Christians associate Roman Adoption law with God's grace. It is far from it. God is not adopting us, We are a new creation, to be completed when we meet Him face to face.

 

[Douglas Summers]

And this is precisely how Scripture uses the term adoption. Christians are not "adopted" by God (as in human adoptions) but actually born into God's family through the New Birth (John 1:12,13). But God goes way beyond simply giving His children the gift of eternal life. He gives them an eternal inheritance, and that is where "adoption" comes in. Believers are given the full rights and privileges of being heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, and are therefore "adopted" to the fullness of being sons of God.

As stated in Vine's Expository Dictionary "Adoption" is a term involving the dignity of the relationship of believers as sons; it is not a putting into the family by spiritual birth, but a putting into the position of sons.

Just one thing Malachi, Adoption in how Paul presents it is not about relationship, it is about position. The relationship came as we became children of God. Adoption is placing one as a son, from a child to an adult. Son deals with maturity (a position). That is the whole point of Paul's teaching in Galatians. As a child (under the law) as an adult (under the law of Christ) Grace.

 

[Malachi]

Just one thing Malachi, Adoption in how Paul presents it is not about relationship, it is about position.

Absolutely. I was hoping to get that across. Far too many Christians are never taught their true position in Christ, and far too many are never taught about what the finished work of Christ means for them individually. That is a shame, since what is the chaff to the wheat?

 

[Douglas Summers]

Absolutely. I was hoping to get that across. Far too many Christians are never taught their true position in Christ, and far too many are never taught about what the finished work of Christ means for them individually. That is a shame, since what is the chaff to the wheat?

Thanks Malachi
To God our Lord who has given us so much more than we can ever imagine, Amen.

 

[Natha]

Good topic...
God adopted us through His son Jesus Christ
is this is not good thing for us?
you have written good article here. thank you sir