Paul's Use and Meaning of ὙΙΟΘΕΣΊΑ

• Main Author: Glass, William R
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2017
• Subjects: Religion; Theology
• ISBN: 9780355059441; 0355059444

This dissertation focuses on Paul’s five uses of υio ϵσíα to demonstrate that he presents two adoptions with two different purposes based on his use of υio ϵσiα in Rom 8:15 (modified by πνϵυμα) and Rom 8:23 (unmodified). The key passage is Rom 8:15–25 where Paul identifies both the believer’s present πνϵυμα υio ϵσiας (Spirit of adoption, which one has as a τϵκνoν) and relates this to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; and one’s future υio ϵσiα (adoption) which believers are eagerly waiting for (υio ϵσíαν απϵκδϵχóμϵνoι) and is defined as the believer’s glorification. Chapter 1 focuses on introductory issues, including the presuppositions of the author, brief chapter summaries and the method. Chapter 2 focuses on the first historical issue: discovering the uses of υio ϵσíα before, during and immediately following Paul. This chapter examines the uses prior to, contemporaneous with, and subsequent to Paul from the 2nd century B.C. through the 2nd/ 3rd century AD. The evidence reveals that Paul infuses the term with Christian meaning. Chapter 3 focuses on the second historical issue: ascertaining whether Paul’s use of υio ϵσíα is Roman, Greek or Jewish. Issues, aspects and possible problems relating to a Roman, Greek and Jewish adoption are examined. The evidence favors a Roman background. Chapters 4–6 focus on interpreting the four passages (Rom 8:15–25, 9:1–5, Gal 4:1–7 and Eph 1:3–6) in which Paul’s five uses of υio ϵσíα occur. Paul makes a distinction between the Spirit of adoption, which believers have today as τϵκντ of God and adoption,iii which is future. The Spirit of adoption is part of the αρραβων of the Spirit as a pledge and guarantee of the believer’s future adoption. Adoption refers to the believer’s future glorification or redemption of the body. Believers are predistined to adoption/glorification. Israel’s adoption refers to her, as a nation, being restored in her relationship with God and her judgment removed in the Millennial Kingdom when she will receive the fulfillment of the Abrahamic, Davidic and New Covenants. All four uses of υio ϵσíα relate to the future. Only υio ϵσíα in the phrase the Spirit of adoption refers to the present time and the Spirit’s indwelling.