Word Study: Adoption or Sonship?

A brother and I have been exchanging messages concerning the translation of the Bible especially on the matter on Ephesians 1:5. As we message each other back and forth I was helped to study the meaning of the word "sonship." Below is my message to him. 

The original Greek text in Ephesians 1:5

Eph 1:5 προορίσας ἡμᾶς εἰς υἱοθεσίαν διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς αὐτόν, κατὰ τὴν εὐδοκίαν τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ. 

You mentioned "father (adopted us)". According to the original Greek text, and the word of God in John 1:12-13, 3:3,5 and few others, we are "born of God". That's why the Bible uses the word "born again"  or "born anew" and not "adopted". Many Bible translation did not capture the accurate meaning, thereby introducing a notion of "adoption". There is a vast distinction between adoption and sonship.

As a Christian, I am born again of God’s divine life and nature to be children of God, so are you and all genuine believers, not adopted.

If a person is merely  "adopted of God", he is still not a genuine believer, not born but adopted. But the fact is, we are all born of God, therefore I can call you brother M_____. Birth has a life-relation, adoption has no life relation, but law-relation.

This is what I learn from the study of the word and am sharing it to you.

Praise the Lord brother M_____!

Later, I studied from scholarly writers and wrote an article:

In the spirit of fellowship and brotherhood, let me offer my study and learning from the word of God on "Adoption" and "Sonship."

Adoption or Sonship?

As Christian our relationship with God is that of a Father-son, being biblically and experientially proven.

Galatians 3:26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 

Romans 8:14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Our spiritual birth by faith by believing into the Lord Jesus Christ qualifies us as children of God as being born of God by the Spirit in our human spirit (John 1:12,13; 3:3,5). Unfortunately, many Bible translation did not capture the spiritual truth conveyed in the Greek word for sonship. Therefore, translators of the Bible need to have a full and complete grasp of spiritual revelation in addition to being scholarly in Greek and the target language, in this case, English. The choice of word, especially the text of the Bible, should have been done with utmost care as it affects the thought and belief of the readers which they even deem as the word of God. The original Greek text indeed is the authentic word of God, but if a translation has ambiguity or even err in conveying the thought of God, it is a serious concern. Here comes the need for an accurate translation of the Bible. Though may not be feasible, as much as possible, learning Greek is a great advantage for lovers of the Lord and His word.

The Greek Word Meaning for Sonship- huiothesia

The word huiothesia is a compound word with two parts: a noun huios meaning son, and thesia derived from the verb tithemi, meaning to set, put, or place. Therefore huiothesia literally means setting someone as a son or putting someone in the place of a son.

How did God set or put someone as a son?

The Bible emphatically reveals this process of setting or putting sinners as His sons by an organic process called born again, born anew, or regeneration. There is no absolute thought of this being a judicial process merely as the notion conveyed by the English word "adoption" which commonly understood as the act or process of taking a child of other parents and making him as his own, perhaps, by legal means. To render this meaning of "adoption" is not a proper spiritual thought at all as our faith in Christ is not a matter of adoption by law but of sonship by life.

The word huiothesia (lit., setting one as a son) occurs five times in the New Testament (Rom. 8:15, 23; 9:4; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5) and has been translated in the majority of English versions as "adoption as sons." A more accurate translation is, "sonship", since it conveys the sense of the abiding status of being a son, born organically of the Father, same in life and in nature (1 John 3:1-2, 2 Peter 1:4), which the word "adoption" cannot convey. Therefore, a couple of scholars translated the Bible from Greek again, not undermining the existing translation, but referencing them and respecting the tradition of translation that have existed since time immemorial, yet rendering a more accurate word wherever necessary of which the Recovery Version of the Bible is one such. 

As a believer, I feel indebted to share what I have learned to my fellow believers so that we may learn from one another and be built up with one another through the full knowledge of the word of God, for it is the word that can make us grow and build us up (Acts 20:32).

May the Lord bless this fellowship.

Colombo: Church Visit

Sri Lanka, though neighbouring India, had never been visited in spite of the coordination the serving ones there and us, in India in the literature service, have. I had been harbouring a vague notion about the country and the people. This time, our visit was an eye opening to me.

As we landed, a brother picked us up and took us for a dinner lovefeast to his home. The saints are wealthier than I anticipated. Their hospitality was very good and their love for us was so warm. I was of the assumption that the country is on par with India. But it appears to me that they are better off than many parts of India. The beautiful landscapes, fresh air, cool breeze, and the lovely saints changed my whole concept about the country. Experience indeed is the best teacher. 

I was given hospitality at a saint's home who came to the church life few years ago from a Roman Catholic and Bhuddist background. The truths of the Bible properly interpreted in the ministry of the word have been their continual life supply that keeps them in the enjoyment of the church life. 

My host, a brother and his wife, drove me around the city of Colombo for sight seeking, for shopping, and even for dinning. We also had good time of fellowship on the word of God during breakfast and dinner. I especially was glad that we could fellowship on the word of God in depth with experiences that were so encouraging, edifying, and I believe, a certain amount of building up has also taken place among us. They shared the vision and trench they saw and wanted to know how I would consider. To me, the ministry of the word which is an interpretation of the word of God, is the yard stick I use to expound any vision. With Bible references I showed them what their vision could have meant in the light of the word of God. Interpreting spiritual vision  with spiritual truths cannot go wrong. In fact, the interpretation I presented turned out to be what they exactly are today. Their getting saved, seeking for the truth, finding the ministry of the word, coming into the church life, and finally, their home being opened for the church meeting and for the saints' hospitality are the fulfillment of their vision. It was so marvelous to see how the Lord led them in their lives, and now the consideration even to serve full time. God is sovereignly wise in leading them all the way.

One evening the church arranged a lovefeast dinner for us, visiting saints. The feast was grand but a great surprise awaited us. After the dinner, we were all requested to share our testimonies. It was my first time to hear the personal testimonies of the brothers with whom I serve and it was also my first time to share my testimony to them. Though arranged by the church, it was also good for all of us who serves together in the literature service. Though I had shared my testimony many times to different people, that night was very special. I was beside myself, and the inner anointing was so sweet as I shared what the Lord has been doing in my life. Point by point, word by word, I could testify of the Lord's doing. It was such a blessing to be blended in a way of sharing what the Lord has done in our life. That night was indeed a night to remember.

May the Lord bless the saints and the churches in Sri Lanka. 

Colombo: Literature Fellowship

A visit to Colombo was very significant in the Lord’s move in Sri Lanka. Though we did not intend it, the Lord had led the brothers to make necessary arrangement for literature fellowship. It was the 16th March 2019, the church in Colombo witnessed the Lord's unprecedented move through the literature service. The saints have been burdened for the translation of the ministry books into Sinhala, and they have done their best, even to ultimately bring out the New Testament  Recovery Version. The burden was good. There also must be a proper way to carry out the burden. Burden per se will never accomplish anything unless it is translated into action. And mere action would not accomplish anything significant either without the proper way of doing it. Therefore, it was timely and sovereign of the Lord that we could visit Colombo; four of us, two from India and two from USA.

The two sessions of fellowship on Saturday have clarified the concerns and doubts of the saints concerning the literature service. We presented the burden and importance of the publication work with a very practical help on the step by step process. The result of that half day, two sessions fellowship was noteworthy.

Four saints, a brother and three sisters, signed up for Greek online course with the goal of translating the New Testament. Two saints consecrated to translate the HWMR. The saints who are good in translation were commissioned to translate the title books and Life-study of the Bible. Therefore, the Lord manifested the proper vessels for the literature service.

After the meeting, we were in awe of what the Lord had done. The leading brothers were even more joyful as the Lord opened the way for the saints' participation in the literature to meet the need of the ministry materials in Sinhala. 

One of the main translators had told me how happy she felt as her vision and burden were coming into fruition. She had been bound with the translation of HWMR and other training materials as she is the best translator available so far. Now, after the fellowship she will be learning Greek for the Bible translation and she will be focusing her service on translating the title books and Life-study of the Bible. The burden in her even led her to consider quitting her secular job to serve the Lord full time. My brotherly fellowship was to pray and following the Lord's leading step by step.

Praise the Lord for the unprecedented, impromptu, yet spiritually significant literature fellowship in Colombo for the Lord's move in Sri Lanka. 

RCV Telugu

The translation of the ministry books into Telugu has passed through about two decades. A number of serving ones have come and gone. The literature service in this language has come to a level of maturity with the serving ones able to bring out a good quality translation. Four of the serving ones in this language passed through the Greek class, and two of them were selected to do the text translation of the New Testament.

A brother who is the lead translator for the text was gained by the Lord into the church life and had also attended the full-time training. As a young ambitious student, he used to prepare for the civil services exam in India, the highest competitive exams which only competent students dare attempt. But when the Lord touched and gained him, he consecrated his life to serve the Lord full time. Though he never was a translator before, his gift and function were manifested toward the end of his full-time training. He was gradually brought in to translate the Bible.

The sister who did the checking of the text has such a burden to learn Greek that she even was one of the top scorers in the Greek exam. She, though married and with a daughter, out of her burden, decided to serve full time in the Bible translation. Her husband supported her fully for this great commission. Her testimony of how her husband made every practical arrangement to enable her to serve was very encouraging. To relieve her time from household chores, her husband prepared a room for translation, purchased household electronic gadgets to save her time, and supported her in every possible way. Such testimony is truly exemplary.

The other two brothers who are translating the footnotes are good translators too. They have been translating since the time they came into the church life. They both have the gift and the skill to translate. This team as a whole has a good combination.

RCV Kannada

When the burden for Greek learning was trumpeted in 2014, a brother who was an engineer by profession and his wife were in the midst of prayer and consideration to serve the Lord full time. Though they were not clear in which area they should serve, they had the feeling to learn Greek and perhaps, serve in the literature service. They did learn Greek and did the translation into Kannada. Once they were qualified in Greek to be able to start translation, the fellowship in the Body is that they should start the translation of the Recovery Version Bible into Kannada.

The language itself is one of the major languages in India. But, the number of saints speaking the language and the number of local churches speaking the language is small as of now. Nevertheless, the translation of the Bible can still go ahead. That's how the Recovery Version Bible translation of the New Testament began for Kannada.

The brother and sister, husband and wife too, coordinated in translating the Bible into their mother tongue. Till date, Mathew through Acts has been translated and checked. Due to the shortage of translators for the footnotes, only text translation is in progress. I believe, in time, the Lord will provide more qualified translators to complete the work.

Responsibility

Ezra 10:4 Arise, for the matter is your responsibility, but we are with you; be strong, and do it. 

The Lord in His sovereignty has placed me in the Body where He deems best. Never did I ambitiously try to grab to be what I am today. In fact, I used to consider before the Lord how His mercy has led me thus far and how His grace has made me what I am today. In fact, my profile tag line has been,

1 Corinthians 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am; and His grace unto me did not turn out to be in vain, but, on the contrary, I labored more abundantly than all of them, yet not I but the grace of God which is with me.

I simply serve as a serving ones wherever the Lord placed me, and pray that His grace would be sufficient to me to carry out the responsibility faithfully. As much as I am being graced, I do my best to function responsibly and restrict myself to what is not really my responsibility. For, I am not ignorant of the germs of self-glory and self-exaltation and of seeking man's praise indirectly. The Lord in His mercy has been dealing with me in this matter of "ambition" since the very beginning of my service. I dare not say that I have learned the lesson thoroughly well, but I can testify that I am learning this lesson. Hopefully, I will learn it well.

Recently, through the visit of a brother and his fellowship on how I should boldly function pertaining to the responsibilities the Lord has placed me in, my view was uplifted, perhaps, renewed. As we fellowship concerning an international event to be hosted in India for the first time under the legal entity of the literature where I serve as one of the Directors, he charged me, "Be serious, be bold, you are a Director!" I was a little passive in this matter as there are few other brothers who I feel can take the lead. Officially and positionally, I can do all the legal approval and signing of documents, but the active works I leave it to the brothers. I prefer to follow them and support them, and amen them. But the brother's strong charge to me made me reconsider the way I serve. In fact, I am peaceful now to go ahead and do what needs to be done, boldly. Not in a way of ruling over others, nor exercising authority over others, but simply functioning as I ought to, responsibly. Therefore, I went ahead and jumped in to do what I need to do officially.

Here in Chennai where we have an office too, I need to take some immediate actions to meet the need for carrying out official works. With the responsibility assigned to me as a serving brother, officially as a Director, I took all the decisions to take care of the office works, purchasing office needs, though expensive they may be: inverter batteries, network printers, and few other office works and the oversight of the entire office operation. In my natural man, I would not and dare not do such things. Given a choice, I would rather follow others' leading obediently and faithfully. But since the Lord has placed me in such an official position, I must be faithful to the responsibilities the Lord has assigned to me.

Now I have no chose. I must arise, for the matter is my responsibility, but my brothers are with me; so I must be strong, and I must do what needs to be done. 

Lord, grace me to bear responsibility faithfully and boldly. 

RCV Tamil Translation

Tamil is the language in which we have the highest number of ministry books translated. It also has the highest number of saints in the Lord's recovery. The capital city of Tamilnadu also hosts the biggest church and highest number of local saints meeting in the local church. This team also has young saints who loves the Lord and gave themselves up to serve the Lord. A couple, husband and wife, are the translators for the text of the Bible. Each member in this team has an experience in translation even before they fully came into the literature service. They all learned Greek online and  passed the Greek exam that qualified them to translate the Recovery Version of the Bible.

The checking of the translated texts of this team was very good according to our brother who is an expert in Greek. He expressed how he felt about this team with an applause, "Excellent! You have done a good work." The translation work of this team did not need much adjustment as they did it quite well. The checking work finished faster than any other language checking so far. We could finish checking their works in just a day where other languages team took two days.

Besides, the church in Chennai where we have the literature office and all translators in Tamil resides are also burdened for the literature service. The church gave us hospitality as we carry out the checking work of the Recovery Version translation in this city. In addition, a brother from the church gave us his office conference room to carry out the checking of the Bible translation. Our coordination has been very sweet and the Lord has been blessing the literature service in this city.

May the faithful Lord who began the Tamil translation of the Recovery Version Bible also grace all those involved in the translation service to complete it in time.