Research gathered by Dr. Edgar Foster
Here are some thoughts on Romans 8:16 from various sources.
The Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament (Moulton-Milligan) states:
"SUNMARTUREW, 'bear witness with' (Rom 2:15 al.): cf. BGU I. 86.41ff (A.D. 155), where the signature of each attesting witness is accompanied by the words SUNMARTURW KAI SUNSFRAKIW."
Rogers and Rogers (The New Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament, page 330) says: "SUMMARTUREI pres. ind. act. SUMMARTUREW (#5210) to bear witness w. someone, to confirm, to testify in support of someone. Used in the papyri where the signature of each attesting witness is accompanied by the words, 'I bear witness w. and I seal w.'" (MM).
"Beareth witness with our spirit [summarturei tōi pneumati hēmōn]. See on Ro 2:15 for this verb with associative instrumental case. See 1Jo 5:10f. for this double witness" (Robertson's Word Pictures).
We also have these words from John Chrysostom:
"Ver. 16. 'The Spirit Itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.'
For it is not from the language merely, he says, that I make my assertion, but from the cause out of which the language has its birth; since it is from the Spirit suggesting it that we so speak. And this in another passage he has put into plainer words, thus: 'God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba Father.'(Gal. iv. 6.) And what is that, 'Spirit beareth witness with spirit?' The Comforter, he means, with that Gift, which is given unto us. For it is not of the Gift alone that it is the voice, but of the Comforter also who gave the Gift, He Himself having taught us through the Gift so to speak. But when the 'Spirit beareth witness' what farther place for doubtfulness? For if it were a man, or angel, or archangel, or any other such power that promised this, then there might be reason in some doubting. But when it is the Highest Essence that bestoweth this Gift, and 'beareth witness' by the very words He bade us use in prayer, who would doubt any more of our dignity? For not even when the Emperor elects any one, and proclaims in all men's hearing the honor done him, does anybody venture to gainsay."
See the patristic commentary on Romans at http://books.google.com/books?id=yVs2SQkeZEoC&pg=PA211&dq=commentary+on+romans+8:16&sig=cqytt-06pOgp92zUNtmpuhyuYKk
The NET Bible renders Romans 8:16: The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children.
The footnote to that texts reads:
Or possibly “with.” ExSyn 160-61, however, notes the following: “At issue, grammatically, is whether the Spirit testifies alongside of our spirit (dat. of association), or whether he testifies to our spirit (indirect object) that we are God’s children. If the former, the one receiving this testimony is unstated (is it God? or believers?). If the latter, the believer receives the testimony and hence is assured of salvation via the inner witness of the Spirit. The first view has the advantage of a σύν- (sun-) prefixed verb, which might be expected to take an accompanying dat. of association (and is supported by NEB, JB, etc.). But there are three reasons why πνεύματι (pneumati) should not be taken as association: (1) Grammatically, a dat. with a σύν- prefixed verb does not necessarily indicate association. This, of course, does not preclude such here, but this fact at least opens up the alternatives in this text. (2) Lexically, though συμμαρτυρέω (summarturew) originally bore an associative idea, it developed in the direction of merely intensifying μαρτυρέω (marturew). This is surely the case in the only other NT text with a dat. (Rom 9:1). (3) Contextually, a dat. of association does not seem to support Paul’s argument: ‘What standing has our spirit in this matter? Of itself it surely has no right at all to testify to our being sons of God’ [C. E. B. Cranfield, Romans [ICC], 1:403]. In sum, Rom 8:16 seems to be secure as a text in which the believer’s assurance of salvation is based on the inner witness of the Spirit. The implications of this for one’s soteriology are profound: The objective data, as helpful as they are, cannot by themselves provide assurance of salvation; the believer also needs (and receives) an existential, ongoing encounter with God’s Spirit in order to gain that familial comfort.
Regards,
Edgar
3 comments:
The Holy Spirit is the governing body for the Christian. Sure we respect those placed over us as pastors and teachers but the actual Governing Body is the Holy Spirit dwelling inside the Christian.
In fact Paul says without this indwelling Holy Spirit you are not a Christian.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”” John 14:6-7 ESV
“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” Romans 8:9 ESV“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV
“For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:11-16 ESV
“but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.” 1 John 2:5, 26-27 ESV
If a person does not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, they cannot understand Gods word. Doctrinally speaking, because JWs do not accept the indwelling of the Holy Spirit for the earthly class, they still meet the criteria of “natural person” and not the “spiritual person” that Paul describes above. Thus per his words, they cannot understand the things of God. They do not have the mind of Christ and do not belong to Christ.
The problem as I see it is your theology does not seem to teach that Gods Holy Spirit dwells (resides, remains in, abides) in the believer. I have asked this question to quite a few JWs and they generally tell me it, not ”he” does not dwell but comes and goes as they pray to Jehovah for it and ask for the assistance of it.
"spirit" is a bogus word for a bogus concept. The Hebrew "Ruach," the Koine "Pneuma" and the Latin "spiritus" always meant "breath" (or other forms of fluid air). This all derives from this:
[Gen 2:7 NASB95] [7] Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Can you see how much more sense this makes with this understanding?:
[Rom 8:2 NASB95] [2] For the law of the Spirit [ie: "breath"] of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
Notice also:
[Jhn 20:22 NASB95] [22] And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit [ie: "Breath"].
[Act 2:2 NASB95] [2] And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
But the real smoking gun (and the answer to the original post) is this:
[1Co 2:10-16 NASB95] [10] For to us God revealed [them] through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. [11] For who among men knows the [thoughts] of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the [thoughts] of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, [13] which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual [thoughts] with spiritual [words.] [14] But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. [15] But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. [16] For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.
Notice that there is one breath of the world and one breath from God. The breath from God and the regular air within them, both approve the things of God and provide him with instruction.
The world, though is led by the air of the adversary's breath:
[Eph 2:2 NASB95] [2] in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
So, be careful what you breathe...
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