What the text itself says
Let us first consider what the witness or testimony of our spirit is. But here I cannot help desiring all those who would swallow up the testimony of the Spirit of God in the rational testimony of our own spirit to observe this. In this text the apostle is so far from speaking of the testimony of our own spirit only, that it may be questioned whether he speaks of it at all, and whether he does not speak only of the testimony of God's Spirit.
It does not appear otherwise than that the original text may fairly be understood in this way. The apostle had just said, in the preceding verse, You have received the Spirit of adoption, by which we cry, Abba, Father. He immediately adds words to this effect. Some copies read, the same Spirit. They may be translated, The same Spirit bears witness to our spirit, that we are the children of God. The small word in the original that means with only denotes that he witnesses this at the same time that he enables us to cry, Abba, Father.
But I do not contend for that reading. So many other texts, with the experience of all real Christians, sufficiently prove that there is in every believer both the testimony of God's Spirit and the testimony of his own, that he is a child of God.
1771 text
I. 1. Let us first consider, what is the witness or testimony of our spirit. But here I cannot but desire all those who are for swallowing up the testimony of the Spirit of God, in the rational testimony of our own spirit, to observe, that in this text the apostle is so far from speaking of the testimony of our own spirit only, that it may be questioned, whether he speaks of it at all? Whether he does not speak, only of the testimony of God’s Spirit? It does not appear, but the original text may be fairly understood thus. The apostle had just said, in the preceding verse, Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father, and immediately subjoins Αὐτὸ τὸ πνεῦμα· (some copies read τὸ αὐτὸ πνεῦμα) συμμαρτυρεῖ τῷ πνεύματι ἡμῶν, ὅτι ἐσμεν τέκεν Θεοῦ. Which may be translated, The same Spirit beareth witness to our spirit, that we are the children of God (the preposition σὺν only denoting, that he witnesses this at the same time that he enables us to cry Abba, Father!) But I contend not; seeing so many other texts, with the experience of all real Christians, sufficiently evince, that there is, in every believer, both the testimony of God’s Spirit, and the testimony of his own, that he is a child of God.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 10 in the 1771 Works. Romans 8:16. The first discourse on the witness of the Spirit.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.