Adopted into God's Family: Exploring a Pauline Metaphor (Volume 22)

New Studies in Biblical Theology #22

by Trevor J. Burke

The relationship between God and his people is understood in various ways by the biblical writers, and it is arguably the apostle Paul who uses the richest vocabulary. Unique to Paul's writings is the term huiothesia, the process or act of being "adopted as son(s)." It occurs five times in three of his letters, where it functions as a key theological metaphor. In this New Studies in Biblical Theology volume, Trevor Burke argues that huiothesia has been misunderstood, misrepresented or neglected through scholarly preoccupation with its cultural background. He redresses the balance in this comprehensive study, which discusses metaphor theory; explores the background to huiothesia; considers the roles of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; examines the moral implications of adoption, and its relationship with honor; and concludes with the consequences for Christian believers as they live in the tension between the "now" and the "not yet" of their adoption into God's new family. Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Biblical Studies, Nonfiction, New Testament, Adoption, Academic

237 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2006

Reviews

[Caleb Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Adoption, on the other hand, is a forensic term and denotes a legal act or transfer from an alien family (cf. Eph. 2:2, lit. 'sons of disobedience') into the family of God." - Trevor Burke

An insightful work on an overlooked word. Paul uses "adoption" (huiothesia) only five times in his letters, yet this infrequent metaphor deserves greater consideration. Rather than being another word simply describing justification, Burke argues that if "justification introduces the sinner into the society of the righteous, adoption introduces the sinner into the society of God's family." What follows in Burke's work is a helpful survey of what exactly Paul is getting at by speaking of being adopted into God's family.

I found Burke's study in the Roman background especially helpful. For example, Burke argues that for "adoption" to work as a metaphor for early Christians, it had to have an intelligible literary and historical background. Adoption was a culturally well known practice in 1st century AD. In fact, successive Roman emperors adopted sons to ensure the continuation of the Julio-Claudian line (p. 62 - I had no idea emperors like Octavian, Tiberius, and Nero were adopted!). When Paul referenced "adoption," readers could look to the highest authority in the Roman Empire to show that adopted sons were placed in their adoptive family with the same rights, honor, and privileges of biological sons. This background wonderfully enlightens the incredible and astounding blessing of what it means for Christians to be adopted by God. The rest of the book is an exegetical look at where "adoption" is used by Paul (Rom. 8:15, 23; 9:4; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5). Burke successfully argues that adoption is a triune work of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each have a unique role.

Also, "Abba" doesn't mean "daddy" (p. 90ff).

Certainly a book I will turn back to when I cross paths with these passages in teaching or preaching!

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his book, Adopted into God’s Family, Dr. Trevor J. Burke seeks to bring attention to what he claims is the oft-neglected topic of adoption. Dr. Burke earned his Ph.D. from the University of Glasgow, is a former professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute, and has a great deal of multi-cultural experience. His book tackles the concept of adoption, specifically the Greek huiothesia, and argues that it is a critical Pauline metaphor for understanding Christian life. This is part of the New Studies in Biblical Theology series, so it aims to reveal how adoption develops through the Hebrew Bible and Greek New Testament.
Burke tackles this topic in 8 chapters. In the first chapter, he introduces the reader to former scholarship on huiothesia, explaining how it has either been misinterpreted or undervalued as a Pauline metaphor. In the second chapter, he defines what a metaphor is and gives a very brief overview of metaphor theory, then applies adoption as a soteriological metaphor. Staying true to his understanding of metaphors and their “rules”, Burke then provides the proper context for adoption. He looks at the Old Testament usage (which is possibly non-existent), then the differences between the Roman and Greek adoption norms and functions. He argues that Roman customs are probably what is in view, and builds from that a deeper understanding of adoption. Chapters 4-6 focus on the roles the Father, Son, and Spirit play in the Christian’s divine adoption. Chapter 7 connects adoption to the honor and shame culture of Paul’s day, explaining how they related to one another and how Paul’s readers would have understood it. Chapter 8 reveals the eschatological emphasis of adoption, arguing that the Christian’s hope heavily involves their adoption as sons of God.
Dr. Burke presents a well-polished, thoroughly researched subject. I was frequently impressed by his ability to tie in various fields of study to bring light to his own. His discussion on metaphor theory was immensely helpful, and likely is a chapter I’ll go back to from time to time. His ability to expound what is surely a complicated subject in just a few pages was inspiring. Additionally, as if his brilliance knows no end, he masterfully unearths the historical background of both Greek and roman culture. Burke puts in an astonishing amount of effort in showing the slight differences in Greek and Roman cultures as it pertains to adoption. The payoff is felt almost immediately, as he rewards his readers with a deep theological distinction between the two. This theological work treats each passage with careful consideration, and for that, Burke deserves high praise.
There are a few questions that arose while reading, however. Perhaps my biggest issue revolves around this work being a study in Biblical Theology. In fairness to Dr. Burke, he does look at various passages that might contain adoption in the Hebrew Bible, and has a great appendix looking at a few more that explains why he doesn’t think they ultimately fit. However, this is a study in Biblical Theology, so it does strike me as odd to have so little from the Hebrew Bible. I am glad that Dr. Burke has academic integrity and does not seek to force something he genuinely does not see in the text. But if that is the case, I do wonder if this book were not better off being in a different series.1 He does tie in a lot of examples of familial concepts within the Old Testament that does at least technically qualify it as a biblical theology, but it would have been helpful to explain why, if adoption is so critical to Pauline thought, that it is virtually non-existent before him. Admittedly, I read this for my own studies in Ruth and came in with my own preconceived connections of it to adoption, but it was striking to me that there was so much commonality between kinsman-redeemership and adoption in the NT, at least functionally. Burke’s research was so well-done, I admit this was puzzling and was unsatisfying. There was also a small bit of confusion on how he understood John Murray’s theology of sonship within soteriology, but this was very minor and can be answered with a little research.
Despite my grievances, this book truly deserves recognition as a thoughtful, academic powerhouse of a contribution. While certainly aimed at scholars, there is a deep pastoral heartbeat within its pages that reminds me of why I study in the first place. Dr. Trevor Burke has invited me to ponder God’s glorious and gracious act to include me in His family. The work of Christ displays his full obedience to the Father, honoring Him with his life, a calling I’ve received with my adoption. And the Spirit enables me to live out this calling, to fully integrate me and to receive the Father. Abba, Father!

1: Even D.A. Carson, the editor of this NSBT series defines it this way: “biblical theology . . . seeks to uncover and articulate the unity of all the biblical texts taken together, resorting primarily to the categories of those texts themselves.” D. A. Carson, “Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology,” in New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, 100. Based on this definition, I felt the book only technically qualified as a biblical theology.

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

How much do you know about the doctrine of adoption? The author Trevor Burke definitely made a contribution towards the biblical doctrine of adoption in writing this book. In the first chapter Burke noted how this doctrine has been misinterpreted and misunderstood. He gives examples of how those in the field of systematic theology have made the mistake of equivocating adoption as the same thing as justification or have confused regeneration with adoption. Burke also argued that it isn’t just systematic theologians who have erred for he also faults those who have been imbalanced in their focus on the background cultural material. While Burke acknowledges that cultural background is important it should not be the predominate focus. The writer does talk about the cultural background in understanding adoption but he does go back to the Scriptures to see how Scripture itself is describing our spiritual adoption. As readers will discover in this work, the biblical description of adoption, while it presupposes the social understanding of adoption of the time, is also different: God’s adoption is far better and a contrast with what man does since spiritual adoption shows much deeper God’s amazing love.
Readers will definitely learn about God’s use of the metaphor of adoption as a result of reading this book. I myself learned that adoption was not taught in the Old Testament but instead is found only in the New Testament. Yet when one turns to the New Testament one discover only Paul has spoken directly about adoption. Adoption is mentioned 5 times by Paul and these appearances are found in four of Paul’s major epistles. I also got to learn about the way adoption was carried out in first century A.D. The author presents a very convincing case for why we should understand adoption in light of Roman customs rather than say Greek customs. The author then use this understanding to help illuminate the New Testament. I like how the author argues that some of the epistles in the New Testament should be understood as part of the genre of family letters to resolve conflicts within the family. This definitely makes me appreciate the epistles more and also members of the church! However the biggest portion of this book is actually interaction with Paul’s adoption passages and its context. At times the author could be quite exegetical and technical. For instance he spends a considerable time tring to figure out the function of the genitive in Paul’s phrase “Spirit of adoption.” Burke takes the view that the “Spirit of Adoption” in Romans 8:15 is a genitive of quality and that the main idea is that one cannot separate the Spirit from adoption and vice versa. He argues this point with the parallel of Galatians 4:6 of the “Spirit of the His Son” having the same idea.
Excellent work. Scholarly and insightful to the exegete, the theologian and the pastor. Educated lay readers will also be edified by this work that’s part of the New studies in Biblical Theology series.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably my favorite treatment of the topic I've read so far. Thorough and scholarly without being inaccessible.

[Mark A Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adoption into the family of God is one of the greatest realities of the Christian life. It's neglect is to our detriment, and a survey of recent literature shows that it has been neglected to a large degree. Even a cursory reading of several Systematic Theologies relegate adoption to a brief chapter, or merely as part of a chapter on salvation/justification. To help correct that trend, Burke has tackled the doctrine of adoption in this monograph study.

Burke is thorough in his research and interacts with a wide variety of literature. He traces the origin of adoption and discusses some of the socio-cultural background that likely informed Paul's use of this metaphor. Burke actually dedicates part of a chapter to examining what a metaphor is. While this is all quite interesting, and perhaps right at home in a study of this nature, it felt like what happens when I eat too many chips at a Mexican restaurant: I enjoy them in the moment but soon realize that I've filled up before the meal has arrived.

As for the entree, Burke does an admirable job of delineating and defining adoption in its biblical context. His choice to examine adoption as it relates to Father, Son, and Spirit is a helpful approach, and I understand his reasoning for wanting to view this doctrine in these categories. However, given that the doctrine of adoption is focused in only three key passages in the New Testament (Romans 8, Galatians 4, and Ephesians 1), a text-by-text approach may have been better suited. He references each of these passages multiple times throughout the monograph. A certain amount of cross-referencing is to be expected but given the amount in which these passages are commented on, the effect here is disjointing. While I was able to follow Burke's conclusions well enough, I would have liked to see specific exegesis on a passage-centric basis. (Though I concede this might have been too commentary-like for the aims of this series.) He is also a little too reliant on other sources, quoting sentences in summaries where his own words would have sufficed.

Those wanting a good primer on the biblical usage of adoption will find this to be a valuable, though slightly repetitive and disjointed, resource. Blemishes aside, adoption is a doctrine worthy of greater study and reflection. If reading this book encourages those things, the reader will find themselves better when done than when they had begun.

[Sanjuro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burke provides a thorough, readable study on adoption in Paul's letters. The investigation into adoption passages is well argued, and I agree with Burke that, in a cursory way, Paul had Roman adoption practices in mind when he decided upon the adoption metaphor.

I would say there are a few things I would have liked to see in the book:
1. Burke establishes that adoption is a metaphor, and he provides an introduction to metaphor theory, but he never actually discusses how adoption functions metaphorically from within that theoretical framework. He brings in Lakoff and Johnson early on, but their theories get dropped and are never directly applied to the adoption metaphor within the actual exegesis of the texts. This has since been done by other writers, thankfully.
2. Burke establishes that adoption is a familial metaphor, but hardly discusses its relationship to other familial metaphors. He establishes the connection with father and son language, but hardly mentions inheritance, and says nothing at all about Paul's use of "offspring" terminology, which relates to adoption quite closely in Romans.
3. Burke says very little about adoption in Romans 9, in relationship to the Jews. When he does, his commentary is odd. For example, at one point he notes that, for Paul, adoption belongs to the Jews. He says very little about how odd that is, since this is not traditionally Jewish language. But, stranger still, he says that, because adoption belongs to the Jews, it is striking that the Gentiles are offered adoption in Romans 8. Most commentators would likely exactly reverse this. More expected would be the idea that Jews do not need adoption, because they were already God's people, and Paul then brings Gentiles into the Jewish line through adoption. In this case, the oddity is ascribing adoption to Jews, who would have never viewed themselves this way. This is the anomaly that needs justification - not the idea that adoption is now open to Gentiles.
4. In the final chapter Burke talks about the "already/not yet" aspect of Romans 8, but he never actually discusses how this dichotomy functions for Paul. Burke just assumes a certain paradigm, but I'm not sure which account of this dichotomous/dualistic framework Burke accepts. Paul's understanding of time is a matter of debate.

These critiques aside, I enjoyed the book and found it fruitful. A must read for anyone interested in adoption in Paul's letters.

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a number of metaphors used throughout Scripture to note our relationship with God. Such metaphors include the bride, children, and family just to name a few. One important metaphor used extensively by the Apostle Paul is that of adoption. Trevor Burke in his book Adopted into God’s Family: Exploring a Pauline Metaphor, explores why Paul utilized this particular identifier and why it is important for believers to grasp what it means to be adopted into the family of God.

As the father of an adopted child, I am keenly aware of what is involved in the process of adoption and more importantly, what adoption means for that child who has been provided with what amount to a new lease on life. Essentially, adoption is the act of rescuing someone from a life of sorrow and woe and placing them in a new and loving family. Theologically speaking, the act of adoption must be understood as being separate from justification. Burke rightly notes “Adoption and justification are not the same – adoption emphasizes aspects of the believer’s relationship to God that are not present in justification…Put another way, God does not only justify people and leave them destitute with nowhere to go – he adopts them into the warmth and security of his household.”

This is an important distinction to understand. God does not just justify us and then do nothing that provides us with a sense of family or relationship. While being justified before God is most certainly a necessity, being adopted into the family of God is also a necessary part of this renewal of relationship that takes place for those whom God calls His own. An additional point of emphasis Burke aptly makes concerning the process of adoption is that is it clearly “Christologically grounded in the person and work of Jesus Christ, God’s Son.” As noted by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 4, our adoption as sons of God is rooted in both the appearing of Christ in the flesh as well as his death, burial, and resurrection on the cross.

Burke also emphasizes and rightly so the now and not yet element of adoption. We are now adopted sons of God who look forward to a future time when the full consummation of that adopted familial relationship will take place. We look forward to that time when Christ returns so that we may enjoy the eternal physical relationship with the Father and the Son who paid the price so that we might be called children of God. Thus, adoption is firmly wrapped up in soteriological and eschatological truths both connected to the work of Christ.

Another interesting aspect of adoption which Burke ably notes is the reality that adoption is part and parcel of God’s divine plan which is itself rooted in our predestination to become children of God, sons of Abba Father. The Apostle Paul declares in that adoption is “a gift of God’s free grace and excludes all human merit; it is absolutely sola gratia and an awareness of this should alert us to the fact that it rules out all the boasting of man with his natural or acquired qualities.” There is nothing we have done do merit being adopted children of God. This was a decision made by God in eternity past, a decision to rescue us from the chains of bondage and slavery to sin. Just as it was a decision, albeit one that was decided by God in eternity past that my wife and I would select and adopt our daughter, so too in eternity past, it was decided amongst the Godhead to enact a rescue plan for those whom God decides long ago would be called children of the Most High. Adoption is entirely the grace of God.

One final aspect of this book I thoroughly enjoyed was the discussion of adoption and honor. In Paul’s day, if you were adopted, you received the privileges and status that were afforded being a member of the family to whom you were adopted. Burke comments “To be sure, natural sonship ascribed status, but in the case of adoption such honor was greatly accentuated – it brought esteem not previously enjoyed, because of the adoptee’s relationship with his new father and new family to which he had now come to belong.” When the concept of adoption is applied to our relationship with our Heavenly Father, we can begin to better understand what it means to be an adopted son of God to include the privileges we enjoy as well as how that impacts our relationship with God. The Apostle Paul chastised the Church at Galatia for their forgetfulness of this important point. As Burke saliently notes, “Paul is stressing to the Galatian Christians that they not only owe their very existence to God the Father in adopting them as his sons and daughters but they also owe him their continued allegiance and loyalty.” Burke also reminds us that “Fidelity and obedience were expected norms of the father-son relationship in the ancient world; hence Paul exhorts his readers to continue the Christian life as they had begun it.”

As adopted children of God we should constantly remind ourselves that it is only by God’s grace that we even have the status of being His children. Acknowledgement of that status should result in a keen and fervent desire to bring glory to the One who so graciously rescued us from sin and death. Understanding adoption is an important element of being a sanctified bride, a people who desire to serve with gladness God the Father. As Burke states in the closing chapter of his book, “Adoption is an intensely relational concept and centers upon a relationship with the living God. That God the Father desires to enter into a relationship with people is the essence of the Christian gospel.” We were once aliens but have now been rescued through the blood of Jesus, given new life and restored relationship with our Creator.

I highly recommend this excellent book by Trevor Burke for all believers. Replete with theological insight and practical application, those who read this work will find they will rejoice anew at being called sons of God and in doing so, will also find a renewed desire to serve God the Father in every area of their life so they may bring glory and honor to our adopted Abba Father.

I received this book for free from IVP Academic for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Stuart Houghton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book for bring out the importance of adoption for understanding the Christian's identity and familial responsibilities. For several years I have felt the Gospel I've often heard is inadequate because it tells us God is someone who does good things for us but doesn't require anything of us. However, Burke shows us that being adopted in God's family involves a transfer of loyalties to God himself. I really liked the sequence of how Jesus' death and resurrection effects the freeing of slaves to sin to become freedmen, then adoption completes God's initiative of salvation in the transfer of those freedmen into his own family. God, as the head of the family, provides for and protects his children. God's children, for their part, own loyalty and obedience to the head of their family, God the Father. I also liked Burke's discussion of the Holy Spirit in adoption. This book is well worth reading.

[Andy Febrico Bintoro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doctrine of adoption both theologically and soteriologically. The author argue that Adoption is an intensely relational concept and centres upon a relationship with the living God. That God the Father desires to enter into a relationship with people is the essence of the Christian gospel; that this relationship is expressed in terms of familial language in general and in terms of adoption in particular is Pauline Christianity. The alienation and the need to be connected is where the doctrine of Christian adoption comes in because it serves the purpose of underscoring how God has dealt with the question of our estrangement by taking us from being ‘children of disobedience’ and placing us as adopted sons and daughters in his family.

[Daniel Headrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful exploration of Paul's metaphor of adoption (huiothesia) in the NT. Explores Roman legal conceptions of adoption and argues that adoption into God's family is linked inextricably to the "sonship" of God. I give it four stars only because of its rather cursory treatment of feminist criticisms of Paul's sonship language. The book would have been richer if this had gone beyond "the Bible says it, I believe" line of argumentation.

[Erik Engström · Rating 4 out of 5]

Polished examination through the doctrine of adoption. A western read will most likely apply cultural applications to the biblical gift of adoption, however Burke draws attention to scripture. So that, God’s spiritual adoption is far greater an example of God’s amazing love.

[Adam Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent NSBT volume - especially helpful on presenting the adoption metaphor against the background of Roman customs, and on showing adoption as a triune work of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If you're preaching through Romans, Galatians or Ephesians, this is definitely worth dipping into.

[James Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid book on adoption into the Kingdom of God.

[Dave Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been fascinated with the subject of adoption, specifically as a uniquely Pauline term. Burke's book takes us through the cultural and societal practices and understanding which the term adoption would have spoken to. Paul himself is a man given to a multidimenstional background, entrenched in a variety of hellenistic, roman, Jewish language. Burkes exposition leaves little doubt of adoptions roots in Roman language as the strongest and clearest evidence of adoption as practice on the level of society and legal definition. Understanding this allows us to see adoption, in a pauline sense, as a highly spiritualized idea that really revolutionized the idea of the Christian faith. Adoption is not justification, but rather is a definitive part of what justification declares as moving from one identity to a new one in Christ.

As Paul develops this idea of adoption, he applies it to a Christocentric idea that sees God the Father as the head. In adoption we come under a new head, and as such lay claim to the the privileges that "family" allows. This means that one is given to become heirs of the family heritage, possessions and status. When one sees this in Christ, as "sons and daughters of God", we then see the sheer enormity of adoption as the picture of where salvation positions us. What is more revolutionary is the idea that we can come in to this family as Jew or Gentile.

Burke carries us through the origin of practice in society and the pauline development of the adoption metaphor/terminology and language. He works to connect it as well to a Jewish setting and history. He then divides the further exploration of adoptions significance in three categories: God as Father, adoption as "sons of God" through the son of God, and finally adoption in the language of the spirit. He then puts all of this within the idea of the "already not yet" tension that adoption both is and precludes or alludes to. A worthwhile read.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This (NSBT) continues to develop into a great series, and Burke's book is an solid contribution. Adopted is an exploration of all that Paul means for us to hear and celebrate when he announces that we have received "adoption as sons" as one of the glorious gifts in our very great salvation. The book is built around the five texts where Paul explicitly uses "adoption" language, but Burke's biblical study is supplemented with a helpful investigation of the cultural background of this term as well as a discussion of the theological contribution it can make (a distinct contribution Burke argues has too often been ignored or conflated with other gifts, like justification). This book made me glory anew and afresh in what my Father has accomplished for me through His firstborn Son and by His Holy Spirit. Any biblical and theological study that leads my heart and mind to worship has accomplished its God-given goal!

[Lindsay John Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excerpt from my full review, available here http://wp.me/p2YKx0-1qu

Adopted into God’s Family is a deeply moving book. Even academic rigour and details can’t get in the way of such a rich topic! But Burke goes further; he allows wonder to come through in his own writing. It is clear that his study of adoption has impacted him and it’s contagious.

Whilst maintaining my two perceived shortcomings, I’d highly recommend this work to anyone (pastor, student, teacher) interested in the theological depth found in Paul’s “adoption” language. It truly is a wonderful thing to be adopted into God’s family!

Many thanks to IVP USA for providing a copy of Adopted into God's Family for review. I was not required to provide a positive review

[Brent Dore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burke does an excellent job of exploring the finer technical points of Paul's theology of adoption. I appreciated the examination of the Roman background to the concept of adoption. Adoption involves every member of the Trinity in dramatic ways and Burke does a great job of breaking down each role. I do wish that Burke would have spent a little more time building out the application but overall it is a very solid book. I highly recommend this book to all readers because it will push you to explore the ways that God's adoption of you transforms the way you see Him.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

The NSBT series never fails to bring sound exegesis and insight to a particular subject in biblical theology. This book was helpful on both sociolegal and exegetical grounds of the Pauline doctrine of adoption and I'll use it as a reference for years to come.

If you like heady and in depth biblical study, read this. If not, you may puke.

[Robert Fonseca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very thorough study on the meaning and significance of the word adoption as used by the apostle Paul. This book is not a quick read, but if you like deep theological studies then this is for you.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easier read than I imagined, excellent insights into the doctrine of adoption through analysis of Paul's use of the word in 5 texts.

[Bauer Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of NT doctrine of adoption

[Nathan Whitley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic study on the doctrine of adoption. Very helpful and very accessible. Highly recommend.

[Rylan S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my research on the subject this was the most excellent resource I encountered. It is scholarly, insightful, accessible, and succinct.