SEV Biblia, Chapter 8:16
Porque el mismo Espíritu da testimonio a nuestro espíritu que somos hijos de Dios.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Romans 8:16
Verse 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit] auto to pneuma, that same Spirit, the Spirit of adoption; that is, the Spirit who witnesses this adoption; which can be no other than the Holy Ghost himself, and certainly cannot mean any disposition or affection of mind which the adopted person may feel; for such a disposition must arise from a knowledge of this adoption, and the knowledge of this adoption cannot be given by any human or earthly means; it must come from God himself: therefore the auto to pneuma must have reference to that Spirit, by whom alone the knowledge of the adoption is witnessed to the soul of the believer. With our spirit] In our understanding, the place or recipient of light and information; and the place or faculty to which such information can properly be brought. This is done that we may have the highest possible evidence of the work which God has wrought. As the window is the proper medium to let the light of the sun into our apartments, so the understanding is the proper medium of conveying the Spirit's influence to the soul. We, therefore, have the utmost evidence of the fact of our adoption which we can possibly have; we have the word and Spirit of God; and the word sealed on our spirit by the Spirit of God. And this is not a momentary influx: if we take care to walk with God, and not grieve the Holy Spirit, we shall have an abiding testimony; and while we continue faithful to our adopting Father, the Spirit that witnesses that adoption will continue to witness it; and hereby we shall know that we are of God by the Spirit which he giveth us.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness , etc..] The thing which the Spirit of God witnesses to is, that we are the sons of God ; which supposes the case in some sense doubtful and uncertain, at least that it is called in question; not by others, though it sometimes is, as by Satan, which need not seem strange, since he called in question the sonship of Christ himself, and by the world who know them not, and by good men, till better informed: but the testimony of the Spirit is not the satisfaction of others, but the saints themselves; who are ready to doubt of it at times, because of the greatness of the favour, and their own sinfulness and unworthiness; especially after backslidings; through the temptations of the devil, and because of their many trials and afflictions. Now this witness of the Spirit is to establish and confirm it; not to make the thing itself surer, for that stands on the sure foundation of predestination, on the unalterable covenant of grace, on union to Christ; redemption by him, the gift of Christ, and continuance of the Spirit; but to assure them of it, and of their interest in it; for the testimony is given to our spirits; so the words are read by the Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, and by the Vulgate Latin; which reading seems better than with our spirits ; for our own spirits are no witnesses to ourselves: the Father and Son are co-witnesses of the Spirit, but not our own spirits; the spirits of the saints are they which receive the witness of the Spirit of God, to which it is made; not to their ears, for it is not an audible testimony; but to their hearts, it is internal; to their renewed souls, where faith is wrought to receive it; to their understandings, that they may know and be assured of it; to their spirits, which are apt to faint and doubt about it. Now it is the Spirit itself that bears this witness, and not others, or by others, but he himself in person; who is a divine witness, whose testimony therefore must be greater than others, and a faithful one, who will never deceive; for he witnesses what he knows, and what is sure and certain: his very being and habitation in the saints are witnesses and proofs of their adoption; his powerful operations and divine landings persuade to a belief of the truth of it; and by shedding abroad the Father's love in the heart, and by the application of Gospel promises, he causes and encourages them to cry Abba, Father; which is a wonderful instance of his condescension and grace.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 10-17 - If the Spirit be in us, Christ is in us. He dwells in the heart by faith. Grace in the soul is its new nature; the soul is alive to God and has begun its holy happiness which shall endure for ever. The righteousness of Christ imputed, secures the soul, the better part from death. From hence we see how much it is our duty to walk, no after the flesh, but after the Spirit. If any habitually live accordin to corrupt lustings, they will certainly perish in their sins, whateve they profess. And what can a worldly life present, worthy for a momen to be put against this noble prize of our high calling? Let us then, by the Spirit, endeavour more and more to mortify the flesh. Regeneratio by the Holy Spirit brings a new and Divine life to the soul, though in a feeble state. And the sons of God have the Spirit to work in them the disposition of children; they have not the spirit of bondage, which the Old Testament church was under, through the darkness of tha dispensation. The Spirit of adoption was not then plentifully poure out. Also it refers to that spirit of bondage, under which many saint were at their conversion. Many speak peace to themselves, to whom God does not speak peace. But those who are sanctified, have God's Spiri witnessing with their spirits, in and by his speaking peace to the soul. Though we may now seem to be losers for Christ, we shall not, we cannot, be losers by him in the end.
Greek Textus Receptus
αυτο 846 P-NSN το 3588 T-NSN πνευμα 4151 N-NSN συμμαρτυρει 4828 5719 V-PAI-3S τω 3588 T-DSN πνευματι 4151 N-DSN ημων 2257 P-1GP οτι 3754 CONJ εσμεν 2070 5748 V-PXI-1P τεκνα 5043 N-NPN θεου 2316 N-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
16. Beareth witness with our spirit (summarturei tw pneumati hmwn). This rendering assumes the concurrent testimony of the human spirit with that of the divine Spirit. Others, however, prefer to render to our spirit, urging that the human spirit can give no testimony until acted upon by the Spirit of God.Children (tekna). See on John i. 12.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
8:16 {The Spirit himself} (auto to pneuma). The grammatical gender of pneuma is neuter as here, but the Greek used also the natural gender as we do exclusively as in #Joh 16:13 ekeinos (masculine {he}), to pneuma (neuter). See also #Joh 16:26 (ho--ekeinos). It is a grave mistake to use the neuter "it" or "itself" when referring to the Holy Spirit. {Beareth witness with our spirit} (summarturei t"i pneumati hemwn). See on Ro 2:15 for this verb with associative instrumental case. See #1Jo 5:10f. for this double witness.
