What was the Hebrew equivalent to Roman/Greek adoption?
The Hebrew rite comparable to Roman and Greek adoption was the Bar Mitzvah, which occurred when a boy reached the age of 14. It was not identical, however, since Roman and Greek adoption prepared a child for secular business as a co-worker, while the Hebrew practice did not operate in that same secular category.
Les explains that Paul used adoption as it was practiced in Roman and Greek culture. In that practice, a child born to the husband and wife was placed under tutors, educated, trained, and prepared to come in at an equal level with the father, perhaps for business. When the child reached that point, he went through the rites of adoption. The Hebrew culture had something akin to this: the Bar Mitzvah, when the boy reached the age of 14. But Les says it was not in the same category as the Roman and Greek practice, because the Romans and Greeks were in the secular world and were preparing their child to become a co-worker in the business. Paul teaches something different for believers: the moment a person becomes a believer, he does not go through years of tutoring and training but is immediately placed as an heir with the Father and the Son. This fits Ephesians 1:5, where believers are predestinated to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ, and Ephesians 1:11, where they have obtained an inheritance as joint heirs with Christ.
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
More Questions
What did adoption mean in the Roman and Greek culture that Paul refers to?
As Paul uses the word, adoption refers to the Roman/Greek custom in which a child born into a family was placed under tutors, educated, trained, and prepared until he could come in at an equal level with his father, and then he went through the rites of adoption.