What is the Hebrew equivalent of Roman adoption, and how is it different?
The Hebrew equivalent is the Bar Mitzvah, occurring when a boy reaches age fourteen. It differs from Roman and Greek adoption, which involved years of tutoring and preparation for secular business co-work. Paul teaches believers are placed immediately as heirs with the Father and Son, joint heirs with Christ from day one, without such training.
Les explains that the Roman and Greek practice of adoption involved a child born to the husband and wife being placed under tutors, educated and 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 a boy reached age fourteen. But Les notes it was not the same category, because the Romans and Greeks were in the secular world and were preparing their child to become a co-worker in the business. Paul, however, teaches that the moment a person becomes a believer, there are no years of tutoring and training; the believer is immediately placed as an heir with the Father and the Son. This is the adoption Paul refers to in Ephesians 1:5: believers were predestinated not to heaven or hell, but as believers to this position with Christ from day one, as joint heirs in the process of adoption. Ephesians 1:11 adds that they have obtained an inheritance and are joint heirs with Christ. In the secular economy, if the other party passes off the scene, the heir ends up with it.