What did adoption mean in Greek and Roman culture?
In Greek and Roman culture, adoption meant a father trained a young son in the attributes of his business so that, when grown, the child was tutored and prepared to stand alongside him with full responsibility. It was a process of preparation for adult partnership and responsibility.
Les explains that in Greek and Roman society, adoption was not merely a legal status but a process of training. The father would train that young son, probably in the attributes of his particular business, so that when he became of age, whatever the father determined, the child was now tutored and prepared to come right up alongside the father and have full responsibility. That was the right of adoption in those cultures. Les then contrasts this with the believer’s position: at salvation, believers do not go through a long period of training and preparation, but immediately God positions them equal with Christ the Son, a joint heir, by the grace of God. He has predestinated them to that glorious position of being right with Christ in the body, in Christ, and in that elevated position in the heavenlies, immediately placed as the tutored child was with his father. This is the predestination unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself.