It was rare for a Roman citizen to adopt a slave, but it was done from time to time. In most instances, it was because the man had no children and thus had no heir. By adopting a slave, the man had an heir.
The adoption was handled in two stages. First, all ties between the slave and his father were completely severed, the destruction of the potestas. The slave was to no longer have any familial connection with his father. The second stage was making the Roman man the father, the paterfamilias. The slave agreed to be completely answerable to the Roman. He was now to be under his rule. All that the slave owned now became the property of the new Roman father. All that the slave had was now under his control. The authority of the Roman was now absolute over the adopted son. However, the adopted son also became heir to what the Roman owned; he became a free citizen and a member of the kingdom.
For the transaction to be legally formalized, the presence of seven reputable witnesses was required. If necessary, their testimony would refute any challenge to the adoption after the father’s death.
When one becomes a Christian, one becomes an adopted child of God (Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:5). People go from being the slaves and children of Satan to being the adopted children of God. A person’s ties and relationship to Satan and sin are severed. The person agrees to acknowledge that Christ owns and controls all of his possessions, his own body and his mind. The Christian acknowledges Christ’s rule over his life and recognizes it as absolute.
By becoming a Christian, a person becomes the heir of heaven (Galatians 3:29; Romans 8:17). While the Roman man adopted a son so that his name would be continued and given honor (in most instances, it was done for the father’s honor), the Christian’s adoption is to his benefit. God receives glory for His wonderful mercy and grace, but the benefit from the adoption is to the Christian.
God never dies. So, there is no need for seven witnesses to refute any challenge of adoption. However, it is interesting that when Peter converted Cornelius, he took six men with him as witnesses. These men then went with Peter to Jerusalem to tell that Cornelius was converted with God’s consent and that Cornelius was now an adopted son of God.
Study your Bible. Learn what is necessary for you to become an adopted child of God. If any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
