English Standard Version
Romans 8:13
13For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Romans 8:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
- New International Version (NIV)For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
- New Living Translation (NLT)For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.
Context of Romans 8:13
11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. 12So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"
Read all of Romans 8Romans 8:13 word by word
εἰ γὰρ κατὰ σάρκα ζῆτε, μέλλετε ἀποθνῄσκειν· εἰ δὲ πνεύματι τὰς πράξεις τοῦ σώματος θανατοῦτε, ζήσεσθε.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- ifεἰei · ifG1487
- ye liveζάωzaō · to liveG2198
- afterκατάkata · according toG2596
- the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
- ye shallμέλλωmellō · to ensueG3195
- dieἀποθνήσκωapothnēskō · to dieG599
- butδέde · thenG1161
- yeθανατόωthanatoō · to killG2289
- through the Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- the deedsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the deedsπρᾶξιςpraxis · actionG4234
- of the bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
Cross-references for Romans 8:13
- Romans 8:1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 6:21But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
- Romans 7:5For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.
- Galatians 5:19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
- Galatians 6:8For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
- Ephesians 5:3But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
- Colossians 3:5Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
- James 1:14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
- Romans 8:2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
- 1 Corinthians 9:27But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
- Galatians 5:24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
- Ephesians 4:22to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
- 1 Peter 2:11Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
- Ephesians 4:30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
- Ephesians 5:18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
- 1 Peter 1:22Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
Commentaries on Romans 8:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die - Though may mean, ye shall afterwards die, and this seems to indicate a temporal death, yet not exclusively of an eternal death; for both, and especially the latter, are necessarily implied. But if ye through the Spirit - If ye seek that grace and spiritual help which the Gospel of Christ furnishes, resist, and, by resisting, mortify the deeds of the flesh, against which the law gave you no assistance, ye…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13For if you live - If you live to indulge your carnal propensities, you will sink to eternal death; Romans 7:23. Through the Spirit - By the aid of the Spirit; by cherishing and cultivating his influences. What is here required can be accomplished only by the aid of the Holy Spirit. Do mortify - Do put to death; do destroy. Sin is mortified when its power is destroyed, and it ceases to be active. The deeds of the body - The corrupt inclinations and…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-17Verses 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, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. If any habitually live according to corrupt lustings, they will…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13you will die: Death is the result of sin. Those who consistently submit to sin will suffer spiritual death (you will die). However, the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians makes it possible for them to turn away from sin. The result is eternal life (you will live).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 12-1312-13. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh--"Once we were sold under sin (Ro 7:14); but now that we have been set free from that hard master and become servants to Righteousness (Ro 6:22), we owe nothing to the flesh, we disown its unrighteous claims and are deaf to its imperious demands." Glorious sentiment!Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 8:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Romans 8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries