God’s Word Translation
Romans 8:13
13If you live by your corrupt nature, you are going to die. But if you use your spiritual nature to put to death the evil activities 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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 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.
Context of Romans 8:13
11Does the Spirit of the one who brought Jesus back to life live in you? Then the one who brought Christ back to life will also make your mortal bodies alive by his Spirit who lives in you. 12So, brothers and sisters, we have no obligation to live the way our corrupt nature wants us to live. If you live by your corrupt nature, you are going to die. But if you use your spiritual nature to put to death the evil activities of the body, you will live. 14Certainly, all who are guided by God’s Spirit are God’s children. 15You haven’t received the spirit of slaves that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the spirit of God’s adopted children by which we call out, “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 8:1So those who are believers in Christ Jesus can no longer be condemned.
- Romans 6:21What did you gain by doing those things? You’re ashamed of what you used to do because it ended in death.
- Romans 7:5While we were living under the influence of our corrupt nature, sinful passions were at work throughout our bodies. Stirred up by the laws in Moses’ Teachings, our sinful passions did things that result in death.
- Galatians 5:19Now, the effects of the corrupt nature are obvious: illicit sex, perversion, promiscuity,
- Galatians 6:8If you plant in ⌞the soil of⌟ your corrupt nature, you will harvest destruction. But if you plant in ⌞the soil of⌟ your spiritual nature, you will harvest everlasting life.
- Ephesians 5:3Don’t let sexual sin, perversion of any kind, or greed even be mentioned among you. This is not appropriate behavior for God’s holy people.
- Colossians 3:5Therefore, put to death whatever is worldly in you: your sexual sin, perversion, passion, lust, and greed (which is the same thing as worshiping wealth).
- James 1:14Everyone is tempted by his own desires as they lure him away and trap him.
- Romans 8:2The standards of the Spirit, who gives life through Christ Jesus, have set you free from the standards of sin and death.
- 1 Corinthians 9:27Rather, I toughen my body with punches and make it my slave so that I will not be disqualified after I have spread the Good News to others.
- Galatians 5:24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their corrupt nature along with its passions and desires.
- Ephesians 4:22You were taught to change the way you were living. The person you used to be will ruin you through desires that deceive you.
- 1 Peter 2:11Dear friends, since you are foreigners and temporary residents ⌞in the world⌟, I’m encouraging you to keep away from the desires of your corrupt nature. These desires constantly attack you.
- Ephesians 4:30Don’t give God’s Holy Spirit any reason to be upset with you. He has put his seal on you for the day you will be set free ⌞from the world of sin⌟.
- Ephesians 5:18Don’t get drunk on wine, which leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit
- 1 Peter 1:22Love each other with a warm love that comes from the heart. After all, you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth. As a result you have a sincere love for each other.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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