New Living Translation
Romans 8:5
5Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.
Romans 8:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
- New International Version (NIV)Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
Context of Romans 8:5
3The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.
Read all of Romans 8Romans 8:5 word by word
οἱ γὰρ κατὰ σάρκα ὄντες τὰ τῆς σαρκὸς φρονοῦσιν οἱ δὲ κατὰ πνεῦμα τὰ τοῦ πνεύματος.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Romans 8:5
- Romans 8:12Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.
- John 3:6Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.
- 1 Corinthians 15:48Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man.
- 2 Corinthians 10:3We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do.
- 2 Peter 2:10He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority. These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling.
- Romans 8:6So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
- Mark 8:33Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” he said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
- 1 Corinthians 2:14But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.
- Philippians 3:18For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
- Romans 8:9But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)
- Galatians 5:22But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- Ephesians 5:9For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
- Colossians 3:1Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
Commentaries on Romans 8:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5For they that are after the flesh - And here is the great distinction between Jews and genuine Christians: the former are after the flesh - are under the power of the carnal, rebellious principle; and consequently mind, , relish, the things of the flesh - the things which appertain merely to the present life; having no relish for spiritual and eternal things. But they that are after the Spirit - They who are regenerated, who are born of the Spirit, being…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5For they that are after the flesh - They that are under the influence of the corrupt and sinful desires of the flesh; Galatians 5:19-21. Those who are unrenewed. Do mind the things of the flesh - They are supremely devoted to the gratification of their corrupt desires. But they that are after the Spirit - Who are under its influence; who are led by the Spirit. The things of the Spirit - Those things which the Spirit produces, or which he effects in the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5set their minds on the things of the flesh: This phrase refers to a person's overall intentions, not just their thoughts (see also 12:3; 15:5; Philippians 2:2, 5).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. For they that are after the flesh--that is, under the influence of the fleshly principle. do mind--give their attention to (Php 3:19). the things of the flesh, &c.--Men must be under the predominating influence of one or other of these two principles, and, according as the one or the other has the mastery, will be the complexion of their life, the character of their actions.Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 8:5
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries