Romans 8
Berean Standard Bible · Compare translations · AD 56 – AD 57 · The early church · Tap a verse to copy, share or highlight ·
39 verses · 904 words · ~5 min read · ~6 min listen
Walking by the Spirit
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5Those 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. 6The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, 7because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to Godʼs law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God.
9You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.
Heirs with Christ
12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation, but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 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. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are Godʼs children. 17And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Future Glory
18I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
22We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. 23Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.
26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. 27And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
God Works in All Things
28And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. 29For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
31What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against Godʼs elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.
More than Conquerors
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Footnotes (7)
- a v1 BYZ and TR in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
- b v2 BYZ and TR me
- c v3 Literally in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin
- d v8 Literally Those being in the flesh; similarly in verse 9
- e v10 Or yet the Spirit is life
- f v11 NA, BYZ, and TR raised Christ from the dead
- g v36 Psalm 44:22
Study notes on this chapter · 3
The binding of Isaac
God tests Abraham by asking him to offer his beloved son Isaac. A ram is provided instead, and Abraham names the place 'The LORD will provide'. Hebrews says Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and received Isaac back 'figuratively'. Many Christian readers link Isaac and the ram with the Father's giving of his Son, and Romans 8:32 echoes the wording.
When: Genesis (traditionally c. 1900 BC); Romans, c. AD 57; Hebrews, before AD 70 (most likely).
Ways people read this (3)
- A pattern pointing to the cross: a beloved son, a wood-bearing walk up the mountain, and a substitute provided.
- Jewish tradition (the Akedah) reads the story as a model of obedience and as a merit on which later generations rely.
- The narrative's plain point is God's rejection of child sacrifice and his provision for Abraham's faith.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.
We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered
Paul closes his great chapter on assurance by quoting a psalm of suffering that belongs to God's faithful. Persecution is not a sign that God's love has failed, for nothing will separate believers from Christ's love.
When: A psalm of the sons of Korah; Romans, c. AD 57.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.
The wolf will live with the lamb
Isaiah describes a peaceful kingdom in which wolves, lambs, leopards and children live together, when the earth is full of the knowledge of the LORD. Paul says creation itself waits to be set free from decay. Readers differ on whether the image is literal, symbolic, or both.
When: Isaiah, c. 740–700 BC; Romans, c. AD 57.
Ways people read this (4)
- Literal renewal of creation in the age to come, including the animal world.
- A poetic picture of peace among people, including former enemies, in the church or in Christ's kingdom.
- Jewish tradition reads it as a description of the messianic age.
- Paul's words in Romans 8:19-22 are often linked with it, though he does not quote Isaiah.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.