Romans 8:5-6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 8:1-9

I. The apostle here beings with one signal privilege of true Christians, and describes the character of those to whom it belongs: There is therefore now no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus, Rom. 8:1. This is his triumph after that melancholy complaint and conflict in the foregoing chapter?sin remaining, disturbing, vexing, but, blessed be God, not ruining. The complaint he takes to himself, but humbly transfers the comfort with himself to all true believers, who are all... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 8:5-11

8:5-11 Those who live according to the dictates of sinful human nature are absorbed in worldly human things. Those who live according to the dictates of the Spirit are absorbed in the things of the Spirit. To be absorbed in worldly human things is death; but to be absorbed in the things of the Spirit is life and peace, because absorption in the things which fascinate our sinful human nature is hostility to God, for it does not obey the law of God, nor, indeed, can it do so. Those whose life... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:5

For they that are after the flesh ,.... By flesh is meant the corruption of nature; and they may be said to be "after" it, not all that have flesh in them, for the best of saints have it in them; regenerating grace does not remove it from them; there is a difference between being in and after the flesh, and flesh being in us; but such who are as they were born, who have nothing but flesh, or corrupt nature in them, in whom that is the governing principle, whose minds are carnal, and whose... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 8:6

For to be carnally minded is death ,.... The phrase the apostle here uses, includes the best part of corrupt man; the mind, the understanding, the judgment, the will, the affections, the thoughts, the reason, and reasonings of man; and may be rendered, "the wisdom", or "prudence of the flesh"; so called, to distinguish it from that wisdom which is from above; from that natural and civil wisdom, which is laudable; and it shows that the wisest part of man is but carnal: all sorts of persons... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 8:5

For 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, προνουσιν , 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 redeemed from the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 8:6

For to be carnally minded is death - To live under the influence of the carnal mind is to live in the state of condemnation, and consequently liable to death eternal: whereas, on the contrary, he who is spiritually minded has the life and peace of God in his soul, and is in full prospect of life eternal. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 8:5

Verse 5 5.For they who are after the flesh, etc. He introduces this difference between the flesh and the Spirit, not only to confirm, by an argument derived from what is of an opposite character, what he has before mentioned, — that the grace of Christ belongs to none but to those who, having been regenerated by the Spirit, strive after purity; but also to relieve the faithful with a seasonable consolation, lest being conscious of many infirmities, they should despair: for as he had exempted... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 8:6

Verse 6 6.The minding of the flesh, etc. [Erasmus ] has rendered it “affection,” (affectum ;) the old translator, “prudence,” (prudentiam .) But as it is certain that the το φρονημα of Paul is the same with what Moses calls the imagination (figmentum — devising) of the heart, (Genesis 6:5;) and that under this word are included all the faculties of the soul — reason, understanding, and affections, it seems to me that minding (cogitatio — thinking, imagining, caring) is a more suitable word... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 8:1-5

What the Law could not do. The perpetual conscience-cry that rings through all the struggles of Romans 7:1-25 . is, "Condemnation!" But "to them that are in Christ Jesus"? "No condemnation now!" The heavens smile, the earth is glad. All things are made new. Such is the opening note of this eighth chapter; a sweet song of joy in place of the old cry of despair. And we have here following—God's work in Christ; Christ's work in us. I. GOD 'S WORK IN CHRIST . The great work... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 8:1-11

The judgment-day, and how to prepare for it. The apostle speaks much in the language of the Law. He himself was not only acquainted with the useful handicraft of tent-making or sail-making, but he was also trained in the profession of the Law—brought up at the feet of Gamaliel. He had a considerable acquaintance, too, with the practice of the law-courts. From the brief references in the Acts of the Apostles to his personal history before his conversion, it would appear as if previous to... read more

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