Romans 8 13

Romans 8:13 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.

Romans 8:13 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.

Romans 8:13 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.

Romans 8:13 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.

Romans 8:13 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.

Romans 8 verses

Romans 8 13 Meaning

This verse presents a profound choice with eternal implications for believers. It asserts that to persistently live "according to the flesh"—meaning to be dominated by the unredeemed, sinful human nature independent of God's influence—leads to spiritual death, which is alienation from God. Conversely, it promises true spiritual life to those who, through the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, actively and continuously overcome the sinful practices and impulses that originate from their fallen nature. This passage thus highlights both human responsibility and the indispensable role of the Holy Spirit in the process of Christian sanctification, leading to genuine, vibrant fellowship with God.

Romans 8 13 Context

Romans 8 is a powerful exposition on the Christian life lived under the Holy Spirit, often viewed as the zenith of Paul's theological teaching. Chapters 1-7 systematically establish humanity's need for righteousness, the provision of justification through faith, and the believer's liberation from sin's dominion and the law's curse. Chapter 7 starkly portrays the agonizing struggle of a person attempting to live righteously through self-effort, culminating in a cry of desperation against the power of sin (Rom 7:24). Romans 8 immediately follows with the triumphant declaration that there is "no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom 8:1) because "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death" (Rom 8:2). Paul explains that the Holy Spirit, now indwelling believers, empowers them to fulfill God's righteous requirements (Rom 8:4). The contrast between the "mind set on the flesh" and the "mind set on the Spirit" (Rom 8:5-12) leads directly into verse 13, which provides a direct command and promise. It clarifies that grace does not license a life of sin (antinomianism) but mandates active spiritual engagement, made possible by divine empowerment, for the purpose of true spiritual vitality.

Romans 8 13 Word analysis

• For if you live according to the flesh, you will die;

  • For if you live: Eir gar zēte (Εἰ γὰρ ζῆτε). Eir gar serves to logically connect this verse to the preceding exposition in Romans 8, particularly concerning the consequences of being "in the flesh" (Rom 8:5-8). Zēte, from the verb zaō, denotes not merely biological existence, but a characteristic mode of living, an ongoing lifestyle, or the dominant orientation of one's will and conduct.
  • according to the flesh: kata sarka (κατὰ σάρκα). Here, sarx (flesh) encapsulates the fallen, unregenerate human nature—the entirety of human existence in rebellion against or apart from God's Spirit. To live kata sarka signifies a life directed by sinful impulses, human willfulness, and earthly desires, inevitably hostile to God and unable to please Him (Rom 8:7-8).
  • you will die: apothnēskesthe (ἀποθνῄσκεσθε). This refers to spiritual death, which is alienation and separation from the life of God, encompassing eternal judgment and the absence of true life and peace (Rom 6:23, 8:6). It denotes a continued state of spiritual brokenness, distinct from physical death, ultimately leading to eternal perdition.

• but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

  • but if by the Spirit: ei de pneumati (εἰ δὲ πνεύματι). This crucial phrase introduces the contrast and the means for transformation. Pneumati explicitly refers to the Holy Spirit, emphasizing that the victory over sin is not by human willpower but solely by the enabling, indwelling, and empowering work of God's Spirit in the believer's life. He provides both the ability and the desire for obedience.
  • you put to death: thanatoute (θανατοῦτε). From thanatoō, meaning to kill, mortify, or make ineffective. This is a continuous, active, and decisive command for the believer. It signifies an intentional and ongoing act of subjugating, resisting, and denying sinful desires and actions, actively rendering them powerless in one's life. It implies spiritual discipline and struggle.
  • the deeds of the body: tas praxeis tou sōmatos (τὰς πράξεις τοῦ σώματος). Praxeis means "actions," "practices," or "works." Sōmatos (body) refers to the physical human body, which is not inherently evil. However, when sarx (the sinful nature) holds sway, the body becomes the instrument or vehicle through which sinful acts (praxeis) manifest—e.g., lust, gluttony, sloth, violence. These are the tangible expressions of the inner rebellion against God.
  • you will live: zēsesthe (ζήσεσθε). This refers to genuine spiritual life—a life of flourishing communion with God, characterized by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17). It encompasses both present experience and the certainty of eternal life, a full, God-directed existence liberated from sin's dominion.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "For if you live according to the flesh, you will die": This serves as a solemn warning, setting forth the tragic, inevitable consequence for those whose orientation and conduct remain consistently directed by their fallen, unredeemed human nature (sarx). "To live" (zēte) here implies a habitual pattern of life, not an occasional lapse. "You will die" (apothnēskesthe) indicates spiritual death—a deepening separation from God that begins now and ultimately culminates in eternal condemnation. It is a powerful affirmation that continued indulgence in sin results in profound spiritual loss.
• "but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live": This presents the gracious alternative and the pathway to true spiritual vitality. The emphatic "by the Spirit" (pneumati) underscores that this mortification of sin is not a product of human willpower, asceticism, or legalistic striving, but solely by the indwelling and empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. "You put to death" (thanatoute) is an active, continuous, and determined engagement of the believer to neutralize the "deeds of the body" (tas praxeis tou sōmatos)—the outward manifestations of sin that employ the physical self as their vehicle. The promise, "you will live" (zēsesthe), denotes the experience of abundant spiritual life, intimate fellowship with God in the present, and the assurance of eternal life to come, liberated from sin's destructive power.

Romans 8 13 Bonus section

The concept of sarx (flesh) in Paul's theology is pivotal here. It's crucial to understand it not as inherently evil physical matter (a Greek dualistic concept Paul does not endorse) but as human nature corrupted by sin and operating independently of God. Thus, living "according to the flesh" is an existential stance, a spiritual orientation away from God, where sōma (the body) becomes the instrument for carrying out sarx-driven desires. The act of "putting to death" (thanatoō) signifies a decisive and continuous break from such patterns. This command for believers is directly linked to the New Covenant promises in the Old Testament, where God declares He will put His Spirit within His people, enabling them to follow His decrees (Ez 36:26-27). This demonstrates that our ability to overcome the flesh is ultimately a gift and empowerment from God, fulfilled in Christ through the Holy Spirit. The tension in Romans 8:13 implies both divine provision and human responsibility, rejecting both passive resignation to sin and arrogant self-reliance, guiding believers towards a Spirit-empowered pursuit of holiness.

Romans 8 13 Commentary

Romans 8:13 succinctly encapsulates a central truth of Christian sanctification: the imperative to actively wage war against sin. Paul unequivocally states that continuing in an unrepentant, self-focused life driven by the "flesh"—the inherent sinful inclination—leads to spiritual death, a profound estrangement from God. This is not about condemnation for isolated sins, but about the consistent trajectory of one's life. The gospel, however, provides a powerful alternative: through the Holy Spirit, believers are enabled to "put to death"—to consciously and continually disable—the active manifestations of sin in their lives. This "mortification" is not human self-effort or a grim legalistic duty, but an empowering work where the believer cooperates with the indwelling Spirit to conquer sinful habits and desires. The result is "life"—not mere existence, but vibrant spiritual vitality, joyful fellowship with God, and the experience of His promised eternal life, starting now. It is a profound call to daily reliance on the Spirit for genuine spiritual transformation.

• Example 1: When tempted to retaliate with anger or hurtful words, a believer, by the Spirit, chooses to forgive or respond in love, actively putting to death the impulse to vent their deeds of the body. This choice affirms spiritual life.
• Example 2: A person struggling with habitual laziness in spiritual disciplines (deeds of the body) consciously sets aside time for prayer and Bible study, asking the Spirit for motivation and strength. This active engagement puts to death the apathy, leading to renewed life and connection with God.