Romans 8 6

Romans 8:6 kjv

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Romans 8:6 nkjv

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Romans 8:6 niv

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8:6 esv

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8:6 nlt

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

Romans 8 verses

Romans 8 6 Meaning

Romans 8:6 presents a profound contrast between two fundamental orientations of human existence: focusing on the desires of the flesh (carnally minded) leads inevitably to spiritual death and alienation from God, while directing one's entire being towards the Holy Spirit (spiritually minded) results in life and peace found in communion with Him. It's not merely about intellectual assent, but about where one's inner disposition, purpose, and will are fundamentally set.

Romans 8 6 Context

Romans 8 is a pivotal chapter, moving from the human struggle under the law described in Romans 7 to the victorious life empowered by the Holy Spirit. Paul sets forth the glorious freedom and new reality for believers. Chapter 7 laments the power of sin within, even for those who desire to do good ("For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do"). Romans 8:1 declares "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Verse 6 elaborates on this freedom by defining the two contrasting mindsets and their ultimate consequences. It presents the practical implications of being "in the Spirit" or "in the flesh" – not merely as states, but as active orientations of life and thought, building upon the contrast Paul made regarding "flesh" (sarx) as the sinful human nature and "Spirit" (pneuma) as the Holy Spirit residing in believers, previously discussed from chapter 6 onwards.

Romans 8 6 Word analysis

• For (γαρ, gar): Introduces an explanation or a reason for the preceding statement, specifically expanding on why there is no condemnation for those who walk in the Spirit (Rom 8:1) and reinforcing the idea of the law of the Spirit giving life (Rom 8:2).
• to be carnally minded (το φρονημα της σαρκος, to phronēma tēs sarkos):
  • το φρονημα (to phronēma): More than mere "thinking." It denotes a deep-seated mindset, an habitual way of thinking, focusing, and desiring; a disposition, purpose, or attitude of the mind, will, and affections. It is the dominant bent or direction of one's inner being. It includes understanding, inclination, and purpose.
  • της σαρκος (tēs sarkos): "Of the flesh." In Paul's writings, sarx often refers not simply to the physical body but to the sinful human nature, alienated from God, prone to sin, and independent of divine grace. It represents humanity's fallen condition. So, phronēma tēs sarkos is a mind-set fixed on gratifying the desires of this sinful nature.
• is (εστιν, estin): A direct statement of identity or consequence, emphasizing the certainty of the outcome.
• death (θανατος, thanatos): Primarily spiritual death – separation from God, alienation from His life-giving presence, and the eventual eternal consequence of this separation. It also encompasses a living experience of spiritual barrenness and futility, devoid of true life and purpose. It is the antithesis of the zōē (divine life) offered by God.
• but (δε, de): A strong adversative conjunction, introducing a sharp contrast and opposing consequence.
• to be spiritually minded (το φρονημα του πνευματος, to phronēma tou pneumatos):
  • το φρονημα (to phronēma): The same deep-seated mindset, disposition, and orientation as discussed above, but now directed differently.
  • του πνευματος (tou pneumatos): "Of the Spirit." Refers to the Holy Spirit. This mindset is dominated, led, and guided by the Holy Spirit. It's an internal posture of yieldedness to divine leading and God's purposes.
• is (εστιν, estin): Again, stating a direct, certain outcome.
• life (ζωη, zōē): Here signifies spiritual life – a vibrant, authentic existence in fellowship with God, receiving His divine nature and power, marked by regeneration and communion with Christ. This life is not merely physical existence but abundant, eternal life (John 10:10).
• and (και, kai): Connects "life" with "peace," indicating that both are inseparable outcomes.
• peace (ειρηνη, eirēnē): A state of inner tranquility, reconciliation with God (Rom 5:1), freedom from conflict, and spiritual well-being. It is the complete wholeness and flourishing that comes from a right relationship with God and manifests as inner harmony. This contrasts sharply with the turmoil, guilt, and restlessness that accompany a "carnally minded" state.

Words-group analysis:

• "to be carnally minded is death": This phrase directly equates a mind-set governed by the sinful human nature with death. It highlights that the spiritual state of death is not just a future punishment but the present condition and inevitable consequence of an unregenerate, flesh-driven disposition. It's a statement about destiny arising from fundamental identity and orientation.
• "but to be spiritually minded is life and peace": This opposing phrase highlights that a mind-set governed by the Holy Spirit is directly equated with spiritual life and profound inner peace. It describes the new spiritual reality and experience available through regeneration and continued dependence on the Holy Spirit. These are not merely potential outcomes but present realities for the believer whose mind is yielded to the Spirit.

Romans 8 6 Bonus section

The depth of phronēma extends beyond individual action to encompass the prevailing disposition that drives an entire lifestyle. It speaks to one's worldview and governing principle. The sarx in Paul's theology is not evil in itself as matter, but it describes humanity's fallen condition under the power of sin, apart from God. The pneuma (Holy Spirit) on the other hand, is the source of all new life in Christ, enabling believers to live in alignment with God's will. Thus, the verse doesn't suggest that Christians will never experience worldly desires, but rather that their overarching life-direction and dominant "mind-set" must be Spirit-led, battling against the residual pull of the flesh, assured of ultimate victory and indwelling life and peace. This concept lays the groundwork for understanding the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit throughout the Christian life.

Romans 8 6 Commentary

Romans 8:6 stands as a powerful summary of the theological and practical implications of the battle between the flesh and the Spirit, articulated with stark contrast. It underscores that human destiny and experience hinge on the core disposition of one's being – the "phronēma," a concept richer than mere thought, encompassing attitude, purpose, and will. The "carnally minded" state is not simply external sin, but an inward orientation towards the fallen human nature (sarx), inevitably leading to spiritual death – alienation from the life-source, God. This death isn't just an afterlife consequence; it's a present state of spiritual barrenness, fear, and hostility toward God (as explored in Rom 8:7-8).

Conversely, the "spiritually minded" state, driven by the Holy Spirit (pneuma), brings true spiritual life—a dynamic, living communion with God, an experience of resurrection power, and the promise of eternal glory. This life is accompanied by profound peace—a peace with God achieved through Christ (Rom 5:1) and the inner tranquility that surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:7), settling anxieties and bringing wholeness. Paul is emphasizing that freedom from condemnation (Rom 8:1) is intrinsically tied to a new orientation, one in which the believer actively yields their innermost thoughts and desires to the Spirit's guidance. The choices we make daily about where we set our mind cultivate one of these two diametrically opposed states and their respective fruits.

Practical Examples:

• A person constantly seeking affirmation and pleasure in worldly pursuits, feeling empty after each success, exemplifies the "carnally minded" path to ongoing dissatisfaction, a form of spiritual "death."
• A person facing adversity yet finding internal calm and drawing strength from prayer and trusting God's providence, experiences the "life and peace" of a "spiritually minded" disposition.