Romans 8 7

Romans 8:7 kjv

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Romans 8:7 nkjv

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

Romans 8:7 niv

The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.

Romans 8:7 esv

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

Romans 8:7 nlt

For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will.

Romans 8 verses

Romans 8 7 Meaning

The carnal mind, which is the mindset dominated by our fallen human nature apart from God's Spirit, is fundamentally hostile toward God. This hostile disposition means it is inherently incapable of submitting itself to God's divine law or His will. It is not merely an unwillingness but a deep-seated, natural inability to align with God's commands. This verse underscores the radical impact of sin on human will and intellect, emphasizing that our unregenerate self is in active opposition to the Creator.

Romans 8 7 Context

Romans chapter 8 is a pivotal chapter, contrasting the hopeless struggle of humanity under the law and the power of sin (Romans 7) with the triumphant, liberating life in the Holy Spirit. Verse 7 specifically serves as the logical explanation for the pronouncement in verse 6: "to set the mind on the flesh is death." It elaborates why the mindset dominated by human fallenness leads to death—because its inherent nature is outright hostility toward God. Historically and culturally, this concept stood in stark contrast to popular Greco-Roman philosophies, which often celebrated human reason and autonomy as paths to virtue. Paul here directly refutes any notion of human self-sufficiency or inherent goodness in the unregenerate state, asserting a radical spiritual depravity that necessitates divine intervention.

Romans 8 7 Word analysis

• Because (διότι - dioti): This conjunction establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship. It signifies "for the reason that," linking the state of death from verse 6 directly to the inherent enmity of the carnal mind.

• the carnal mind (τὸ φρόνημα τῆς σαρκός - to phronēma tēs sarkos):

  • φρόνημα (phronēma): More than just "mind," this term encompasses the whole disposition, attitude, outlook, way of thinking, intention, and aspiration of a person. It's the bent or inclination of one's inner being. It denotes active thinking and directing one's desires.
  • τῆς σαρκός (tēs sarkos): "Of the flesh." In Pauline theology, "flesh" (σάρξ - sarx) refers not merely to the physical body but to human nature in its fallen state, corrupted by sin, separated from God's Spirit, and therefore inherently self-centered and hostile towards God.

• is enmity (ἔχθρα - echthra): This is not just an enemy or having enmity; it describes the state of being hostility itself. It signifies deep-seated hatred, animosity, and active opposition. It's an internal quality of profound antipathy, not just external disagreement.

• against God (εἰς θεόν - eis Theon): This preposition indicates the direction and object of the enmity—it is directly toward God. The fallen human disposition is not neutral but actively oriented against its Creator.

• for it is not subject (οὐ γὰρ ὑποτάσσεται - ou gar hypotassetai):

  • οὐ (ou): A strong, objective negative, emphasizing absolute denial.
  • ὑποτάσσεται (hypotassetai): "Is subject to," "submits to," "obeys." This verb describes a willingness to be under authority or direction. The present tense indicates a continuous state. The use of "not subject" points to an inherent rebellious stance.

• to the law of God (τῷ νόμῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ - tō nomō tou Theou): This refers to God's divine revelation of His will and moral standard, which encompasses both the Mosaic Law and the broader principles of His righteousness. It's what God commands as good and right.

• neither indeed can be (οὐδὲ γὰρ δύναται - oude gar dynatai):

  • οὐδὲ (oude): "Neither" or "nor indeed," adding an emphatic further negative.
  • δύναται (dynatai): "Is able," "has the power/capacity to." The negative here points to an absolute, intrinsic inability. It's not just a matter of unwillingness (though that is present in phronēma); it's a fundamental lack of capacity due to the very nature of the carnal mind. This inability is spiritual, not merely intellectual.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "the carnal mind is enmity against God": This phrase succinctly captures the radical antagonism of the fallen human heart. It portrays a direct, essential opposition. The unregenerate mind does not just disagree with God; its very essence is hostility toward Him. It signifies an inherent rebellion and aversion to God's authority and nature.
  • "for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be": This phrase explains why the carnal mind is enmity against God and highlights the profundity of humanity's fallen state. It emphasizes a twofold problem: first, an active refusal to submit to God's revealed will; and second, an intrinsic incapacity or powerlessness to do so. This underscores the need for a supernatural work of God (the Holy Spirit) to change the human heart and enable obedience.

Romans 8 7 Bonus section

This verse implies a direct polemic against any philosophy or religious system that posits inherent human goodness or the ability of humanity, by its own effort or reason, to achieve righteousness or spiritual understanding without God's transforming grace. It critiques the idea that human autonomy or self-will can genuinely align with divine will. Furthermore, it clarifies the often-misunderstood purpose of the law; while holy and good (Rom 7:12), the law cannot transform the carnal mind. Instead, it exposes its enmity and inability, proving that humanity's hope lies not in self-effort but solely in the power of the Holy Spirit to enable submission and new life, as elaborated throughout Romans 8.

Romans 8 7 Commentary

Romans 8:7 provides a stark and profound theological statement on the nature of humanity apart from Christ. The "carnal mind" is not merely weak or mistaken, but fundamentally antithetical to God. Its orientation, driven by fallen nature, views God and His commands as an opposing force. This active hostility explains its refusal to obey God's law. More critically, it reveals an inherent, spiritual inability to comply. The issue is not solely a matter of intellectual understanding or conscious choice but stems from a corrupted spiritual core. Without divine intervention through the indwelling Holy Spirit, humanity remains in this state of radical opposition, incapable of pleasing God. This verse therefore strongly points to the necessity of regeneration, as it shows that human willpower or good intentions, apart from the Spirit, are insufficient to bridge this chasm of enmity and attain genuine submission.