Romans 8 8

Romans 8:8 kjv

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:8 nkjv

So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:8 niv

Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:8 esv

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:8 nlt

That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

Romans 8 verses

Romans 8 8 Meaning

This verse declares the absolute inability of those whose lives and mindset are dominated by the sinful, unredeemed human nature, referred to as "the flesh," to please God. It underscores that this state of being is fundamentally opposed to God's nature and will, rendering any attempts from within this disposition unacceptable in His sight. It is not merely a statement of 'unwillingness,' but 'incapability,' highlighting a profound spiritual barrier.

Romans 8 8 Context

Romans 8:8 stands as a pivotal concluding statement derived from the argument presented in Romans 8:5-7, which elaborates on the contrast between the mindset ("set their minds") of the flesh and the mindset of the Spirit. This entire chapter, Romans 8, marks a significant shift from the agonizing struggle described in Romans 7 (where Paul depicts the internal conflict of one under the law, experiencing the inability to do good) to the victorious life empowered by the Holy Spirit. Historically and culturally, the Jewish audience was often conditioned by the belief that adherence to the Mosaic Law—circumcision, dietary laws, festivals—was the primary means of pleasing God and attaining righteousness. For Gentiles, various pagan religions emphasized ritualistic offerings and human works to appease deities. Paul directly counters these underlying assumptions by asserting that human effort stemming from an unredeemed nature is futile for truly pleasing God, setting up the understanding that a radical transformation by the Holy Spirit is indispensable. The "flesh" here is not merely the physical body but the entire person as ruled by the fallen, rebellious human nature, which is inherently hostile to God.

Romans 8 8 Word analysis

• So then (Ὥστε - Hōste): This Greek particle indicates a logical conclusion or result, showing that what follows is an inference drawn directly from the preceding arguments, specifically Romans 8:5-7, which discuss the mindset of the flesh and its enmity toward God. It establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
• those who are (οἱ ὄντες - hoi ontes): This present active participle denotes a continuous state of being or identification. It describes individuals who are characterized by or exist within a certain condition.
• in the flesh (ἐν σαρκί - en sarki): This critical phrase signifies not merely having a physical body, but living under the domination of the unredeemed human nature.
  • σάρξ (sarx): This Greek term for "flesh" encompasses the entire human being—mind, will, emotions, and body—as alienated from God and prone to sin. It represents the fallen, natural, sinful disposition that lacks the divine Spirit, rather than just the physical aspect of humanity. It describes a sphere of existence and a state of being marked by self-centeredness and rebellion against God, in opposition to life "in the Spirit."
• cannot (οὐ δύνανται - ou dynantai): This is a strong, emphatic negative in Greek, implying absolute inability. It means "are not able to" or "do not have the power to." It is a statement of intrinsic incapacity, not just an unwillingness or failure to achieve a goal. The flesh is fundamentally incapable of alignment with God's will.
• please (ἀρέσαι - aresai): This verb means to be agreeable, acceptable, to gratify, to satisfy, or to delight. In a theological context, it refers to offering a service, a lifestyle, or an attitude that God approves of and finds joy in.
• God (Θεῷ - Theō): The ultimate object of their inability to please. This refers to the Triune God, the righteous and holy Creator.

Words-group analysis:

• "So then, those who are in the flesh": This entire phrase refers to a distinct category of people—those whose existence, desires, and operations are wholly governed by their sinful nature. It's a statement about the unregenerate individual, whose life is directed by selfish passions and inclinations apart from God's Spirit.
• "cannot please God": This highlights the core spiritual bankruptcy and total inadequacy of humanity left to its own devices. The inherent hostility and self-centeredness of the flesh create an impassable chasm between the unregenerate human will and the holy, just will of God, making true and acceptable devotion impossible. This isn't about God withholding pleasure but about the flesh's inherent inability to produce anything truly pleasing to God because its very essence is opposed to Him.

Romans 8 8 Bonus section

The concept of "flesh" (sarx) in Paul's writings is critical. It does not refer to the physical body as inherently evil, as some Gnostic philosophies proposed. Instead, it denotes the entire person—including their physical and mental capacities—as enslaved to sin and operating apart from God's Spirit. This explains why Romans 7 describes the inner struggle, and Romans 8 highlights the solution: the Holy Spirit's power to liberate and enable true obedience. This verse functions as a powerful declaration of humanity's total inability to save itself or even genuinely please God through its own strength or law-keeping, thus creating the necessary ground for the understanding of divine grace and the indispensable role of the Holy Spirit in salvation and sanctification. This verse emphasizes not merely a moral failure, but an existential and ontological incapacity without divine intervention, thereby reinforcing the profound truth that salvation is entirely God's work, from start to finish.

Romans 8 8 Commentary

Romans 8:8 stands as a profound theological assertion about the human condition without the intervention of the Holy Spirit. It clarifies that the problem of sin is not merely an external matter of breaking rules, but an internal, fundamental state of being ("in the flesh") that is utterly at odds with God's character and purposes. This "flesh" is not merely physical, but the sum total of humanity's fallen, self-centered, and rebellious nature, independent of divine grace. Because this nature is inherently hostile to God (Rom 8:7), it is absolutely incapable of producing anything truly pleasing or acceptable in His sight. Efforts to please God from this state, however moral they may appear outwardly, are still tainted by self-will and therefore fall short of true worship and obedience. This verse underscores the radical necessity of spiritual rebirth and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as the only means by which one can genuinely live a life that honors and pleases God (Rom 8:9).

• Practical example: An individual may perform many good deeds or religious rituals, driven by a desire for self-righteousness, fear of judgment, or social approval, rather than by a heart transformed by God's Spirit out of genuine love and devotion. According to this verse, these actions, while perhaps commendable in human eyes, cannot genuinely "please God" because they originate from the "flesh," not from the Spirit.
• Practical example: A person may try to overcome a habitual sin through sheer willpower, discipline, and human resolutions. While such efforts might yield temporary external conformity, if they are not empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit, they are ultimately unsustainable and still do not constitute true obedience that flows from a renewed heart that pleases God.