Romans 8:13
What does Romans 8:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 8:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 8:13 means
Paul sets a sober alternative. To live according to the flesh—letting sin’s desires rule—leads to death. But by the Spirit, believers are to put to death the deeds of the body, meaning the sinful practices that express our fallen nature. This is not self-improvement by sheer willpower; it is dependence on the Spirit’s power, using means like Scripture, prayer, fellowship, and repentance. The promise is profound: “you shall live”—life in fellowship with God now, culminating in eternal life. Mortification is a lifelong, Spirit-enabled warfare arising from our new identity. This verse marries realism about sin’s danger with confidence in the Spirit’s sufficiency to produce persevering holiness.
Romans 8:13 in context
Romans 8 — No Condemnation, No Separation
The high-water mark of Paul's letters. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. The Spirit of life sets us free from the law of sin and death; the same Spirit cries 'Abba, Father' in our hearts and assures us we are children and heirs. Suffering is real, but the glory ahead is incomparably greater. All things work together for good to those who love God. And nothing — neither death nor life nor angels nor things present nor things to come — shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Justification
- Indwelling Spirit
- Adoption
- Final perseverance
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For if you go in the way of the flesh, death will come on you; but if by the Spirit you put to death the works of the body, you will have life.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for if according to the flesh ye do live, ye are about to die; and if, by the Spirit, the deeds of the body ye put to death, ye shall live;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die: but if by the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890for if ye live according to flesh, ye are about to die; but if, by the Spirit, ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live:
Context
Following the declaration of our new obligation (v. 12), verse 13 articulates the decisive choice before believers: flesh leads to death, Spirit-led mortification leads to life. This ethic of putting sin to death segues naturally into the next theme—sonship. Verse 14 will explain that those who are led by the Spirit in this way are sons of God, introducing the rich doctrine of adoption and the privileges of belonging to God’s family (vv. 14–17).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Galatians 5:24
And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.
- 1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
- Titus 2:12
instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world;
- Romans 7:5
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
- Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Romans 6:21
What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Sermon ideas from Romans 8:13
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What Romans 8:13 teaches us about justification
What Romans 8:13 teaches us about indwelling spirit
What Romans 8:13 teaches us about adoption
What Romans 8:13 teaches us about final perseverance
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