Romans 8:6
What does Romans 8:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 8:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 8:6 means
The stakes of our inner orientation are ultimate. A mindset dominated by the flesh leads to death—both spiritual separation from God now and final ruin. By contrast, the Spirit-governed mind brings life and peace: life because the Spirit unites us to Christ, and peace because reconciliation with God produces wholeness amid life’s trials. Paul’s point is not that positive thinking saves, but that the Spirit changes our deepest dispositions and thus our destiny. Life and peace are foretastes of the fullness to come, even as believers still battle sin. This verse holds together present experience and future outcome, showing that the Spirit’s rule brings both assurance now and hope for eternal life.
Romans 8:6 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 the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace:
KJV
King James Version · 1611For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for the mind of the flesh <FI>is<Fi> death, and the mind of the Spirit--life and peace;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For the wisdom of the flesh is death: but the wisdom of the spirit is life and peace.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For the mind of the flesh [is] death; but the mind of the Spirit life and peace.
Context
Following the description of mindsets in verse 5, Paul states their consequences in verse 6. This clarifies why walking according to the Spirit fulfills the law’s intent (v. 4): it issues in life and peace. Next, verses 7–8 probe deeper into why the fleshly mind leads to death—it is hostile to God and unable to submit, making pleasing God impossible. This escalating logic underscores our need for divine intervention and prepares for the reassurance of verse 9 that believers are indeed in the Spirit.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.
- Romans 5:1
Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
- Romans 5:10
For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life;
- 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 8:7
because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be:
Sermon ideas from Romans 8:6
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What Romans 8:6 teaches us about justification
What Romans 8:6 teaches us about indwelling spirit
What Romans 8:6 teaches us about adoption
What Romans 8:6 teaches us about final perseverance
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