Romans 8:5-8, The Work of the Spirit

Tom Wright, Senior Research Fellow, Wycliffe Hall University of Oxford

According to Tom Wright, "the first four verses of Romans 8 launch Paul’s exposition of the work of the Spirit. They form a platform for the rest of the chapter, and in particular for the rest of verses 5-11. Verses 1-4 have as their main theme the claim that “there is no condemnation for the Messiah’s people” because “the law’s proper verdict, giving life, is now fulfilled in them.” This life is the active manifestation, in our present human existence, of the power, the energy, of God the Creator. God now comes afresh into the world as the Re-Creator, giving life where there was none. That was the point which Paul had made about Abraham’s faith back in chapter 4: Abraham and Sarah had to believe that God would give them the new life of a child even though their bodies were, in reproductive terms, as good as dead (4:19-22)."

⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. [See Galatians 5:16-17]

⁶ For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. [See Galatians 5:19-23] 

⁷ 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. 

⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

[This is Wright’s translation of these verses, beginning with 4b:

^4b . . . we who behave not in accordance with the flesh but in accordance with the spirit. ⁵ Let me explain. People of the flesh-determined sort set their minds on flesh-matters, but people of the spirit-determined sort set their minds on spirit-matters. ⁶ You see, the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the spirit is life and peace. ⁷ Because the mindset of the flesh is hostile to God; for it does not submit to God’s law; for indeed it cannot do so. ⁸ What’s more, flesh-determined people cannot please God.]

Verses 5 to 8 constitute a little chain of reasoning, spelling out the difference between being “in the flesh” and “in the spirit.” Once someone is “in the spirit” rather than “in the flesh,” all things are possible. Having thus dug down to the foundations in verses 5-8, Paul can build up again to his intended conclusion in verses 9-11 (tomorrow). To get to the promised resurrection, to the ultimate verdict of “no condemnation,” one cannot go via the flesh, the corruptible and sinful human self. One goes via the spirit. If the spirit of Jesus is at work, then “no condemnation is assured.”