Romans 8
New Century Version
Be Ruled by the Spirit
8 So now, those who are in Christ Jesus are not judged guilty.[a] 2 Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit that brings life made you[b] free from the law that brings sin and death. 3 The law was without power, because the law was made weak by our sinful selves. But God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son to earth with the same human life that others use for sin. By sending his Son to be an offering for sin, God used a human life to destroy sin. 4 He did this so that we could be the kind of people the law correctly wants us to be. Now we do not live following our sinful selves, but we live following the Spirit.
5 Those who live following their sinful selves think only about things that their sinful selves want. But those who live following the Spirit are thinking about the things the Spirit wants them to do. 6 If people’s thinking is controlled by the sinful self, there is death. But if their thinking is controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace. 7 When people’s thinking is controlled by the sinful self, they are against God, because they refuse to obey God’s law and really are not even able to obey God’s law. 8 Those people who are ruled by their sinful selves cannot please God.
9 But you are not ruled by your sinful selves. You are ruled by the Spirit, if that Spirit of God really lives in you. But the person who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Christ. 10 Your body will always be dead because of sin. But if Christ is in you, then the Spirit gives you life, because Christ made you right with God. 11 God raised Jesus from the dead, and if God’s Spirit is living in you, he will also give life to your bodies that die. God is the One who raised Christ from the dead, and he will give life through[c] his Spirit that lives in you.
12 So, my brothers and sisters, we must not be ruled by our sinful selves or live the way our sinful selves want. 13 If you use your lives to do the wrong things your sinful selves want, you will die spiritually. But if you use the Spirit’s help to stop doing the wrong things you do with your body, you will have true life.
14 The true children of God are those who let God’s Spirit lead them. 15 The Spirit we received does not make us slaves again to fear; it makes us children of God. With that Spirit we cry out, “Father.”[d] 16 And the Spirit himself joins with our spirits to say we are God’s children. 17 If we are God’s children, we will receive blessings from God together with Christ. But we must suffer as Christ suffered so that we will have glory as Christ has glory.
Our Future Glory
18 The sufferings we have now are nothing compared to the great glory that will be shown to us. 19 Everything God made is waiting with excitement for God to show his children’s glory completely. 20 Everything God made was changed to become useless, not by its own wish but because God wanted it and because all along there was this hope: 21 that everything God made would be set free from ruin to have the freedom and glory that belong to God’s children.
22 We know that everything God made has been waiting until now in pain, like a woman ready to give birth. 23 Not only the world, but we also have been waiting with pain inside us. We have the Spirit as the first part of God’s promise. So we are waiting for God to finish making us his own children, which means our bodies will be made free. 24 We were saved, and we have this hope. If we see what we are waiting for, that is not really hope. People do not hope for something they already have. 25 But we are hoping for something we do not have yet, and we are waiting for it patiently.
26 Also, the Spirit helps us with our weakness. We do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself speaks to God for us, even begs God for us with deep feelings that words cannot explain. 27 God can see what is in people’s hearts. And he knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit speaks to God for his people in the way God wants.
28 We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him.[e] They are the people he called, because that was his plan. 29 God knew them before he made the world, and he chose them to be like his Son so that Jesus would be the firstborn[f] of many brothers and sisters. 30 God planned for them to be like his Son; and those he planned to be like his Son, he also called; and those he called, he also made right with him; and those he made right, he also glorified.
God’s Love in Christ Jesus
31 So what should we say about this? If God is for us, no one can defeat us. 32 He did not spare his own Son but gave him for us all. So with Jesus, God will surely give us all things. 33 Who can accuse the people God has chosen? No one, because God is the One who makes them right. 34 Who can say God’s people are guilty? No one, because Christ Jesus died, but he was also raised from the dead, and now he is on God’s right side, appealing to God for us. 35 Can anything separate us from the love Christ has for us? Can troubles or problems or sufferings or hunger or nakedness or danger or violent death? 36 As it is written in the Scriptures:
“For you we are in danger of death all the time.
People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed.” Psalm 44:22
37 But in all these things we are completely victorious through God who showed his love for us. 38 Yes, I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, 39 nothing above us, nothing below us, nor anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Footnotes
- 8:1 guilty Some Greek copies continue, “those who do not live in the power of their sinful selves, but in the power of the Spirit.”
- 8:2 you Some Greek copies read “me.”
- 8:11 through Some Greek copies read “because of.”
- 8:15 “Father” Literally, “Abba, Father.” Jewish children called their fathers “Abba.”
- 8:28 We . . . him. Some Greek copies read “We know that everything works together for good for those who love God.”
- 8:29 firstborn Here this probably means that Christ was the first in God’s family to share God’s glory.
Romans 8
New King James Version
Free from Indwelling Sin
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, (A)who[a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For (B)the law of (C)the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from (D)the law of sin and death. 3 For (E)what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, (F)God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who (G)do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For (H)those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, (I)the things of the Spirit. 6 For (J)to be [b]carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because (K)the [c]carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, (L)nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of (M)Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, (N)He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [d]through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Sonship Through the Spirit
12 (O)Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For (P)if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you (Q)put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For (R)as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For (S)you did not receive the spirit of bondage again (T)to fear, but you received the (U)Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, (V)“Abba,[e] Father.” 16 (W)The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then (X)heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, (Y)if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
From Suffering to Glory
18 For I consider that (Z)the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For (AA)the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For (AB)the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of [f]corruption into the glorious (AC)liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation (AD)groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have (AE)the firstfruits of the Spirit, (AF)even we ourselves groan (AG)within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the (AH)redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but (AI)hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For (AJ)we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but (AK)the Spirit Himself makes intercession [g]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now (AL)He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints (AM)according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those (AN)who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom (AO)He foreknew, (AP)He also predestined (AQ)to be conformed to the image of His Son, (AR)that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also (AS)called; whom He called, these He also (AT)justified; and whom He justified, these He also (AU)glorified.
God’s Everlasting Love
31 What then shall we say to these things? (AV)If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 (AW)He who did not spare His own Son, but (AX)delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? (AY)It is God who justifies. 34 (AZ)Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, (BA)who is even at the right hand of God, (BB)who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
(BC)“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37 (BD)Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor (BE)principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Footnotes
- Romans 8:1 NU omits the rest of v. 1.
- Romans 8:6 fleshly
- Romans 8:7 fleshly
- Romans 8:11 Or because of
- Romans 8:15 Lit., in Aram., Father
- Romans 8:21 decay
- Romans 8:26 NU omits for us
Romans 8
English Standard Version
Life in the Spirit
8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.[a] 2 For the law of (A)the Spirit of life (B)has set you[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For (C)God has done what the law, (D)weakened by the flesh, (E)could not do. (F)By sending his own Son (G)in the likeness of sinful flesh and (H)for sin,[c] he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that (I)the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, (J)who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For (K)those who live according to the flesh set their minds on (L)the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on (M)the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set (N)the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is (O)hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; (P)indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact (Q)the Spirit of God dwells in you. (R)Anyone who does not have (S)the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of (T)him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus[d] from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies (U)through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Heirs with Christ
12 So then, brothers,[e] we are debtors, (V)not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you (W)put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are (X)led by the Spirit of God are (Y)sons[f] of God. 15 For (Z)you did not receive (AA)the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of (AB)adoption as sons, by whom we cry, (AC)“Abba! Father!” 16 (AD)The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then (AE)heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, (AF)provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Future Glory
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (AG)are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for (AH)the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation (AI)was subjected to futility, not willingly, but (AJ)because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that (AK)the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that (AL)the whole creation (AM)has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have (AN)the firstfruits of the Spirit, (AO)groan inwardly as (AP)we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, (AQ)the redemption of our bodies. 24 For (AR)in this hope we were saved. Now (AS)hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we (AT)wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For (AU)we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but (AV)the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And (AW)he who searches hearts knows what is (AX)the mind of the Spirit, because[g] the Spirit (AY)intercedes for the saints (AZ)according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together (BA)for good,[h] for (BB)those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he (BC)foreknew he also (BD)predestined (BE)to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be (BF)the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also (BG)justified, and those whom he justified he also (BH)glorified.
God's Everlasting Love
31 What then shall we say to these things? (BI)If God is for us, who can be[i] against us? 32 (BJ)He who did not spare his own Son but (BK)gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? (BL)It is God who justifies. 34 (BM)Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—(BN)who is at the right hand of God, (BO)who indeed is interceding for us.[j] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
(BP)“For your sake (BQ)we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than (BR)conquerors through (BS)him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Footnotes
- Romans 8:1 Some manuscripts add who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit)
- Romans 8:2 Some manuscripts me
- Romans 8:3 Or and as a sin offering
- Romans 8:11 Some manuscripts lack Jesus
- Romans 8:12 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 29
- Romans 8:14 See discussion on “sons” in the Preface
- Romans 8:27 Or that
- Romans 8:28 Some manuscripts God works all things together for good, or God works in all things for the good
- Romans 8:31 Or who is
- Romans 8:34 Or Is it Christ Jesus who died… for us?
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
