Romans 8
J.B. Phillips New Testament
The way out—new life in Christ
8 1-2 No condemnation now hangs over the head of those who are “in” Jesus Christ. For the new spiritual principle of life “in” Christ lifts me out of the old vicious circle of sin and death.
3-4 The Law never succeeded in producing righteousness—the failure was always the weakness of human nature. But God has met this by sending his own Son Jesus Christ to live in that human nature which causes the trouble. And, while Christ was actually taking upon himself the sins of men, God condemned that sinful nature. So that we are able to meet the Law’s requirements, so long as we are living no longer by the dictates of our sinful nature, but in obedience to the promptings of the Spirit.
5-8 The carnal attitude sees no further than natural things. But the spiritual attitude reaches out after the things of the spirit. The former attitude means, bluntly, death: the latter means life and inward peace. And this is only to be expected, for the carnal attitude is inevitably opposed to the purpose of God, and neither can nor will follow his laws for living. Men who hold this attitude cannot possibly please God.
What the presence of Christ within means
9-11 But you are not carnal but spiritual if the Spirit of God finds a home within you. You cannot, indeed, be a Christian at all unless you have something of his Spirit in you. Now if Christ does live within you his presence means that your sinful nature is dead, but your spirit becomes alive because of the righteousness he brings with him. I said that our nature is “dead” in the presence of Christ, and so it is, because of its sin. Nevertheless once the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives within you he will, by that same Spirit, bring to your whole being new strength and vitality.
12-13 So then, my brothers, you can see that we have no particular reason to feel grateful to our sensual nature, or to live life on the level of the instincts. Indeed that way of living leads to certain spiritual death. But if on the other hand you cut the nerve of your instinctive actions by obeying the Spirit, you are on the way to real living.
Christ is within—follow the lead of his Spirit
14-17 All who follow the leading of God’s Spirit are God’s own sons. Nor are you meant to relapse into the old slavish attitude of fear—you have been adopted into the very family circle of God and you can say with a full heart, “Father, my Father”. The Spirit himself endorses our inward conviction that we really are the children of God. Think what that means. If we are his children we share his treasures, and all that Christ claims as his will belong to all of us as well! Yes, if we share in his suffering we shall certainly share in his glory.
Present distress is temporary and negligible
18-21 In my opinion whatever we may have to go through now is less than nothing compared with the magnificent future God has planned for us. The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own. The world of creation cannot as yet see reality, not because it chooses to be blind, but because in God’s purpose it has been so limited—yet it has been given hope. And the hope is that in the end the whole of created life will be rescued from the tyranny of change and decay, and have its share in that magnificent liberty which can only belong to the children of God!
22-25 It is plain to anyone with eyes to see that at the present time all created life groans in a sort of universal travail. And it is plain, too, that we who have a foretaste of the Spirit are in a state of painful tension, while we wait for that redemption of our bodies which will mean that at last we have realised our full sonship in him. We were saved by this hope, but in our moments of impatience let us remember that hope always means waiting for something that we haven’t yet got. But if we hope for something we cannot see, then we must settle down to wait for it in patience.
This is not mere theory—the Spirit helps us to find it true
26-27 The Spirit of God not only maintains this hope within us, but helps us in our present limitations. For example, we do not know how to pray worthily as sons of God, but his Spirit within us is actually praying for us in those agonising longings which never find words. And God who knows the heart’s secrets understands, of course, the Spirit’s intention as he prays for those who love God.
28-30 Moreover we know that to those who love God, who are called according to his plan, everything that happens fits into a pattern for good. God, in his foreknowledge, chose them to bear the family likeness of his Son, that he might be the eldest of a family of many brothers. He chose them long ago; when the time came he called them, he made them righteous in his sight, and then lifted them to the splendour of life as his own sons.
We hold, in Christ, an impregnable position
31-32 In face of all this, what is there left to say? If God is for us, who can be against us? He that did not hesitate to spare his own Son but gave him up for us all—can we not trust such a God to give us, with him, everything else that we can need?
33-34 Who would dare to accuse us, whom God has chosen? The judge himself has declared us free from sin. Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us!
35-36 Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, pain or persecution? Can lack of clothes and food, danger to life and limb, the threat of force of arms? Indeed some of us know the truth of the ancient text: ‘For your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter’.
37 No, in all these things we win an overwhelming victory through him who has proved his love for us.
38-39 I have become absolutely convinced that neither death nor life, neither messenger of Heaven nor monarch of earth, neither what happens today nor what may happen tomorrow, neither a power from on high nor a power from below, nor anything else in God’s whole world has any power to separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 8
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
This Does Mean That There Is Now No Condemnation For Those In Christ Jesus
8 Therefore[a], there is now no condemnation for the ones in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law[b] of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus set you[c] free from the law of sin and death!
For God Did What The Law Could Not Do, For Those Walking In The Spirit
3 For the thing impossible[d] for the Law, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did. Having sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for[e] sin, He condemned sin in the flesh[f], 4 in order that the requirement[g] of the Law might be fulfilled in us, the ones walking not in-accordance-with[h] the flesh, but in accordance with the Spirit.
For The Way of The Flesh Is Death. But You Are Not In The Flesh, But In The Spirit
5 For the ones being[i] in accordance with the flesh are thinking[j] the things of [k] the flesh, but the ones being in accordance with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the way-of-thinking of the flesh is death, but the way-of-thinking of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 Because the way-of-thinking of the flesh is hostility toward God; for it is not subject[l] to the Law of God, for it is not even able. 8 And the ones being in the flesh are not able to please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit— since[m] the Spirit of God is dwelling in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this one is not of [n] Him.
And The Spirit Is True Life In Us Now, And Will Give Life To Our Mortal Bodies
10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life[o] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of the One having raised Jesus from the dead is dwelling in you, the One having raised Christ from the dead will also give-life-to your mortal bodies through His Spirit dwelling in you.
So We Are Debtors To The Spirit To Put To Death The Deeds of The Flesh And Live
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors— not to the flesh, that we should be living in accordance with the flesh. 13 For if [p] you are living in accordance with the flesh, you are going-to[q] die. But if by the Spirit you are putting-to-death the practices of the body, you will live.
For Those Being So Led By The Spirit Are The Adopted Children of God
14 For[r] all who are being led[s] by the Spirit of God, these are sons[t] of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit[u] of slavery again leading-to fear, but you received a Spirit[v] of adoption by Whom we are crying-out “Abba[w]! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself bears-witness-with our spirit that we are children of God!
This Means We Are Joint-Heirs With Christ, Sharing His Suffering And Glory
17 And if we are children, we are heirs also. We are heirs of God, and fellow-heirs of Christ, since[x] we are suffering-with Him in order that we may also be glorified-with Him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to the glory destined to be revealed to[y] us.
Creation Itself Groans To Share In Our Glory
19 For the eager-expectation of the creation is awaiting[z] the revelation of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility[aa]— not willingly[ab], but because of the One having subjected it— in hope[ac] 21 that the creation itself also will be set-free from the slavery of [ad] decay into the freedom of [ae] the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation is groaning-together and suffering-birthpains-together[af] until the present.
We Groan For The Redemption of Our Body
23 And not only creation, but also ourselves having the firstfruit[ag] of the Spirit— we ourselves also are groaning within ourselves while eagerly-awaiting adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in hope. But hope being seen is not hope, for who hopes-for what he sees? 25 But since we hope-for what we do not see, we are eagerly-awaiting it with endurance.
The Spirit Groans To Help Us In Our Present Weakness
26 And similarly also[ah] the Spirit helps our weakness. For we do not know what we should pray as we ought-to, but the Spirit Himself intercedes-for us with inexpressible[ai] groanings. 27 And the One searching our hearts knows[aj] what the mind of the Spirit is, because He is interceding for the saints in accordance with God.
This Means God Is Working All Things Together Toward Our Glorification
28 And we know that all things are[ak] working-together[al] for good for the ones loving God, the ones being called ones according to His purpose[am]. 29 Because whom He foreknew[an], He also predestined[ao] to be similar-to-the-form of the image[ap] of His Son, so that He might be firstborn[aq] among many brothers. 30 And whom He predestined, these He also called[ar]. And whom He called, these He also declared-righteous. And whom He declared righteous, these He also glorified[as].
So What Shall We Say To All This? If God Is For Us, Who Will Condemn Us?
31 Therefore, what shall we say to these things? If [at] God is for us, who is against us? 32 He Who indeed did not spare His own Son but handed Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely-give[au] us all things? 33 Who will bring-a-charge against the chosen[av] ones of God? God is the One declaring-righteous! 34 Who is the one who will condemn[aw]? Christ Jesus is the One having died, but more, having been raised, Who also is at the right hand of God, Who also intercedes[ax] for us!
Nothing Can Separate Us From Christ’s Love; We Are Conquerors Through Him
35 What[ay] shall separate us from the love of Christ? Affliction, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 Just as it has been written [in Ps 44:22] that “For your sake we are being put-to-death the whole day. We were considered as sheep for slaughter”. 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly-conquer[az] through the One having loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present[ba] nor things coming, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other creation[bb] will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Footnotes
- Romans 8:1 Paul now turns from correcting false inferences drawn from salvation by grace (ch 6-7) to again teaching true ones.
- Romans 8:2 That is, the controlling power, the operative power.
- Romans 8:2 This word is singular. Paul makes it personal.
- Romans 8:3 That is, to conquer the death-producing power of sin.
- Romans 8:3 Paul may mean as an offering for sin; or, to deal with sin in all its aspects.
- Romans 8:3 Or, in His flesh.
- Romans 8:4 This views the entire Law as a single requirement.
- Romans 8:4 Or, in harmony with, in conformity with.
- Romans 8:5 Or, existing, and thus, living. This is another way of saying ‘walking’, v 4.
- Romans 8:5 Or, setting their minds on, being intent on. This is the focus of their hearts and minds.
- Romans 8:5 That is, belonging to; proceeding from.
- Romans 8:7 Or, does not subject-itself.
- Romans 8:9 Or, if as is the case, if indeed.
- Romans 8:9 That is, does not belong to Him.
- Romans 8:10 That is, the Spirit is true life. Or, the spirit is alive, in contrast to the body.
- Romans 8:13 That is, assuming it is true that.
- Romans 8:13 Or, are destined to.
- Romans 8:14 This gives the reason you will live. If you are living by the Spirit, this means you are one of God’s children.
- Romans 8:14 This is the broad category of which putting to death the practices of the body is one aspect.
- Romans 8:14 That is, children, family members, as opposed to slaves.
- Romans 8:15 That is, a disposition, a slave kind of spirit.
- Romans 8:15 Or, spirit.
- Romans 8:15 That is, papa, daddy.
- Romans 8:17 That is, if as is the case.
- Romans 8:18 Or, for, in.
- Romans 8:19 Or, eagerly-awaiting.
- Romans 8:20 Or, purposelessness, pointlessness.
- Romans 8:20 Or, not of its own will, again personifying creation.
- Romans 8:20 That is, in the hope granted to it that. This hope results in the eager expectation of v 19. Or, subjected it in the expectation that the creation. Or, subjected it in hope, because the creation (making this the only place in the Bible where ‘hope’ has God as the subject).
- Romans 8:21 Or, belonging to, leading to.
- Romans 8:21 That is, characterized by; or, belonging to.
- Romans 8:22 That is, for the birth of the new age.
- Romans 8:23 That is, the initial foretaste of the Spirit, the future fullness of Whom will be the harvest; or, the firstfruit which is the Spirit, He being the first installment of all the blessings God will bestow on us.
- Romans 8:26 Or, indeed.
- Romans 8:26 That is, unspoken, wordless; or, unspeakable, inexpressible, too deep for words.
- Romans 8:27 That is, knows in the sense of approves of, recognizes with approval, takes interest in; or, understands.
- Romans 8:28 Or, that He is working all things together for good; or, that in all things, He joins in working for good.
- Romans 8:28 Or, cooperating, helping, assisting.
- Romans 8:28 Or. plan, design, resolve.
- Romans 8:29 Or, knew beforehand, had advance knowledge of. Some think this knowledge is with reference to their actions and choices; others, that He ‘knew’ them in the sense of ‘had regard for, loved, took interest in’ them.
- Romans 8:29 Or, preappointed, predesignated.
- Romans 8:29 Or, likeness.
- Romans 8:29 That is, preeminent, first in rank, the supreme One.
- Romans 8:30 Or, summoned.
- Romans 8:30 Paul puts this in the past tense, as something already certain.
- Romans 8:31 That is, If as is the case.
- Romans 8:32 Or, graciously-grant.
- Romans 8:33 Or, elect, selected.
- Romans 8:34 Or, who is the one condemning?
- Romans 8:34 Or, petitions, appeals. Same word as in v 27.
- Romans 8:35 Or, Who.
- Romans 8:37 Or, are completely-victorious.
- Romans 8:38 Lit, being present; or, having come.
- Romans 8:39 Or creature, created thing.
Romans 8
King James Version
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For 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.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh 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, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Administered by The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. Used by Permission.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
