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Selected Verse: Romans 8:13 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ro 8:13	Strong Concordance	For [1063] if [1487] ye live [2198] after [2596] the flesh [4561], ye shall [3195] die [599]: but [1161] if [1487] ye [2289] through the Spirit [4151] do mortify [2289] the deeds [4234] of the body [4983], ye shall live [2198].
	King James	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.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die--in the sense of Rom 6:21. but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body--(See on Rom 7:23). ye shall live--in the sense of Rom 6:22. The apostle is not satisfied with assuring them that they are under no obligations to the flesh, to hearken to its suggestions, without reminding them where it will end if they do; and he uses the word "mortify" (put to death) as a kind of play upon the word "die" just before. "If ye do not kill sin, it will kill you." But he tempers this by the bright alternative, that if they do, through the Spirit, mortify the deeds of the body, such a course will infallibly terminate in "life" everlasting. And this leads the apostle into a new line of thought, opening into his final subject, the "glory" awaiting the justified believer. Note, (1) "There can be no safety, no holiness, no happiness, to those who are out of Christ: No "safety," because all such are under the condemnation of the law (Rom 8:1); no holiness, because such only as are united to Christ have the spirit of Christ (Rom 8:9); no happiness, because to be "carnally minded is death" (Rom 8:6)" [HODGE]. (2) The sanctification of believers, as it has its whole foundation in the atoning death, so it has its living spring in the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ (Rom 8:2-4). (3) "The bent of the thoughts, affections, and pursuits, is the only decisive test of character (Rom 8:5)" [HODGE]. (4) No human refinement of the carnal mind will make it spiritual, or compensate for the absence of spirituality. "Flesh" and "spirit" are essentially and unchangeably opposed; nor can the carnal mind, as such, be brought into real subjection to the law of God (Rom 8:5-7). Hence (5) the estrangement of God and the sinner is mutual. For as the sinner's state of mind is "enmity against God" (Rom 8:7), so in this state he "cannot please God" (Rom 8:8). (6) Since the Holy Ghost is, in the same breath, called indiscriminately "the Spirit of God," "the Spirit of Christ," and "Christ" Himself (as an indwelling life in believers), the essential unity and yet Personal distinctness of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, m the one adorable Godhead must be believed, as the only consistent explanation of such language (Rom 8:9-11). (7) The consciousness of spiritual life in our renewed souls is a glorious assurance of resurrection life in the body also, in virtue of the same quickening Spirit whose inhabitation we already enjoy (Rom 8:11). (8) Whatever professions of spiritual life men may make, it remains eternally true that "if we live after the flesh we shall die," and only "if we through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body we shall live" (Rom 8:13, and compare Gal 6:7-8; Eph 5:6; Phi 3:18-19; Jo1 3:7-8). SECOND: The Sonship of Believers--Their Future Inheritance--The Intercession of the Spirit for Them (Rom 8:14-27).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die--in the sense of Rom 6:21.

but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body--(See on Rom 7:23).

ye shall live--in the sense of Rom 6:22. The apostle is not satisfied with assuring them that they are under no obligations to the flesh, to hearken to its suggestions, without reminding them where it will end if they do; and he uses the word "mortify" (put to death) as a kind of play upon the word "die" just before. "If ye do not kill sin, it will kill you." But he tempers this by the bright alternative, that if they do, through the Spirit, mortify the deeds of the body, such a course will infallibly terminate in "life" everlasting. And this leads the apostle into a new line of thought, opening into his final subject, the "glory" awaiting the justified believer.

Note, (1) "There can be no safety, no holiness, no happiness, to those who are out of Christ: No "safety," because all such are under the condemnation of the law (Rom 8:1); no holiness, because such only as are united to Christ have the spirit of Christ (Rom 8:9); no happiness, because to be "carnally minded is death" (Rom 8:6)" [HODGE]. (2) The sanctification of believers, as it has its whole foundation in the atoning death, so it has its living spring in the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ (Rom 8:2-4). (3) "The bent of the thoughts, affections, and pursuits, is the only decisive test of character (Rom 8:5)" [HODGE]. (4) No human refinement of the carnal mind will make it spiritual, or compensate for the absence of spirituality. "Flesh" and "spirit" are essentially and unchangeably opposed; nor can the carnal mind, as such, be brought into real subjection to the law of God (Rom 8:5-7). Hence (5) the estrangement of God and the sinner is mutual. For as the sinner's state of mind is "enmity against God" (Rom 8:7), so in this state he "cannot please God" (Rom 8:8). (6) Since the Holy Ghost is, in the same breath, called indiscriminately "the Spirit of God," "the Spirit of Christ," and "Christ" Himself (as an indwelling life in believers), the essential unity and yet Personal distinctness of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, m the one adorable Godhead must be believed, as the only consistent explanation of such language (Rom 8:9-11). (7) The consciousness of spiritual life in our renewed souls is a glorious assurance of resurrection life in the body also, in virtue of the same quickening Spirit whose inhabitation we already enjoy (Rom 8:11). (8) Whatever professions of spiritual life men may make, it remains eternally true that "if we live after the flesh we shall die," and only "if we through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body we shall live" (Rom 8:13, and compare Gal 6:7-8; Eph 5:6; Phi 3:18-19; Jo1 3:7-8).

SECOND: The Sonship of Believers--Their Future Inheritance--The Intercession of the Spirit for Them (Rom 8:14-27).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For if you live ... - If you live to indulge your carnal propensities, you will sink to eternal death; Rom 7:23. Through the Spirit - By the aid of the Spirit; by cherishing and cultivating his influences. What is here required can be accomplished only by the aid of the Holy Spirit. Do mortify - Do put to death; do destroy. Sin is mortified when its power is destroyed, and it ceases to be active. The deeds of the body - The corrupt inclinations and passions; called deeds of the body, because they are supposed to have their origin in the fleshly appetites. Ye shall live - You shall be happy and saved. Either your sins must die, or you must. If they are suffered to live, you will die. If they are put to death, you will be saved. No man can be saved in his sins. This closes the argument of the apostle for the superiority of the gospel to the Law in promoting the purity of man. By this train of reasoning, he has shown that the gospel has accomplished what the Law could not do - the sanctification of the soul, the destruction of the corrupt passions of our nature, and the recovery of man to God.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
mortify Make to die the doings of the body.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Ye shall die (μέλλετε ἀποθνήσκειν) The expression is stronger than the simple future of the verb. It indicates a necessary consequence. So Rev., ye must. Mortify (θανατοῦτε) Put to death. Deeds (πράξεις) Habitual practices. See on Rom 7:15; see on Joh 3:21.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
The deeds of the flesh - Not only evil actions, but evil desires, tempers, thoughts. If ye mortify - Kill, destroy these. Ye shall live - The life of faith more abundantly here, and hereafter the life of glory.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die - Though μελλετε αποθνησκειν may mean, ye shall afterwards die, and this seems to indicate a temporal death, yet not exclusively of an eternal death; for both, and especially the latter, are necessarily implied. But if ye through the Spirit - If ye seek that grace and spiritual help which the Gospel of Christ furnishes, resist, and, by resisting, mortify the deeds of the flesh, against which the law gave you no assistance, ye shall live a life of faith, love, and holy obedience here, and a life of glory hereafter.

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¹⁴ For [1063] as many as [3745] are led [71] by the Spirit [4151] of God [2316], they [3778] are [1526] the sons [5207] of God [2316].
¹⁵ For [1063] ye have [2983] not [3756] received [2983] the spirit [4151] of bondage [1397] again [3825] to [1519] fear [5401]; but [235] ye have received [2983] the Spirit [4151] of adoption [5206], whereby [1722] [3739] we cry [2896], Abba [5], Father [3962].
¹⁶ The Spirit [4151] itself [846] beareth witness [4828] with our [2257] spirit [4151], that [3754] we are [2070] the children [5043] of God [2316]:
¹⁷ And [1161] if [1487] children [5043], then [2532] heirs [2818]; heirs [2818] of God [3303] [2316], and [1161] joint-heirs [4789] with Christ [5547]; if so be [1512] that we suffer with [4841] him, that [2443] we may be [4888] also [2532] glorified together [4888].
¹⁸ For [1063] I reckon [3049] that [3754] the sufferings [3804] of this present [3568] time [2540] are not [3756] worthy [514] to be compared with [4314] the glory [1391] which shall [3195] be revealed [601] in [1519] us [2248].
¹⁹ For [1063] the earnest expectation [603] of the creature [2937] waiteth [553] for the manifestation [602] of the sons [5207] of God [2316].
²⁰ For [1063] the creature [2937] was made subject [5293] to vanity [3153], not [3756] willingly [1635], but [235] by reason [1223] of him who hath subjected [5293] the same in [1909] hope [1680],
²¹ Because [3754] the creature [2937] itself [846] also [2532] shall be delivered [1659] from [575] the bondage [1397] of corruption [5356] into [1519] the glorious [1391] liberty [1657] of the children [5043] of God [2316].
²² For [1063] we know [1492] that [3754] the whole [3956] creation [2937] groaneth [4959] and [2532] travaileth in pain together [4944] until [891] now [3568].
²³ And [1161] not [3756] only [3440] they, but [235] ourselves [846] also [2532], which have [2192] the firstfruits [536] of the Spirit [4151], even [2532] we [2249] ourselves [846] groan [4727] within [1722] ourselves [1438], waiting [553] for the adoption [5206], to wit, the redemption [629] of our [2257] body [4983].
²⁴ For [1063] we are saved [4982] by hope [1680]: but [1161] hope [1680] that is seen [991] is [2076] not [3756] hope [1680]: for [1063] what [3739] a man [5100] seeth [991], why [5101] doth he [1679] yet [2532] hope for [1679]?
²⁵ But [1161] if [1487] we hope [1679] for that [3739] we see [991] not [3756], then do we [553] with [1223] patience [5281] wait for [553] it.
²⁶ [1161] Likewise [5615] the Spirit [4151] also [2532] helpeth [4878] our [2257] infirmities [769]: for [1063] we know [1492] not [3756] what [5101] we should pray for [4336] as [2526] we ought [1163]: but [235] the Spirit [4151] itself [846] maketh intercession [5241] for [5228] us [2257] with groanings [4726] which cannot be uttered [215].
²⁷ And [1161] he that searcheth [2045] the hearts [2588] knoweth [1492] what [5101] is the mind [5427] of the Spirit [4151], because [3754] he maketh intercession [1793] for [5228] the saints [40] according [2596] to the will of God [2316].

⁷ Little children [5040], let [4105] no man [3367] deceive [4105] you [5209]: he that doeth [4160] righteousness [1343] is [2076] righteous [1342], even as [2531] he [1565] is [2076] righteous [1342].
⁸ He that committeth [4160] sin [266] is [2076] of [1537] the devil [1228]; for [3754] the devil [1228] sinneth [264] from [575] the beginning [746]. For [1519] this purpose [5124] the Son [5207] of God [2316] was manifested [5319], that [2443] he might destroy [3089] the works [2041] of the devil [1228].

¹⁸ (For [1063] many [4183] walk [4043], of whom [3739] I have told [3004] you [5213] often [4178], and [1161] now [3568] tell [3004] you even [2532] weeping [2799], that they are the enemies [2190] of the cross [4716] of Christ [5547]:
¹⁹ Whose [3739] end [5056] is destruction [684], whose [3739] God [2316] is their belly [2836], and [2532] whose glory [1391] is in [1722] their [846] shame [152], who [3588] mind [5426] earthly things [1919].)

⁶ Let [538] no man [3367] deceive [538] you [5209] with vain [2756] words [3056]: for [1063] because [1223] of these things [5023] cometh [2064] the wrath [3709] of God [2316] upon [1909] the children [5207] of disobedience [543].

⁷ Be [4105] not [3361] deceived [4105]; God [2316] is [3456] not [3756] mocked [3456]: for [1063] whatsoever [3739] [1437] a man [444] soweth [4687], that [5124] shall he [2325] also [2532] reap [2325].
⁸ For [3754] he that soweth [4687] to [1519] his [1438] flesh [4561] shall [2325] of [1537] the flesh [4561] reap [2325] corruption [5356]; but [1161] he that soweth [4687] to [1519] the Spirit [4151] shall [2325] of [1537] the Spirit [4151] reap [2325] life [2222] everlasting [166].

¹³ For [1063] if [1487] ye live [2198] after [2596] the flesh [4561], ye shall [3195] die [599]: but [1161] if [1487] ye [2289] through the Spirit [4151] do mortify [2289] the deeds [4234] of the body [4983], ye shall live [2198].

¹¹ But [1161] if [1487] the Spirit [4151] of him that raised up [1453] Jesus [2424] from [1537] the dead [3498] dwell [3611] in [1722] you [5213], he that raised up [1453] Christ [5547] from [1537] the dead [3498] shall [2227] also [2532] quicken [2227] your [5216] mortal [2349] bodies [4983] by [1223] his [846] Spirit [4151] that dwelleth [1774] [1774] in [1722] you [5213].

⁹ But [1161] ye [5210] are [2075] not [3756] in [1722] the flesh [4561], but [235] in [1722] the Spirit [4151], if so be [1512] that the Spirit [4151] of God [2316] dwell [3611] in [1722] you [5213]. Now [1161] if any man [1536] have [2192] not [3756] the Spirit [4151] of Christ [5547], he [3778] is [2076] none [3756] of his [846].
¹⁰ And [1161] if [1487] Christ [5547] be in [1722] you [5213], the body [4983] [3303] is dead [3498] because [1223] of sin [266]; but [1161] the Spirit [4151] is life [2222] because [1223] of righteousness [1343].
¹¹ But [1161] if [1487] the Spirit [4151] of him that raised up [1453] Jesus [2424] from [1537] the dead [3498] dwell [3611] in [1722] you [5213], he that raised up [1453] Christ [5547] from [1537] the dead [3498] shall [2227] also [2532] quicken [2227] your [5216] mortal [2349] bodies [4983] by [1223] his [846] Spirit [4151] that dwelleth [1774] [1774] in [1722] you [5213].

⁸ So then [1161] they that are [5607] in [1722] the flesh [4561] cannot [3756] [1410] please [700] God [2316].

⁷ Because [1360] the carnal [4561] mind [5427] is enmity [2189] against [1519] God [2316]: for [1063] it is [5293] not [3756] subject [5293] to the law [3551] of God [2316], neither [3761] indeed [1063] can be [1410].

⁵ For [1063] they that are [5607] after [2596] the flesh [4561] do mind [5426] the things [3588] of the flesh [4561]; but [1161] they that are after [2596] the Spirit [4151] the things [3588] of the Spirit [4151].
⁶ For [1063] to be [5427] carnally [4561] minded [5427] is death [2288]; but [1161] to be [5427] spiritually [4151] minded [5427] is life [2222] and [2532] peace [1515].
⁷ Because [1360] the carnal [4561] mind [5427] is enmity [2189] against [1519] God [2316]: for [1063] it is [5293] not [3756] subject [5293] to the law [3551] of God [2316], neither [3761] indeed [1063] can be [1410].

² For [1063] the law [3551] of the Spirit [4151] of life [2222] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424] hath made [1659] me [3165] free [1659] from [575] the law [3551] of sin [266] and [2532] death [2288].
³ For [1063] what the law [3551] could not do [102], in [1722] that [3739] it was weak [770] through [1223] the flesh [4561], God [2316] sending [3992] his own [1438] Son [5207] in [1722] the likeness [3667] of sinful [266] flesh [4561], and [2532] for [4012] sin [266], condemned [2632] sin [266] in [1722] the flesh [4561]:
⁴ That [2443] the righteousness [1345] of the law [3551] might be fulfilled [4137] in [1722] us [2254], who walk [4043] not [3361] after [2596] the flesh [4561], but [235] after [2596] the Spirit [4151].

⁶ For [1063] to be [5427] carnally [4561] minded [5427] is death [2288]; but [1161] to be [5427] spiritually [4151] minded [5427] is life [2222] and [2532] peace [1515].

¹ There is therefore [686] now [3568] no [3762] condemnation [2631] to them which are in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424], who walk [4043] not [3361] after [2596] the flesh [4561], but [235] after [2596] the Spirit [4151].

²² But [1161] now [3570] being made free [1659] from [575] sin [266], and [1161] become servants [1402] to God [2316], ye have [2192] your [5216] fruit [2590] unto [1519] holiness [38], and [1161] the end [5056] everlasting [166] life [2222].

²³ But [1161] I see [991] another [2087] law [3551] in [1722] my [3450] members [3196], warring against [497] the law [3551] of my [3450] mind [3563], and [2532] bringing [163] me [3165] into captivity [163] to the law [3551] of sin [266] which [3588] is [5607] in [1722] my [3450] members [3196].

²¹ What [5101] [3767] fruit [2590] had ye [2192] then [5119] in [1909] those things whereof [3739] ye are [1870] now [3568] ashamed [1870]? for [1063] the end [5056] of those things [1565] is death [2288].

²¹ But [1161] he that doeth [4160] truth [225] cometh [2064] to [4314] the light [5457], that [2443] his [846] deeds [2041] may be made manifest [5319], that [3754] they are [2076] wrought [2038] in [1722] God [2316].

¹⁵ For [1063] that which [3739] I do [2716] I allow [1097] not [3756]: for [1063] what [3739] I would [2309], that [5124] do I [4238] not [3756]; but [235] what [3739] I hate [3404], that [5124] do I [4160].