Romans 8:12

New Living Translation

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
So, my brothers and sisters, we must not be ruled by our sinful selves. We must not live the way our sinful selves want.

Revised Standard Version
So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh--

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Therfore brethren we are nowe detters not to the flesshe to live after the flesshe.

Hebrew Names Version
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

International Standard Version
Consequently, brothers, we have an obligation - but it is not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.Romans 6:7,14;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—

New Century Version
So, my brothers and sisters, we must not be ruled by our sinful selves or live the way our sinful selves want.

Update Bible Version
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh:

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

English Standard Version
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

World English Bible
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Weymouth's New Testament
Therefore, brethren, it is not to our lower natures that we are under obligation that we should live by their rule.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor, britheren, we ben dettouris, not to the flesch, that we lyuen aftir the flesch.

English Revised Version
So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh:

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation, but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.

Contemporary English Version
My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires.

Amplified Bible
So then, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but not to our flesh [our human nature, our worldliness, our sinful capacity], to live according to the [impulses of the] flesh [our nature without the Holy Spirit]—

American Standard Version
So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh:

Bible in Basic English
So then, my brothers, we are in debt, not to the flesh to be living in the way of the flesh:

Complete Jewish Bible
So then, brothers, we don't owe a thing to our old nature that would require us to live according to our old nature.

Darby Translation
So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to flesh;

Etheridge Translation
Now, my brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, that according to the flesh we should walk.

Murdock Translation
Now we are debtors, my Brethren, not to the flesh, that we should walk according to the flesh:

King James Version (1611)
Therfore brethren, we are detters, not to the flesh, to liue after the flesh.

New Life Bible
So then, Christian brothers, we are not to do what our sinful old selves want us to do.

New Revised Standard
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—

Geneva Bible (1587)
Therefore brethren, wee are detters not to the flesh, to liue after the flesh:

George Lamsa Translation
Therefore, my brethren, we are not indebted to the flesh to live after the flesh.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Hence, then, brethren - debtors, we are, not unto the flesh, that, according to flesh, we should live, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh to live according to the flesh.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Therfore brethren, we are detters, not to the fleshe, to lyue after the fleshe.

Good News Translation
So then, my friends, we have an obligation, but it is not to live as our human nature wants us to.

Christian Standard Bible®
So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh,

King James Version
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Lexham English Bible
So then, brothers, we are obligated not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

Literal Translation
So, then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to flesh,

Young's Literal Translation
So, then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Therfore brethre we are now detters, not to the flesh,

Mace New Testament (1729)
You are, therefore, brethren oblig'd to oppose your sensual passions;

THE MESSAGE
So don't you see that we don't owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There's nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God's Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!

New English Translation
So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh

New King James Version
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Listen cowboys, just because you think about sin doesn't mean you have to follow those sinful urges.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—

Legacy Standard Bible
So then, brothers, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—

Contextual Overview

¹⁰ And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. ¹¹ The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. ¹² Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. ¹³ For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. ¹⁵ So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." ¹⁶ For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

we are: Romans 6:2-15, Psalms 116:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Peter 4:2, 1 Peter 4:3

Reciprocal: Romans 1:14 - debtor Romans 8:5 - For they Romans 13:14 - and Galatians 5:16 - Walk Galatians 5:18 - if 2 Peter 2:10 - that

Cross-References

Genesis 8:2
The underground waters stopped flowing, and the torrential rains from the sky were stopped.

Genesis 8:3
So the floodwaters gradually receded from the earth. After 150 days,

Genesis 8:5
Two and a half months later, as the waters continued to go down, other mountain peaks became visible.

Genesis 8:6
After another forty days, Noah opened the window he had made in the boat

Genesis 8:7
and released a raven. The bird flew back and forth until the floodwaters on the earth had dried up.

Genesis 8:8
He also released a dove to see if the water had receded and it could find dry ground.

Genesis 8:10
After waiting another seven days, Noah released the dove again.

Psalms 27:14
Wait patiently for the Lord . Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord .

Isaiah 8:17
I will wait for the Lord , who has turned away from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my hope in him.

Isaiah 25:9
In that day the people will proclaim, "This is our God! We trusted in him, and he saved us! This is the Lord , in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors,.... The appellation, "brethren", is not used, because they were so by nation or by blood, though many in the church at Rome were Jews; nor merely in a free familiar way of speaking; but rather on account of church membership, and especially because they were in the same spiritual relation to God and Christ: and the use of it by the apostle, shows his great humility and condescension, and his love and affection for them, and is designed to engage their attention and regard to what he was about to say, to them and of them; as that they were "debtors"; which is to be understood of them not as sinners, who as such had been greatly in debt, and had nothing to pay, and were liable to the prison of hell; for no mere creature could ever have paid off their debts; but Christ has done it for them, and in this sense they were not debtors: but they were so as saints, as men freed from condemnation and death; which doctrine of Christian liberty is no licentious one; it does not exempt from obedience, but the more and greater the favours are which such men enjoy, the more obliged they are to be grateful and obey; they are debtors, or trader obligation,

not to the flesh, to corrupt nature,

to live after the flesh, the dictates of that; nor should they be, both on God's account, since that is enmity to him, and is not subject to his law; and on their own account, because it is an enemy to them, brings reproach on them, and exposes them to death; but though it is not expressed, it is understood, that they are debtors to God; to God the Father, both as the God of nature, and of grace, as their covenant God and Father in Christ, who has blessed them with all spiritual blessings in him; to Christ himself, who has redeemed them by his blood: and to the Spirit of God who is in them, and for what he has been, is, and will be to them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

We are debtors - We owe it as a matter of solemn obligation. This obligation arises,

1. From the fact that the Spirit dwells in us;
2. Because the design of his indwelling is to purify us;
3. Because we are thus recovered from the death of sin to the life of religion; and he who has imparted life, has a right to require that it be spent in his service.

To the flesh - To the corrupt propensities and passions. We are not bound to indulge them because the end of such indulgence is death and ruin; Romans 7:21-22. But we are bound to live to God, and to follow the leadings of his Spirit, for the end is life and peace; Romans 7:22-23. The reason for this is stated in the following verse.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Romans 8:12. Therefore, brethren, c.] Dr. Taylor is of opinion that the apostle having spoken separately, both to Jews and Gentiles, concerning holiness and the obligations to it, now addresses himself to both conjointly, and,

I. Draws the general conclusion from all his arguments upon this subject, Romans 8:12.

II. Proves the validity of their claims to eternal life, Romans 8:14-17.

III. And as the affair of suffering persecution was a great stumbling block to the Jews, and might very much discourage the Gentiles, he introduces it to the best advantage, Romans 8:17, and advances several arguments to fortify their minds under all trials: as -

(1.) That they suffered with Christ

(2.) In order to be glorified with him in a manner which will infinitely compensate all sufferings, Romans 8:17; Romans 8:18.

(3.) All mankind are under various pressures, longing for a better state, Romans 8:19-22.

(4.) Many of the most eminent Christians are in the same distressed condition, Romans 8:23.

(5.) According to the plan of the Gospel, we are to be brought to glory after a course of patience exercised in a variety of trials, Romans 8:24; Romans 8:25.

(6.) The Spirit of God will supply patience to every upright soul under persecution and suffering, Romans 8:26; Romans 8:27.

(7.) All things, even the severest trials, shall work together for their good, Romans 8:28. And this he proves, by giving us a view of the several steps which the wisdom and goodness of God have settled, in order to our complete salvation, Romans 8:29; Romans 8:30. Thence he passes to the affair of our perseverance; concerning which he concludes, from the whole of his preceding arguments, that as we are brought into a state of pardon by the free grace of God, through the death of Christ, who is now our mediator in heaven; no possible cause, providing we continue to love and serve God, shall be able to pervert our minds, or separate us from his love in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:31-39. Therefore, αρα ουν is the grand inference from all that he has been arguing in relation to sanctity of life, both to the Gentiles, chap. Romans 6:0, and to the Jews, chap. Romans 7:0, and Romans 8:0, to this verse, where I suppose he begins to address himself to both, in a body, to the end of the chapter.- Taylor, page 317.