Romans 8:5

New Living Translation

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
People who live following their sinful selves think only about what they want. But those who live following the Spirit are thinking about what the Spirit wants them to do.

Revised Standard Version
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.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For they that are carnall are carnally mynded. But they that are spirituall are gostly mynded.

Hebrew Names Version
For those who are after the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

International Standard Version
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.John 3:6; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Galatians 5:22,25;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

New Century Version
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.

Update Bible Version
For those that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but those that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Webster's Bible Translation
For they that are according to the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh: but they that are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

English Standard Version
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.

World English Bible
For those who are after the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
They that are after the flesh, mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Weymouth's New Testament
For if men are controlled by their earthly natures, they give their minds to earthly things. If they are controlled by their spiritual natures, they give their minds to spiritual things.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For thei that ben aftir the fleisch, saueren tho thingis that ben of the fleisch; but thei that ben after the spirit, feelen tho thingis that ben of the spirit. For the prudence of fleisch is deth;

English Revised Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

Contemporary English Version
People who are ruled by their desires think only of themselves. Everyone who is ruled by the Holy Spirit thinks about spiritual things.

Amplified Bible
For those who are living according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh [which gratify the body], but those who are living according to the Spirit, [set their minds on] the things of the Spirit [His will and purpose].

American Standard Version
For they that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Bible in Basic English
For those who are living in the way of the flesh give their minds to the things of the flesh, but those who go in the way of the Spirit, to the things of the Spirit.

Complete Jewish Bible
For those who identify with their old nature set their minds on the things of the old nature, but those who identify with the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Darby Translation
For they that are according to flesh mind the things of the flesh; and they that are according to Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Etheridge Translation
For they who are in the flesh, of that flesh are mindful; and they who are of the Spirit, of that Spirit are mindful.

Murdock Translation
For they who are in the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh: and they who are of the Spirit, do mind the things of the Spirit.

King James Version (1611)
For they that are after the flesh, doe minde the things of the flesh: but they that are after the spirit, the things of the spirit.

New Life Bible
Those who let their sinful old selves tell them what to do live under that power of their sinful old selves. But those who let the Holy Spirit tell them what to do are under His power.

New Revised Standard
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.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For they that are after the flesh, sauour the things of the flesh: but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

George Lamsa Translation
For they who are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh; but they who are after the Spirit, do mind the things of the Spirit.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, they who according to flesh have their being, the things of the flesh do prefer, but, they according to the spirit, the things of the spirit;

Douay-Rheims Bible
For they that are according to the flesh mind the things that are of the flesh: but they that are according to the spirit mind the things that are of the spirit.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For they that are carnall, are carnally mynded: But they that are spirituall, are spiritually mynded.

Good News Translation
Those who live as their human nature tells them to, have their minds controlled by what human nature wants. Those who live as the Spirit tells them to, have their minds controlled by what the Spirit wants.

Christian Standard Bible®
For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit.

King James Version
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.

Lexham English Bible
For those who are living according to the flesh are intent on the things of the flesh, but those who are living according to the Spirit are intent on the things of the Spirit.

Literal Translation
For the ones that are according to flesh mind the things of the flesh. And the ones according to Spirit mind the things of the Spirit.

Young's Literal Translation
For those who are according to the flesh, the things of the flesh do mind; and those according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For they that are fleshly, are fleshly mynded: but they that are goostly, are goostly mynded.

Mace New Testament (1729)
for they that are sensually affected, abandon themselves to sensuality, but the spiritual pursue their spiritual entertainments.

THE MESSAGE
Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn't pleased at being ignored.

New English Translation
For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit.

New King James Version
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, the things of the Spirit.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Do you think more about sin or the things that please the Holy Ghost? That's how you know which of these you ride for.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Legacy Standard Bible
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Contextual Overview

¹ So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. ² And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. ³ The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. ⁴ He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. ⁵ Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. ⁶ So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. ⁷ For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will. ⁸ That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. ⁹ But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

For they: Romans 8:12, Romans 8:13, John 3:6, 1 Corinthians 15:48, 2 Corinthians 10:3, 2 Peter 2:10

mind: Romans 8:6, Romans 8:7, Mark 8:33, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Philippians 3:18, Philippians 3:19

of the Spirit: Romans 8:9, Romans 8:14, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Galatians 5:22-25, Ephesians 5:9, Colossians 3:1-3

Reciprocal: Psalms 84:10 - For Matthew 6:6 - pray Matthew 16:23 - thou savourest Luke 16:13 - servant John 4:15 - give 1 Corinthians 2:12 - not 2 Corinthians 10:2 - we walked Galatians 5:16 - Walk Galatians 5:17 - the flesh Galatians 5:19 - the works Galatians 5:25 - let

Cross-References

Genesis 7:11
When Noah was 600 years old, on the seventeenth day of the second month, all the underground waters erupted from the earth, and the rain fell in mighty torrents from the sky.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For they that are after the flesh,.... By flesh is meant the corruption of nature; and they may be said to be "after" it, not all that have flesh in them, for the best of saints have it in them; regenerating grace does not remove it from them; there is a difference between being in and after the flesh, and flesh being in us; but such who are as they were born, who have nothing but flesh, or corrupt nature in them, in whom that is the governing principle, whose minds are carnal, and whose whole walk and conversation is, such, are here meant: and these persons

do mind the things of the flesh: not merely things corporeal, belonging to the welfare of the body; or things natural for the improvement of the mind; or things civil, as riches, c. which may be minded and sought after in a lawful way but things sinful, the lusts, works, and sins of the flesh: which they may be said to "mind", since they judge them to be good; the bent and application of their minds are to them; their affections are set upon them; they are solicitously careful to provide for them, and savour and relish them: nor is it to be wondered at, since these are natural to them; they are opposite to God and so agreeable to them; they have no mind, thought, affection, or relish, for anything else; and it is entirely owing to mighty grace, that any mind the things of the Spirit:

but they that are after the Spirit; not such who follow the dictates of their own spirits; or are outwardly reformed; nor all that have spiritual gifts; or profess themselves to have the grace and Spirit of God; but such who are born again, are renewed in the spirit of their minds, in whom grace is the governing principle: the work of the Spirit is begun in them, though not perfected: the Spirit himself dwells in them, and they walk after him; their minds and conversations are spiritual, though there may be a great deal of carnality in their hearts, thoughts, words, and actions, which is matter of grief unto them: these mind

the things of the Spirit; the graces of the Spirit; spiritual blessings; the doctrines of the Gospel; spiritual sacrifices and services: these have some understanding of, can discern the difference between them and carnal things, judge and approve of them as right; have a great esteem and affection for them, and taste a sweetness in them. They have no mind naturally to these things; nor is the bias of their minds altered by themselves, nor could it; this is wholly the work of the Spirit of God; and these things are minded only because, and as they are agreeable to the spiritual part, the inward man.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For they that are after the flesh - They that are under the influence of the corrupt and sinful desires of the flesh; Galatians 5:19-21. Those who are unrenewed.

Do mind the things of the flesh - They are supremely devoted to the gratification of their corrupt desires.

But they that are after the Spirit - Who are under its influence; who are led by the Spirit.

The things of the Spirit - Those things which the Spirit produces, or which he effects in the mind, Galatians 5:21-23. This verse is for the purpose of illustration, and is designed to show that the tendency of religion is to produce as entire a devotedness to the service of God as people had before rendered to sin; that is, that they Would be fully engaged in that to which they had devoted themselves. As the Christian therefore, had devoted himself to the service of the Spirit, and had been brought under his influence, it was to be expected that he would make it his great and only object to cherish and cultivate the graces which that Spirit would produce.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Romans 8:5. For they that are after the flesh — And here is the great distinction between Jews and genuine Christians: the former are after the flesh-are under the power of the carnal, rebellious principle; and consequently mind, προνουσιν, relish, the things of the flesh-the things which appertain merely to the present life; having no relish for spiritual and eternal things.

But they that are after the Spirit — They who are regenerated, who are born of the Spirit, being redeemed from the influence and law of the carnal mind; these relish the things of the Spirit-they are spiritually minded, and pass through things temporal, so as not to lose the things which are eternal. And this, which in these apostolic times distinguished between the carnal Jew and the spiritual believer in Christ, is the grand mark of distinction between the nominal and the real Christian now. The former is earthly minded, and lives for this world; the latter is spiritually minded, and lives for the world to come.