The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace,
Parallel translations
- WEB For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;
- KJV For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
- ESV For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
- NKJV For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
- NASB For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
- NLT So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A mind set on the flesh ends in death, but a mind set on the Spirit brings life and peace. Our mindset has eternal consequences.
Overview
Paul states the outcomes of the two orientations described in the previous verse. The fleshly mind leads to death, both spiritual and eternal, while the Spirit-led mind yields life and peace with God. This sober contrast underscores the necessity of the Spirit's renewing work in the believer.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Gal 6:8The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
- Rom 8:7because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
- Rom 8:13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
- Rom 13:14Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
- Rom 6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Jas 1:14–15But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.
- Gal 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- John 14:27Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.
- Rom 6:21What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.
- John 14:6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
- Rom 7:5For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death.
- Rom 14:17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- Rom 7:11For sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment put me to death.
- John 17:5And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed.
- Rom 5:1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
- Rom 5:10For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 8:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.