For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded 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;
- BSB The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of 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 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 6:8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
- Rom 8:7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
- Rom 8:13For 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.
- Rom 13:14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
- Rom 6:23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Jas 1:14–15But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
- Gal 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
- John 14:27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
- Rom 6:21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
- John 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
- Rom 7:5For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
- Rom 14:17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
- Rom 7:11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
- John 17:5And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
- Rom 5:1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
- Rom 5:10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by 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.