Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 8:10

"And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness." — Romans 8:10 (ASV)

And if Christ be in you. This is evidently a figurative expression, where the word "Christ" is used to denote His Spirit, His principles; that is, He influences the person. Literally, He cannot be in a Christian; but the close connection between Him and Christians, and the fact that they are entirely under His influence, is expressed by this strong figurative language. It is language which is not infrequently used. (Colossians 1:27).

The body is dead. This passage has been interpreted in very different ways. Some understand it to mean that the body is dead in respect to sin; that is, that sin has no more power to excite evil passions and desires. Others believe that the body must die on account of sin, but that the spiritual part will live, and even the body will live also in the resurrection.

Thus Calvin, Beza, and Augustine interpreted it. Doddridge understands it as follows: "Though the body is to die on account of the first sin that entered into the world, yet the spirit is life, and will continue to live on forever, through that righteousness which the second Adam has introduced." There are serious objections to each of these interpretations, which it is not necessary to state here.

I understand the passage in the following manner: The body refers to that of which the apostle had said so much in the previous chapters—the flesh, the person before conversion. It is subject to corrupt passions and desires, and may thus be said to be dead, as it has none of the elements of spiritual life.

It is under the reign of sin and death. The word (men)—indeed, or truly—has been omitted in our translation, and the omission has obscured the sense. The expression is an admission by the apostle, or a summary statement of what was previously shown: "It is to be admitted, indeed, or it is true, that the unrenewed nature, the person before conversion, under the influence of the flesh, is spiritually dead. Sin has its seat in the fleshly appetites; and the whole body may thus be admitted to be dead or corrupt."

Because of sin. Through sin, (di amartian) by means of sinful passions and appetites.

But the spirit. This stands opposed to the body; and it means that the soul, the immortal part, the renovated person, was alive, or was under the influence of living principles. It was imbued with the life which the gospel imparts, and had become active in the service of God. The word "spirit" here does not refer to the Holy Spirit, but to the spirit of man, the immortal part, recovered, renewed, and imbued with life under the gospel.

Because of righteousness. Through righteousness, (dia dikaiosunhn). This is commonly interpreted to mean, with reference to righteousness, or that it may become righteous. But I understand the expression to be used in the sense in which the word is so frequently used in this epistle, as denoting God's plan of justification. (See Barnes on Romans 1:17).

"The spirit of man has been recovered and made alive through His plan of justification. It communicates life, and recovers man from his death in sin to life."