Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 8:5

"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." — Romans 8:5 (ASV)

At this point Paul launches upon a fairly extended statement contrasting the terms “sinful nature” (lit., “flesh”) and “Spirit,” which he has used in v.4. Both terms are difficult because they can have more than one meaning (for “flesh,” see comment on 7:4–6). To be in the flesh, as the word is used here, is to be in the unregenerate state. To “be [NIV live] according to” the flesh (v.5) is to have the sinful nature as the regulating principle of one’s life. To “walk [NIV live] according to” the flesh (v.4) is to carry out in conduct those things dictated by the sinful human nature.

Less complicated is the use of “Spirit” (pneuma; GK 4460), but even here there is some question as to whether or not this word as used in contrast to “flesh” perhaps refers to the (redeemed) human spirit. This much is clear: in the passage under consideration pneuma does not mean “spirit” simply as an element in the constitution of a person (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:3). The problem is to determine whether pneuma in this passage means the divine life-principle (the new spiritual nature communicated to the believer) or whether it means the Spirit of God.

Two considerations strongly favor the view that this is a reference to the Holy Spirit. (1) This chapter has begun with an obvious allusion to the divine Spirit (v.2), so that unless there is clear indication to the contrary, one should expect this to be the intended meaning of pneuma in the verses that follow. (2) In stating the ground of Christian victory over sin, the apostle would likely assign the basis of that victory to the highest source possible rather than to a lower, intermediate factor.

The statements in vv.5–8 about the sinful nature refer to the unregenerate person, especially judging by the care with which Paul excludes his readers in v.9. This is not sufficient ground, however, for claiming that the Christian has nothing to do with the sinful flesh. The warning of 8:12ff. would be meaningless if that were the case. But for the moment Paul wishes to expose the flesh in its stark reality as totally alien to God and his holy purposes. He insists that there is a correspondence between one’s essential being and what interests that person. The fleshly are occupied with fleshly things, whereas those who possess the Spirit and are controlled by him are concerned with the things of the Spirit (see also 1 Corinthians 2:14). The expression “have their minds set on” denotes far more than a mental process, for it also includes one’s inner desires (cf. Php 2:5ff.; Colossians 3:2).

The same root word appears again (v.6), only in the noun form: “The mind of sinful man is death.” The unsaved are cut off from God, and this amounts to death in the sense of separation from God. Those who are spiritual, on the contrary, enjoy life from God (cf. v.2) and the peace such life affords (cf. 14:17). The dead state of the natural man, both present and future, is then traced to the inveterate hostility to God that characterizes “flesh,” a hostility that manifests itself in opposition to the law of God. Such people refuse to obey it and thereby are in rebellion against God. In summary, Paul names four characteristics of the sinful unregenerate person: hostility toward God, insubordination to his law, failure to please God, and death. It is no wonder that when Jesus spoke to Nicodemus of “the flesh,” he went on to declare, “You must be born again” .