King James Version
What Does Romans 8:10 Mean?
“And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”
Context
8
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. by: or, because of
12
Therefore , brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Topics in This Verse
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(10) The results of the presence of Christ in the soul.
**The body is dead because of sin.**—Here the word is evidently used of physical death. The doom entailed by sin still, indeed, attaches to the body—but only to the body. The body, indeed, must die, but there the hold of sin upon the Christian ends; it cannot touch him farther.
**The Spirit is life because of righteousness.**—But turn to another side of human nature; take it in its highest part and faculty—the spirit. That is full of vitality because it is full of righteousness, first imputed and then real. Life and righteousness are correlative terms, the one involving the other.
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Romans. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Romans 8:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Romans 8:10
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge