Zetemata

Romans 8

The chapter in full, then what it says, what the Greek or Hebrew decides, and where readers have disagreed.

Romans 8 WEB
  1. 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
  2. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.
  3. 3 For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
  4. 4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
  5. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
  6. 6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;
  7. 7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile toward God, for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.
  8. 8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.
  9. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.
  10. 10 If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
  11. 11 But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
  12. 12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
  13. 13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
  14. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.
  15. 15 For you didn't receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"
  16. 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;
  17. 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.
  18. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us.
  19. 19 For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
  20. 20 For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
  21. 21 that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.
  22. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
  23. 23 Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.
  24. 24 For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees?
  25. 25 But if we hope for that which we don't see, we wait for it with patience.
  26. 26 In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don't know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can't be uttered.
  27. 27 He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit's mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God.
  28. 28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.
  29. 29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
  30. 30 Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.
  31. 31 What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
  32. 32 He who didn't spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?
  33. 33 Who could bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who justifies.
  34. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
  35. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
  36. 36 Even as it is written, "For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
  37. 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
  38. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
  39. 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God's love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8

What is happening

Romans 8 completes an argument that began in chapter 5 and, in a sense, in chapter 1. Paul has spent seven chapters establishing that no one — Jew or Gentile — stands righteous before God on the strength of law-keeping (chs. 1–3), that righteousness comes instead as a gift, credited on the ground of faith in Christ (chs. 3–4), and that this creates an urgent problem: if a person is declared righteous apart from having become righteous, what stops that person simply going on sinning? Chapter 6 answers that union with Christ in his death and resurrection breaks sin's rule. Chapter 7 admits the ongoing war this produces — "what I hate, that I do" (7:15, not in the passages given but the chapter Paul is answering) — and ends in a cry for rescue.

Romans 8 is that rescue described. It is written to the church at Rome, a mixed congregation of Jewish and Gentile believers, and it moves from the individual's standing before God (8:1–17) to the whole creation's future (8:18–25) to the certainty that none of it can be lost (8:26–39). It is widely regarded as the theological high point of the letter, and by many readers, of the New Testament.

The passage, walked through

No condemnation, a new law (8:1–4). The chapter opens with a verdict: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (8:1). Katakrima — condemnation, the sentence of a court — is the word Paul has used throughout Romans for exactly what sinners deserve. Here it is simply removed for those "in Christ Jesus," the phrase marking not sentiment but location — union with him. The reason follows: "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death" (8:2). The law itself was not the problem; it was "weak through the flesh" (8:3) — unable to produce what it commanded, not because it was faulty but because human nature (sarx, flesh) could not meet its own obligation. What the law could not do, God did: he "condemned sin in the flesh" (8:3) by sending his Son "in the likeness of sinful flesh" — language chosen carefully so as not to say Christ's humanity was itself sinful, only that it was real, mortal humanity, the kind sin operates in.

Two ways of being oriented (8:5–13). Paul now names two states, not two behaviors merely but two fundamental orientations: those "according to the flesh" set their minds on the things of the flesh, and those "according to the Spirit" on the things of the Spirit (8:5). "The mind of the flesh is death... the mind of the Spirit is life and peace" (8:6) — this is not two options a believer chooses between daily by willpower, but two different persons, one of whom "cannot" please God (8:8) because it "is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be" (8:7). The turn comes at 8:9: "you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit" — a flat statement of what is now true of the reader, contingent only on whether "the Spirit of God dwells in you." Verse 9's second half is a warning wrapped inside the assurance: "if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his." The chapter does not let "Spirit" become a vague inner glow; it is possession or its absence, and it decides everything. Verses 10–13 press the logic toward obligation: because of what has been given, "we are debtors" (8:12) — not to the flesh, but to put its deeds to death by the Spirit, "for if you live after the flesh, you must die."

Sonship and its cost (8:14–17). "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God" (8:14). Paul reaches for the Aramaic word a child would use for a father: "you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (8:15) — not the language of servile fear ("the spirit of bondage again to fear") but of family. "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God" (8:16), and if children, "heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ" (8:17). But the inheritance is not detached from the path Christ walked: "if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him" (8:17). Glory and suffering are bound together, not opposites.

Creation's groan (8:18–25). Paul widens the lens from the believer to the cosmos. Present suffering is "not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed" (8:18). Creation itself, subjected to "vanity" not by choice but "because of him who subjected it" — an allusion to the curse of Genesis 3 — waits "with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed" (8:19), because it too will be "delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God" (8:21). "The whole creation groans and travails in pain together" (8:22), and believers, holding only "the first fruits of the Spirit," groan too, "waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body" (8:23) — a reminder that Christian hope in Paul is bodily, not merely spiritual escape. "Hope that is seen is not hope" (8:24); what can be seen requires no waiting.

The Spirit's intercession, and the divine syllogism (8:26–30). The Spirit "helps our weaknesses" in the very act of prayer, interceding "with groanings which can't be uttered" (8:26) when believers do not know what to pray. Verse 28 — among the most quoted and most misused lines in scripture — makes a specific claim, not a general one: "all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose." It is not a promise that every event is pleasant or explicable, but that nothing lies outside the purpose that is already moving toward the good defined in what follows: being "conformed to the image of his Son" (8:29). Verse 30 traces an unbroken chain — predestined, called, justified, glorified — each verb in the same tense, as if the outcome were already accomplished.

No accusation can stand (8:31–39). The chapter closes as a courtroom scene turned triumph. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (8:31). The proof is the cross: "he who didn't spare his own Son... how would he not also with him freely give us all things?" (8:32). No prosecutor can bring a charge, "It is God who justifies" (8:33); no judge can condemn, since "Christ Jesus... who is at the right hand of God... also makes intercession for us" (8:34). The final lines refuse every threat scripture or experience could name — tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, danger, sword, death, life, angels, powers, height, depth — concluding that in Christ believers are "more than conquerors" (8:37), and that "nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God's love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (8:39).

Where readers have disagreed

The chapter's chain in 8:29–30 — foreknew, predestined, called, justified, glorified — is the historic ground for the Calvinist/Arminian dispute over election. Reformed readers take proegno ("foreknew") as God's electing love set on particular persons before anything in them, since the pattern is unbreakable from foreknowledge straight through to glorification. Arminian and many Wesleyan readers take it as God's foreknowledge of who would respond in faith, preserving human response as real. Both traditions read the same Greek; the disagreement is theological, not textual, and Romans 8 alone does not settle it — it is argued alongside Romans 9 and Ephesians 1.

A second, quieter dispute concerns 8:9's "if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his" — whether this describes a real possibility among professing believers or is simply Paul's way of underlining that no one is a Christian in name only. Most interpreters across traditions read it as the latter: not a test to induce anxiety but a definition of what the word "Christian" means.

What it asks of a reader

The chapter does not ask for a feeling of assurance manufactured by effort; it states a verdict already rendered — "no condemnation" — and then asks whether a life is being lived out of that verdict or against it, according to the flesh or according to the Spirit. It refuses to separate that verdict from suffering: adoption and inheritance are bound to being "conformed to the image of his Son" (8:29), which the chapter has already said runs through suffering before it runs to glory. And it ends by removing the ground from under every anxiety a reader might otherwise nurse — not by denying tribulation, sword, and death are real, but by naming them and still declaring nothing among them can separate. Sibbes puts the same logic more tersely, from the opposite direction: "There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us" (The Bruised Reed, ch. 2) — which is Romans 8's argument compressed to a single line.

The verses this turns on

Romans 8:1 WEB
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
discussed above
Greek Nestle 1904

Οὐδὲν ἄρα νῦν κατάκριμα τοῖς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.

  • Οὐδὲν οὐδείς adjective · nominative singular neuter G3762
  • ἄρα ἄρα particle G686
  • νῦν νῦν adverb G3568
  • κατάκριμα κατάκριμα noun · nominative singular neuter G2631
  • τοῖς ὁ article · dative plural masculine G3588
  • ἐν ἐν preposition G1722
  • Χριστῷ Χριστός noun · dative singular masculine G5547
  • Ἰησοῦ. Ἰησοῦς noun · dative singular masculine G2424

Punctuation is editorial — the manuscripts carry none.

See also 5
  1. John 3:18 He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn't believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God.
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
  3. Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,"
  4. Romans 5:1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
  5. 1 Corinthians 1:30 Because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
Romans 8:2 WEB
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.
discussed above
Greek Nestle 1904

ὁ γὰρ νόμος τοῦ Πνεύματος τῆς ζωῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἠλευθέρωσέν σε ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου τῆς ἁμαρτίας καὶ τοῦ θανάτου.

  • ὁ ὁ article · nominative singular masculine G3588
  • γὰρ γάρ conjunction G1063
  • νόμος νόμος noun · nominative singular masculine G3551
  • τοῦ ὁ article · genitive singular neuter G3588
  • Πνεύματος πνεῦμα noun · genitive singular neuter G4151
  • τῆς ὁ article · genitive singular feminine G3588
  • ζωῆς ζωή noun · genitive singular feminine G2222
  • ἐν ἐν preposition G1722
  • Χριστῷ Χριστός noun · dative singular masculine G5547
  • Ἰησοῦ Ἰησοῦς noun · dative singular masculine G2424
  • ἠλευθέρωσέν ἐλευθερόω verb · aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular G1659
  • σε σύ personal pronoun G4771

Punctuation is editorial — the manuscripts carry none.

See also 5
  1. Romans 6:12-14 Therefore don't let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. Also, do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.
  2. 2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
  3. Romans 6:18 Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness.
  4. 2 Corinthians 3:6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
  5. Romans 8:10 If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
Romans 8:3 WEB
For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
discussed above
Greek Nestle 1904

τὸ γὰρ ἀδύνατον τοῦ νόμου, ἐν ᾧ ἠσθένει διὰ τῆς σαρκός, ὁ Θεὸς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ Υἱὸν πέμψας ἐν ὁμοιώματι σαρκὸς ἁμαρτίας καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας κατέκρινεν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ἐν τῇ σαρκί,

  • τὸ ὁ article · accusative singular neuter G3588
  • γὰρ γάρ conjunction G1063
  • ἀδύνατον ἀδύνατος adjective · accusative singular neuter G102
  • τοῦ ὁ article · genitive singular masculine G3588
  • νόμου, νόμος noun · genitive singular masculine G3551
  • ἐν ἐν preposition G1722
  • ᾧ ὅς relative pronoun · dative singular neuter G3739
  • ἠσθένει ἀσθενέω verb · imperfect active indicative, 3rd person singular G770
  • διὰ διά preposition G1223
  • τῆς ὁ article · genitive singular feminine G3588
  • σαρκός, σάρξ noun · genitive singular feminine G4561
  • ὁ ὁ article · nominative singular masculine G3588

Punctuation is editorial — the manuscripts carry none.

See also 5
  1. Acts 13:39 and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
  2. Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
  3. Hebrews 7:18 For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness
  4. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
  5. Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,"
Romans 8:5 WEB
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
discussed above
Greek Nestle 1904

οἱ γὰρ κατὰ σάρκα ὄντες τὰ τῆς σαρκὸς φρονοῦσιν, οἱ δὲ κατὰ πνεῦμα τὰ τοῦ πνεύματος.

  • οἱ ὁ article · nominative plural masculine G3588
  • γὰρ γάρ conjunction G1063
  • κατὰ κατά preposition G2596
  • σάρκα σάρξ noun · accusative singular feminine G4561
  • ὄντες εἰμί verb · present active participle, nominative plural masculine G1510
  • τὰ ὁ article · accusative plural neuter G3588
  • τῆς ὁ article · genitive singular feminine G3588
  • σαρκὸς σάρξ noun · genitive singular feminine G4561
  • φρονοῦσιν, φρονέω verb · present active indicative, 3rd person plural G5426
  • οἱ ὁ article · nominative plural masculine G3588
  • δὲ δέ conjunction G1161
  • κατὰ κατά preposition G2596

Punctuation is editorial — the manuscripts carry none.

See also 5
  1. 1 Corinthians 2:14 Now the natural man doesn't receive the things of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to him; and he can't know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
  2. Galatians 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,
  3. John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
  4. Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
  5. Romans 8:6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;
Romans 8:6 WEB
For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;
discussed above
Greek Nestle 1904

τὸ γὰρ φρόνημα τῆς σαρκὸς θάνατος, τὸ δὲ φρόνημα τοῦ πνεύματος ζωὴ καὶ εἰρήνη.

  • τὸ ὁ article · nominative singular neuter G3588
  • γὰρ γάρ conjunction G1063
  • φρόνημα φρόνημα noun · nominative singular neuter G5427
  • τῆς ὁ article · genitive singular feminine G3588
  • σαρκὸς σάρξ noun · genitive singular feminine G4561
  • θάνατος, θάνατος noun · nominative singular masculine G2288
  • τὸ ὁ article · nominative singular neuter G3588
  • δὲ δέ conjunction G1161
  • φρόνημα φρόνημα noun · nominative singular neuter G5427
  • τοῦ ὁ article · genitive singular neuter G3588
  • πνεύματος πνεῦμα noun · genitive singular neuter G4151
  • ζωὴ ζωή noun · nominative singular feminine G2222

Punctuation is editorial — the manuscripts carry none.

See also 5
  1. Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
  2. Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile toward God, for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.
  3. Romans 8:13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
  4. Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.
  5. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:7 WEB
because the mind of the flesh is hostile toward God, for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.
discussed above
Greek Nestle 1904

διότι τὸ φρόνημα τῆς σαρκὸς ἔχθρα εἰς Θεόν· τῷ γὰρ νόμῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ οὐχ ὑποτάσσεται, οὐδὲ γὰρ δύναται·

  • διότι διότι conjunction G1360
  • τὸ ὁ article · nominative singular neuter G3588
  • φρόνημα φρόνημα noun · nominative singular neuter G5427
  • τῆς ὁ article · genitive singular feminine G3588
  • σαρκὸς σάρξ noun · genitive singular feminine G4561
  • ἔχθρα ἔχθρα noun · nominative singular feminine G2189
  • εἰς εἰς preposition G1519
  • Θεόν· θεός noun · accusative singular masculine G2316
  • τῷ ὁ article · dative singular masculine G3588
  • γὰρ γάρ conjunction G1063
  • νόμῳ νόμος noun · dative singular masculine G3551
  • τοῦ ὁ article · genitive singular masculine G3588

Punctuation is editorial — the manuscripts carry none.

See also 5
  1. 1 Corinthians 2:14 Now the natural man doesn't receive the things of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to him; and he can't know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
  2. 1 John 2:15 Don't love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father's love isn't in him.
  3. James 4:4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
  4. Ephesians 4:18 being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts.
  5. Colossians 1:21 You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil deeds,
Romans 8:8 WEB
Those who are in the flesh can't please God.
discussed above
Greek Nestle 1904

οἱ δὲ ἐν σαρκὶ ὄντες Θεῷ ἀρέσαι οὐ δύνανται.

  • οἱ ὁ article · nominative plural masculine G3588
  • δὲ δέ conjunction G1161
  • ἐν ἐν preposition G1722
  • σαρκὶ σάρξ noun · dative singular feminine G4561
  • ὄντες εἰμί verb · present active participle, nominative plural masculine G1510
  • Θεῷ θεός noun · dative singular masculine G2316
  • ἀρέσαι ἀρέσκω verb · aorist active infinitive G700
  • οὐ οὐ particle · nominative G3756
  • δύνανται. δύναμαι verb · present middle or passive deponent indicative, 3rd person plural G1410

Punctuation is editorial — the manuscripts carry none.

See also 5
  1. John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he can't enter into God's Kingdom.
  2. Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn't see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God.
  3. Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.
  4. Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law worked in our members to bring out fruit to death.
  5. Colossians 1:10 that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God,
Romans 8:9 WEB
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.
discussed above
Greek Nestle 1904

Ὑμεῖς δὲ οὐκ ἐστὲ ἐν σαρκὶ ἀλλὰ ἐν πνεύματι, εἴπερ Πνεῦμα Θεοῦ οἰκεῖ ἐν ὑμῖν. εἰ δέ τις Πνεῦμα Χριστοῦ οὐκ ἔχει, οὗτος οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῦ.

  • Ὑμεῖς σύ personal pronoun G4771
  • δὲ δέ conjunction G1161
  • οὐκ οὐ particle · nominative G3756
  • ἐστὲ εἰμί verb · present active indicative, 2nd person plural G1510
  • ἐν ἐν preposition G1722
  • σαρκὶ σάρξ noun · dative singular feminine G4561
  • ἀλλὰ ἀλλά conjunction G235
  • ἐν ἐν preposition G1722
  • πνεύματι, πνεῦμα noun · dative singular neuter G4151
  • εἴπερ εἴπερ conditional G1512
  • Πνεῦμα πνεῦμα noun · nominative singular neuter G4151
  • Θεοῦ θεός noun · genitive singular masculine G2316

Punctuation is editorial — the manuscripts carry none.

See also 5
  1. Galatians 4:6 And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!"
  2. 1 Corinthians 3:16 Don't you know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
  3. 2 Timothy 1:14 That good thing which was committed to you, guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
  4. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
  5. John 14:17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world can't receive, for it doesn't see him and doesn't know him. You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

From the interpretive tradition

There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.
Richard Sibbes The Bruised Reed, ch. 2 pastor · puritan public domain
To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.
C.S. Lewis "On Forgiveness", The Weight of Glory apologist · anglican

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