Romans 8:11
in Romans 8And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
KJV
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.
⋯
This verse in Romans 8
Commentary
27 notes on this verseHe declares in the plainest manner, that the same Being who was laid hold of, and underwent suffering, and shed His blood for us, was both Christ and the Son of God, who did also rise again, and was taken up into heaven, as he himself [Paul] says: "But at the same time, [it, is] Christ [that] died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God."
This site's exposition
your body is dead because of sin
on Romans 8:10-11
The body still carries death's sentence while the spirit is alive on the ground of righteousness. Verse 11 puts the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead inside the believer. That Spirit will give life to the mortal body itself.
This site's exposition
will also give life to your mortal bodies
Verse 9 called the Spirit the Spirit of Christ, and this verse the Spirit of the Father, which Diodorus reads as one Spirit of both. Tertullian fixes on the word mortal. It can only mean the flesh itself, raised as Christ's body was raised.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Paul repeats here what he has just said. Once again, the word body stands for the whole person.
Paul now explains the fourth of the four states which we mentioned above. But this state is not attained in this life. It belongs to the hope by which we await the redemption of our body, when this corruptible matter will put on incorruption and immortality. Then there will be perfect peace, because the soul will no longer be troubled by the body, which will be revived and transformed into a heavenly substance.
This is a very explicit witness to the resurrection of the body, and it is sufficiently clear that as long as we are in this life there will be no lack of both the annoyances occasioned by the mortal flesh and some excitations arising from carnal pleasures. For although he who is established under grace serves the law of God with his mind and does not yield, nevertheless, with the flesh he continues to serve the law of sin.
A commentator
Hippolytus of RomeHippolytus Refutation of All Heresies Book VI · Written before 235.
proposed
Concerning this (Logos) they have a great question amongst them-an occasion both of divisions and dissension. And hence the doctrine of these has become divided: and one doctrine, according to them, is termed Oriental, and the other Italian. They from Italy, of whom is Heracleon and Ptolemaeus, say that the body of Jesus was (an) animal (one). And on account of this, (they maintain) that at his baptism the Holy Spirit as a dove came down-that is, the Logos of the mother above, (I mean Sophia)-and became (a voice) to the animal (man), and raised him from the dead. This, he says, is what has been declared: "He who raised Christ from the dead will also quicken your mortal and natural bodies." For loam has come under a curse; "for," says he, "dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." The Orientals, on the other hand, of whom is Axionicus and Bardesianes, assert that the body of the Saviour was spiritual; for there came upon Mary the Holy Spirit-that is, Sophia and the power of the highest. This is the creative art, (and was vouchsafed) in order that what was given to Mary by the Spirit might be fashioned.
A commentator
Hippolytus of RomeHippolytus Dogmatical and Historical Fragments · Written before 235.
proposed
Let us look next at the apostle's word: "Whose are the fathers, of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever." This word declares the mystery of the truth rightly and clearly. He who is over all is God; for thus He speaks boldly, "All things are delivered unto me of my Father." He who is over all, God blessed, has been born; and having been made man, He is (yet) God for ever. For to this effect John also has said, "Which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." And well has he named Christ the Almighty. For in this he has said only what Christ testifies of Himself. For Christ gave this testimony, and said, "All things are delivered unto me of my Father; " and Christ rules all things, and has been appointed Almighty by the Father. And in like manner Paul also, in setting forth the truth that all things are delivered unto Him, said, "Christ the first-fruits; afterwards they that are Christ's at His coming. Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule, and all authority, and power. For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For all things are put under Him. But when He saith, All things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted which did put all things under Him. Then shall He also Himself be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all." If, therefore, all things are put under Him with the exception of Him who put them under Him, He is Lord of all, and the Father is Lord of Him, that in all there might be manifested one God, to whom all things are made subject together with Christ, to whom the Father hath made all things subject, with the exception of Himself. […]
19 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers10 voices
In the same manner, therefore, as Christ did rise in the substance of flesh, and pointed out to His disciples the mark of the nails and the opening in His side (now these are the tokens of that flesh which rose from the dead), so "shall He also," it is said, "raise us up by His own power." And again to the Romans he says, "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." What, then, are mortal bodies? Can they be souls? Nay, for souls are incorporeal when put in comparison with mortal bodies; for God "breathed into the face of man the breath of life, and man became a living soul." Now the breath of life is an incorporeal thing. And certainly they cannot maintain that the very breath of life is mortal. Therefore David says, "My soul also shall live to Him," just as if its substance were immortal. Neither, on the other hand, can they say that the spirit is the mortal body. What therefore is there left to which we may apply the term "mortal body," unless it be the thing that was moulded, that is, the flesh, of which it is also said that God will vivify it? For this it is which dies and is decomposed, but not the soul or the spirit. For to die is to lose vital power, and to become henceforth breathless, inanimate, and devoid of motion, and to melt away into those [component parts] from which also it derived the commencement of [its] substance. But this event happens neither to the soul, for it is the breath of life; nor to the spirit, for the spirit is simple and not composite, so that it cannot be decomposed, and is itself the life of those who receive it. […]
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS · Written before 253.
proposed
"But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Jesus Christ from the dead shall quicken also your mortal bodies because of his Spirit dwelling in you." Since he had said above concerning those who, after the likeness of Christ's death, mortify their bodies that they may not sin, he necessarily now makes mention of him who raised Christ from the dead, so that in like manner and by the same reasoning by which they died together with him and were buried together with him, they may know that they are to be quickened through the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead, and to be raised from the dead after the likeness of Christ. And he shows in what way this comes about, saying: "Because of his Spirit dwelling in you." For if the Spirit of Christ dwells in you, it seems necessary that his dwelling-place be restored to the Spirit, and his temple given back. Yet I should wish to know what this very thing is which is said — that either the Spirit of Christ, or the Spirit of God, or even Christ himself dwells in us: whether this Spirit is given to all from the beginning, and afterwards driven away by the worst deeds and by deeds estranged from God, according to that which is written, "My Spirit shall not remain in these men, because they are flesh"; or whether it is given afterwards by the merit of one's life and by the grace of faith, according to those things which are taught in the Acts of the Apostles, that the Holy Spirit came upon each one of them as it were in tongues of fire; or certainly as we are taught in the Gospel, when the Savior himself, after he rose from the dead, said to the disciples: "Receive the Holy Spirit," and breathed upon each one of them. […]
The resurrection of the dead implies the resurrection of their bodies.
He accordingly subjoins: "He that raised up Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortal bodies." In these words he both affirmed the resurrection of the flesh (without which nothing can rightly be called body, nor can anything be properly regarded as mortal), and proved the bodily substance of Christ; inasmuch as our own mortal bodies will be quickened in precisely the same way as He was raised; and that was in no other way than in the body.
In these words he both affirmed the resurrection of the flesh (without which nothing can rightly be called body, nor can anything be properly regarded as mortal), and proved the bodily substance of Christ; inasmuch as our own mortal bodies will be quickened in precisely the same way as He was raised; and that was in no other way than in the body. I have here a very wide gulf of expunged Scripture to leap across; however, I alight on the place where the apostle bears record of Israel "that they have a zeal of God"-their own God, of course-"but not according to knowledge.
And once for all, that we may not wander through every passage, He "who raised up Christ from the dead, and is also to raise up our mortal bodies," must certainly be, as the quickener, different from the dead Father, or even from the quickened Father, if Christ who died is the Father.
"Wherefore, girding up your loins," "serve the Lord in fear" and truth, as those who have forsaken the vain, empty talk and error of the multitude, and "believed in Him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and gave Him glory," and a throne at His right hand. To Him all things in heaven and on earth are subject. Him every spirit serves. He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead. His blood will God require of those who do not believe in Him. But He who raised Him up from the dead will raise up us also, if we do His will, and walk in His commandments, and love what He loved, keeping ourselves from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness; "not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing," or blow for blow, or cursing for cursing, but being mindful of what the Lord said in His teaching: "Judge not, that ye be not judged; forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you; be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again;" and once more, "Blessed are the poor, and those that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God."
A commentator
Diodorus of TarsusPAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH · Written before 390.
proposed
Having already mentioned the Spirit of Christ, Paul refers to him once more, calling him "the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead." By saying that the Spirit of Christ is also the Spirit of the Father, Paul teaches clearly that the Spirit …
Again, he touches the point of the Resurrection, since this was the most encouraging hope to the hearer, and gave him a security from what had happened unto Christ. Now be not thou afraid because thou art compassed about with a dead body. Let it have the Spirit, and it shall assuredly rise again. What then, shall the bodies which have not the Spirit not rise? How then must "all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ?" or how will the account of hell be trustworthy? For if they that have not the Spirit rise not, there will not be a hell at all. What then is it which is said? All shall rise, yet not all to life, but some to punishment and some to life. This is why he did not say, shall raise up, but shall quicken. And this is a greater thing than resurrection, and is given to the just only. And the cause of this honor he adds in the words, "By His Spirit that dwelleth in you." And so if while here thou drive away the grace of the Spirit, and do not depart with it still safe, thou wilt assuredly perish, though thou dost rise again. For as He will not endure then, if he see His Spirit shining in thee, to give thee up to punishment, so neither will He allow them, if He see It quenched, to bring thee into the Bride-chamber, even as He admitted not those virgins. Suffer not thy body then to live in this world, that it may live then! Make it die, that it die not. For if it keep living, it will not live: but if it die, then shall it live. And this is the case with resurrection in general. For it must die first and be buried, and then become immortal. But this has been done in the Font. It has therefore had first its crucifixion and burial, and then been raised. This has also happened with the Lord's Body. For that also was crucified and buried and rose again. This then let us too be doing: let us keep continually mortifying it in its works. […]
But why am I resorting to knotty arguments, when the apostle treats the subject with perfect plainness? "For if," says he, "the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies, because of His Spirit that dwelleth in you; " so that even if a person were to assume that the soul is "the mortal body," he would (since he cannot possibly deny that the flesh is this also) be constrained to acknowledge a restoration even of the flesh, in consequence of its participation in the selfsame state.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says "and if the Spirit," he shows what we obtain from the Holy Spirit inasmuch as he is the Spirit of the Father, saying: "if the Spirit of him," namely, of God the Father, "who raised up Jesus Christ from the dead"; …
Again he begins speaking about the resurrection and says: do not fear that you are clothed in a mortal body. You have the Spirit of God, who raised Christ from the dead. As He raised Him, so He will undoubtedly raise you also, and even …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Observe, If the Spirit be in us, Christ is in us. He dwells in the heart by faith, Eph. iii. Now we are here told what becomes of the bodies and souls of those in whom Christ is.
The body of Christ lay in the grave, under the sin of all the elect imputed, and broke through it. O grave, then, where is thy victory? It is in the virtue of Christ's resurrection that we shall rise.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But if the Spirit of him ... - The Holy Spirit, Rom 8:9. He that raised up Christ ... - He that had power to restore him to life, has power to give life to you. He that did, in fact, restore him to life, will also restore you. The argument here seems to be founded, first, on the power of God; and, secondly, on the connection between Christ and his people; compare Joh 14:19, “Because I live, ye shall live also.” Shall also quicken - Shall make alive.
But if the Spirit, etc. - This verse confirms the sense given to the preceding. He who here receives the grace and Spirit of Christ, and continues to live under its influence a life of obedience to the Divine will, shall have a resurrection to eternal life; and the resurrection of Christ shall be the pattern after which they shall be raised. By his Spirit that dwelleth in you - Instead of δια του ενοικουντος αυτου πνευματος, because of the Spirit of him who dwelleth in you, DEFG, a great many others, with the Vulgate, Itala, and several of the fathers, have δια το ενοικουν αυτου πνευμα, which gives almost no variety of meaning. The latter may be neater Greek, but it is not better sense than the preceding.
Modern Voices2 voices
The Holy Spirit of God is totally incapable of doing anything that is small. The world in which we live is beautiful, carpeted with flowers and everything. It was a ball of mud shut up in the womb of the universe.
A commentator
Annette CappsJesus Gave You Abundant Life! (Letters from Annette, Capps Ministries blog)
proposed
The life of God reigns supreme within me. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in me and makes every cell of my body full of life!
The words behind it
31 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἰ | ei | If | G1487 → | 508 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πνεῦμα | pneuma | Spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the [One] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐγείραντος | egeirantos | having raised up | G1453 → | 142 times |
| τὸν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰησοῦν | iesoun | Jesus | G2424 → | 908 times |
| ἐκ | ek | out from | G1537 → | 911 times |
| νεκρῶν | nekron | [the] dead | G3498 → | 128 times |
| οἰκεῖ | oikei | dwells | G3611 → | 9 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ὑμῖν, | humin | you, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ὁ | ho | the [One] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐγείρας | egeiras | having raised up | G1453 → | 142 times |
| Χριστὸν | christon | Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| ἐκ | ek | out from | G1537 → | 911 times |
| νεκρῶν | nekron | [the] dead | G3498 → | 128 times |
| ζῳοποιήσει | zoopoiesei | will give life | G2227 → | |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὰ | ta | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θνητὰ | thneta | mortal | G2349 → | |
| σώματα | somata | bodies | G4983 → | 142 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| διὰ | dia | on account of | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐνοικοῦντος | enoikountos | dwelling | G1774 → | |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of His | G846 → | 5565 times |
| πνεύματος | pneumatos | Spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ὑμῖν.¶ | humin | you. | G4771 → | 2973 times |
εἰIf
eiG1487 →508 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
πνεῦμαSpirit
pneumaG4151 →378 times
τοῦof the [One]
touG3588 →19766 times
ἐγείραντοςhaving raised up
egeirantosG1453 →142 times
τὸν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἸησοῦνJesus
iesounG2424 →908 times
ἐκout from
ekG1537 →911 times
νεκρῶν[the] dead
nekronG3498 →128 times
οἰκεῖdwells
oikeiG3611 →9 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ὑμῖν,you,
huminG4771 →2973 times
ὁthe [One]
hoG3588 →19766 times
ἐγείραςhaving raised up
egeirasG1453 →142 times
ΧριστὸνChrist
christonG5547 →523 times
ἐκout from
ekG1537 →911 times
νεκρῶν[the] dead
nekronG3498 →128 times
ζῳοποιήσειwill give life
zoopoieseiG2227 →
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὰto the
taG3588 →19766 times
θνητὰmortal
thnetaG2349 →
σώματαbodies
somataG4983 →142 times
ὑμῶνof you
humonG4771 →2973 times
διὰon account of
diaG1223 →664 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
ἐνοικοῦντοςdwelling
enoikountosG1774 →
αὐτοῦof His
autouG846 →5565 times
πνεύματοςSpirit
pneumatosG4151 →378 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ὑμῖν.¶you.
huminG4771 →2973 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 8:9You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong…
it leads to
- Galatians 4:6
And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
- 1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
- 2 Timothy 1:14
Guard the treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
- 1 Corinthians 6:19
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
- John 14:17
the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.
- Galatians 4:6
Through
2 Corinthians 4:11For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 15:49
And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man.
- Psalms 44:22
Yet for Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
- 1 Corinthians 15:49
Through
2 Corinthians 4:14knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14
Where this verse is studied
By subject
Resurrection34 verses
On this page
Studies35
On this chapter
- Abba, Father
- The God Who Gets Named
- The Binding of Isaac
- The Bronze Serpent
- Creation to New Creation
- Eternal Security, and the Five Warnings of Hebrews
Show the next 6 titles
- Firstfruits
- The Fruit of the Spirit
- Gethsemane (The Garden Called the Oil Press)
- Hebel: the word the Berean text renders futility
- How Scripture Shapes Christian Ethics
- How to Study the Bible
Show the next 6 titles
About Romans
This page draws on 25 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Annette Capps, Jesus Gave You Abundant Life! (Letters from Annette, Capps Ministries blog); Augustine of Hippo, AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 51; Augustine of Hippo, QUESTIONS 66.7; Diodorus of Tarsus, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH; Frederic Godet, Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans; Hippolytus of Rome, Hippolytus Refutation of All Heresies Book VI; Hippolytus of Rome, Hippolytus Dogmatical and Historical Fragments; Irenaeus, Irenaeus Against Heresies Book 3; Irenaeus, Irenaeus Against Heresies Book 5; John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Epistle to the Romans; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 13; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Leonard Ravenhill, Christ Magnified in My Body 2; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Polycarp of Smyrna, Epistle to the Philippians 2; Tertullian, Against Marcion Book V; Tertullian, AGAINST MARCION 5.14; Tertullian, Against Praxeas; Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.