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Romans 8:5

in Romans 8

Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV

ASV

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.

KJV

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

This verse in Romans 8

Commentary

5 notes on this verse
For they that are after the flesh - They that are under the influence of the corrupt and sinful desires of the flesh; Gal 5:19-21. Those who are unrenewed. Do mind the things of the flesh - They are supremely devoted to the gratification of their corrupt desires. But they that are after the Spirit - Who are under its influence; who are led by the Spirit. The things of the Spirit - Those things which the Spirit produces, or which he effects in the mind, Gal 5:21-

This site's exposition

set their minds on the things of the flesh

on Romans 8:5-6

Two kinds of people are marked by what the mind holds. The Greek word phroneo names a settled bent of thought, the direction a life leans. The mind of the flesh ends in death and the mind of the Spirit in life and peace.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

But they who are after the Spirit - Who are under his guidance. Mind the things of the Spirit - Think of, relish, love things invisible, eternal; the things which the Spirit hath revealed, which he works in us, moves us to, and promises to give us.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

By examining what we mind, the things of the flesh or the things of the spirit. Carnal pleasure, worldly profit and honour, the things of sense and time, are the things of the flesh, which unregenerate people mind. The favour of God, the welfare of the soul, the concerns of eternity, are the things of the Spirit, which those that are after the Spirit do mind.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

For they that are after the flesh--that is, under the influence of the fleshly principle. do mind--give their attention to (Php 3:19). the things of the flesh, &c.--Men must be under the predominating influence of one or other of these two principles, and, according as the one or the other has the mastery, will be the complexion of their life, the character of their actions.

The words behind it

16 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    1 Corinthians 2:14

    The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 1:18

      For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

    • Romans 8:5–8

      Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

    • Matthew 13:11–17

      He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

    • 2 Corinthians 4:4–6

      The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

    • 1 John 2:27

      And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all…

  • Through

    John 3:6

    Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.

    it leads to

    • Galatians 5:16–21

      So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

    • Ezekiel 36:26–27

      I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

    • Romans 8:4–9

      so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Where this verse is studied

About Romans

The Crucifixion — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
The Crucifixion — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Epistle to the Romans; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.