Romans 13:14 Meaning and Explanation
“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Rather than feeding sinful desires, believers are to clothe themselves with Christ himself, taking on his character as a garment.
What Does Romans 13:14 Mean?
Paul brings the chapter to its summit with one luminous command: 'put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.' Where verse 12 spoke of the armour of light, here that light has a name and a face. To be clothed with Christ is to take on his very character, so that he, not the cravings of the flesh, governs the life.
The second half guards the first: make no 'provision for the flesh,' no plans or supplies for indulging sinful desire. The believer does not leave the door ajar for what he means to forsake. To put on Christ is the whole of the Christian life pressed into a phrase, exchanging the old self for the new, being daily conformed to the One who loved us and gave himself for us. This is the summons that gathers love, wakefulness, and light into a single, living aim.
Romans 13:14 in the Original Language
enduo (ἐνδύω), 'put on' -- to clothe oneself in a garment, here to be wholly invested with the character of Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 13:14
What does Romans 13:14 mean?
Rather than feeding sinful desires, believers are to clothe themselves with Christ himself, taking on his character as a garment.