Romans 8:12 Meaning and Explanation
“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Believers owe nothing to the flesh and are under no obligation to live by it.
What Does Romans 8:12 Mean?
Drawing a practical conclusion, Paul addresses his readers warmly as "brethren." Because of all the Spirit has done, we are debtors, but not to the flesh. The flesh has no claim on us; we owe it no allegiance and no obedience.
Gratitude reshapes our obligations. The flesh, which once enslaved us, has done nothing to earn our loyalty; it offers only death. Our debt, left unspoken here but clearly implied, is to the Spirit and to God who gave Him. To live after the flesh would be to pay a debt we do not owe. Freed by Christ, we are bound instead to walk in the life the Spirit supplies.
Romans 8:12 in the Original Language
opheiletes (ὀφειλέτης), 'debtors' -- those under obligation, who owe what must be paid.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 8:12
What does Romans 8:12 mean?
Believers owe nothing to the flesh and are under no obligation to live by it.