For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse isn't just about avoiding sin; it highlights that "putting to death the deeds of the body" is an active, ongoing process, not a one-time fix. This continuous "mortification" is essential, implying a present struggle where spiritual life is maintained by actively resisting the body's desires, not just by avoiding them.
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is wrapping up his argument about the Spirit's power over sin and death, directly contrasting the outcome of living by our sinful nature versus living by God's Spirit. He's just established that believers are no longer obligated to the flesh, and this verse drives home the unavoidable consequences of either path, leading into his affirmation that those led by the Spirit are truly God's children destined for glory.
Paul doesn't mince words here. He lays out a stark, non-negotiable reality about how we choose to live. What does it truly mean to 'live after the flesh'?
Paul presents a stark ultimatum: a life lived according to the flesh leads inevitably to death. This isn't just about physical death, but an eternal separation from God.
The Flesh's Dominion
When Paul speaks of 'living after the flesh,' he's talking about a life dominated by our sinful desires and self-centered motivations. It’s a lifestyle where our actions, thoughts, and desires are driven by our fallen nature, rather than by God’s Spirit. It’s a path that ignores God’s commands and pursues worldly gratifications.
The Certainty of Death
The consequence is death. This signifies not just the end of earthly life, but a spiritual death – a state of being estranged from God, and ultimately, eternal destruction. It's the natural, inevitable outcome of rejecting God's life-giving presence.
But Paul doesn't leave us in despair! He offers a powerful alternative, one that requires our participation but is made possible by God's own Spirit.
The second part of the verse presents the path to life: actively putting to death the deeds of the body through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Role of the Spirit
This isn't a task we can accomplish on our own strength. 'Through the Spirit' means we rely on the Holy Spirit's power, guidance, and indwelling presence. He empowers us to resist temptation and overcome our sinful desires. It's a cooperative effort where God's Spirit works in and through us.
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Mortifying the Deeds
'Mortify' means to put to death, to render inactive. It refers to the ongoing, diligent effort to kill the sinful desires and actions that arise from our fleshly nature. It’s not about destroying the flesh itself, but about actively subduing and weakening its power over our lives. This is a continuous process of self-denial and obedience to God.
The Promise of Life
The result of this Spirit-empowered mortification is life. This is the abundant, eternal life that comes from living in relationship with God, empowered by His Spirit. It’s the assurance of salvation and a life lived in communion with Him.
This verse isn't just a theological statement; it’s a profound declaration about the two fundamental ways of existing, each with its own guaranteed destination.
Paul frames life and death as the direct, exclusive outcomes of two opposing ways of living: one dominated by the flesh, the other guided by the Spirit. There is no middle ground.
The Flesh-Led Life
'Living after the flesh' is characterized by prioritizing self, worldly desires, and independence from God. It’s a trajectory that moves away from God’s life-giving presence, leading to spiritual death and eternal separation. It’s a path that, while it may offer temporary pleasures, ultimately leads to ruin.
The Spirit-Led Life
Conversely, 'by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body' describes a life surrendered to God's control. This isn't about a passive existence, but an active, Spirit-empowered pursuit of holiness. It is this active resistance to sin and living in accordance with God’s will that guarantees eternal life and communion with Him.
Divine Responsibility and Human Action
It's crucial to see the interplay. God, through His Spirit, makes life possible. We, empowered by that same Spirit, are responsible for actively 'mortifying' the deeds of the body. This verse calls us to recognize the seriousness of our choices and to wholeheartedly embrace the life God offers through His Spirit.
Understand the original words
praxis · Greek Noun
The sinful acts or behaviors that proceed from the fallen nature of the body; these must be mortified or put to death by the power of the Spirit.
This passage echoes the stark contrast in Romans 8:13, highlighting that sowing to the flesh leads to corruption and death, while sowing to the Spirit leads to eternal life.
Colossians 3:5This verse directly parallels the 'mortify the deeds of the body' in Romans 8:13, calling believers to put to death their earthly, sinful actions through the power of the Spirit.
Romans 6:12-13Paul here urges believers not to let sin reign in their mortal bodies, but to present themselves to God, which is a foundational concept to the active 'putting to death' of sinful deeds mentioned in Romans 8:13.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20This passage reminds believers that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, implying that living according to the flesh ( Romans 8:13) would be a desecration of this sacred dwelling, whereas living by the Spirit honors God with our bodies.
bengelRomans 8:13: "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."
Romans 8:13 .[91] Τοῦ σώματος ) Others read, Τῆς ΣΑΡΚΌς . Baumgarten defends the former, I leave it undetermined.[92]— ζήσεσθε , ye shall live ) He does not say, μέλλετε ζῇν , you are about (thereby) to obtain life , but ζήσεσθε , you will remain in life . In the repentance of those, over whom the flesh had dominion, and in the temptations of those, over who…
barnesRomans 8:13: "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."
For if you live ... - If you live to indulge your carnal propensities, you will sink to eternal death; Romans 7:23 . Through the Spirit - By the aid of the Spirit; by cherishing and cultivating his influences. What is here required can be accomplished only by the aid of the Holy Spirit. Do mortify - Do put to death; do destroy. Sin is mortified when its powe…
The verse isn't just about avoiding sin; it highlights that "putting to death the deeds of the body" is an active, ongoing process, not a one-time fix. This continuous "mortification" is essential, implying a present struggle where spiritual life is maintained by actively resisting the body's desires, not just by avoiding them.
Paul is wrapping up his argument about the Spirit's power over sin and death, directly contrasting the outcome of living by our sinful nature versus living by God's Spirit. He's just established that believers are no longer obligated to the flesh, and this verse drives home the unavoidable consequences of either path, leading into his affirmation that those led by the Spirit are truly God's children destined for glory.
Paul is wrapping up his argument about the Spirit's power over sin and death, directly contrasting the outcome of living by our sinful nature versus living by God's Spirit. He's just established that believers are no longer obligated to the flesh, and this verse drives home the unavoidable consequences of either path, leading into his affirmation that those led by the Spirit are truly God's children destined for glory.
"For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." — The verse isn't just about avoiding sin; it highlights that "putting to death the deeds of the body" is an active, ongoing process, not a one-time fix. This continuous "mortification" is essential, i…
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Last reviewed October 2026