Rom 8:1-4 KJV There is therefore now no condemnation to
them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (3)
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh,
God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned
sin in the flesh: (4) That the righteousness of the law might be
fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Translation and notes
Traditional translations obscure
the Word
Rom 8:1 jvb No
condemnation now therefore `1 to those in Christ Jesus `2, those thus having
`3, as a guide `4 to regular outward behavior `5, not flesh, but spirit `6.
`1 - The reference is
both in general to the prior contents of Romans, and specific to the last four
verses of the preceding chapter (Rom 8.22-25).
`2 - Preceding part
of the verse is literal word-by-word translation, with the smallest change in
word order that makes sense.
`3 - A subset of
believers is not in view here. All levels of context make plain that spiritual guidance
is a result of God spiritually begetting again through the Son.
`4 - The Greek
preposition, best directly translated in this context as "after",
indicates the use of its object as a map, not as an automatic pilot.
`5 - This is the metaphorical
meaning of "walk" here. Our common use of vehicular transportation
has obscured this.
`6 - The Greek
definite article with "flesh" and "spirit" is used in a
generic sense. In English the article is omitted to show this sense. The Third
Person is not in view as a Person. The trinitarianist tradition of assuming the
Third Person as a Person is in view wherever possible when "spirit"
is read, is wrong here as in the vast majority of cases elsewhere, particularly
in this chapter.
Rom 8:2 jvb For
the law `1 of the spirit `2 of that life `3 which is in Christ Jesus hath made
me free `4 from the law `1 of sin and death `5.
`1 - In both uses in
this verse, "law" indicates a regular consistent operation of causes
and effects as in spiritual, natural, or scientific law.
`2 - A spiritual condition
is in view. It is the permanent presence of the begotten again new personal
spirit and the indwelling Holy Spirit (see Rom 8.16).
`3 - A specific sort
of life is in view. It is present because of the specific spiritual condition
of those in Christ Jesus.
`4 - Christian and
true freedom is in the image of the absolute freedom of God, who is spirit. The
begotten again permanent spiritual condition provides true freedom in the image
of the Son.
`5 - Sin consistently
brings forth death. Spiritual separation from God, then separation from the
body, eventually complete and eternal separation from God. As an uninstructed believer,
the habits and memories of the old man caused Paul to experience
"death" in Rom 7:5-25.
Rom 8:3 jvb That
which was impossible under the Law `1 on the basis of law '2 because of the
weakness of flesh '3, God made possible. `4. As He sends `5 his own Son in the
likeness of flesh of sin `6, and as an offering `7 concerning sin, He condemns
sin in flesh `8.
`1 - The Greek
sentence often omits much that we find necessary in English. The Law of Moses
is inferred. "That" refers to fulfilling the righteous requirements
of the Law. (Rom 8.4; see keeping same in Rom 2.26).
`2 - The general
principle of "law" is in view here. The genitive case reflects
archaic ablative usage.
`3 - It is flesh, not
law, that is weak and powerless, even under conditions of either innocence or
justification through faith.
`4 - Main clause is
inferred. God makes it possible for the begotten again to walk in pre-ordained
good works (Eph 2.10) and on those occasions to fulfill the righteous
requirements of the Law.
`5 - Present tense
with "as" used for aorist participle. The present participle is somewhat
misleading.
`6 - Sin has made
flesh mortal. This shows in the deterioration of cells after age 11. This is
most visible in the aging of the skin and is the probable reason that Adam and
Eve wished to cover the flesh of sin.
`7 - "Offering"
is inferred from the usage of the phrase "concerning sin".
`8 - This
condemnation empowers the begotten again to crucify the flesh with its
afflictions and cravings (Gal 5.24). And thus makes possible good works that
fulfill the requirements of the Law.
Rom 8:4 jvb That
the righteous requirements of the Law `1
might be fulfilled in us `2, whose behavioral guide `3 is not weak flesh
`4 fragmented by the crucifixion of the
old man `5 but is the faultless spirit
`6 of that life which is in Christ Jesus `7
`1 - See v 3 `.1, and
Thayer for word. / `2 - See v 3 `4,.`8. / `3 - See v 1 `4, `5. / `4 - See v 3
`3./ `5 - See Rom 6.6.; 7.23.
`6 - See Rom 8.16,
And through the spirit of that life which is in Christ Jesus killing the habits
of the body in Rom 8.13.
`7 - Paul practices
what he preaches. He serves the Gospel in his new begotten again spirit (Rom
1.9).
I2C 140219a aa Rom 8v1to4 Translation _ Notes /
I2C / 140219 1120 / Rom 8:1-4 Translation and notes / Traditional translations
obscure the Word
