Romans 8 · Verse 10

Romans 8:10

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Romans 8:10, King James Version

Romans 8:10 in other translations

BSBBut if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.
WEBIf Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
ASVAnd if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness.
YLTand if Christ is in you, the body, indeed, is dead because of sin, and the Spirit is life because of righteousness,
DARBYbut if Christ be in you, the body is dead on account of sin, but the Spirit life on account of righteousness.
BBEAnd if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
WebsterAnd if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

What does Romans 8:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 8:10-11
10-11. And if Christ be in you--by His indwelling Spirit in virtue of which we have one life with him. the body--"the body indeed." is dead because of--"by reason of" sin; but the spirit is life because--or, "by reason" of righteousness--The word "indeed," which the original requires, is of the nature of a concession--"I grant you that the body is dead ... and so far redemption is incomplete, but," &c.; that is, "If Christ be in you by His indwelling Spirit, though your 'bodies' have to pass through the stage of 'death' in consequence of the first Adam's 'sin,' your spirit is instinct with new and undying 'life,' brought in by the 'righteousness' of the second Adam" [Tholuck, Meyer, and Alford in part, but only Hodge entirely].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 10. And if Christ be in you. This is evidently a figurative expression, where the word "Christ" is used to denote his spirit, his principles; that is, he influences the man. Literally, he cannot be in a Christian; but the close connexion between him and Christians, and the fact that they are entirely under his influence, is expressed by this strong figurative language. It is language which m not unfrequently used. Comp. Gal 2:20, Col 1:27.

The body is dead. This passage has been interpreted in very different ways. Some understand it to mean that the body is dead in respect to sin; that is, that sin has no more power to excite evil passions and desires; others, that the body must die on account of sin, but that the spiritual part shall live, and even the body shall live also in the resurrection. Thus Calvin, Beza, and Augustine. Doddridge understands it thus: "Though the body is to die on account of the first sin that entered into the world, yet the spirit is life, and shall continue to live on for ever, through that righteousness which the second Adam has introduced." To each of these interpretations there are serious objections, which it is not necessary to urge. I understand the passage in the following manner: The body refers to that of which the apostle had said so much in the previous chapters--the flesh, the man before conversion. It is subject to corrupt passions and desires, and may be said thus to be dead, as it has none of the elements of spiritual life. It is under the reign of sin and death. The word (μεν)--indeed, or truly--has been omitted in our translation, and the omission has obscured the sense. The expression is an admission of the apostle, or a summary statement of what had before been shown. "It is to be admitted, indeed, or it is true, that the unrenewed nature, the man before conversion, under the influence of the flesh, is spiritually dead. Sin has its seat in the fleshly appetites; and the whole body may be admitted thus to be dead or corrupt."

Because of sin. Through sin, (διαμαρτιαν) by means of sinful passions and appetites.

But the spirit. This stands opposed to the body; and it means that the soul, the immortal part, the renovated man, was alive, or was under the influence of living principles. It was imbued with the life which the gospel imparts, and had become active in the service of God. The word "spirit" here does not refer to the Holy Ghost, but to the spirit of man, the immortal part, recovered, renewed, and imbued with life under the gospel.

Because of righteousness. Through righteousness, (διαδικαιοσυνην) This is commonly interpreted to mean, with reference to righteousness, or that it may become righteous. But I understand the expression to be used in the sense in which the word is so frequently used in this epistle, as denoting God's plan of justification. Rom 1:17. "The spirit of man has been recovered and made alive through his plan of justification. It communicates life, and recovers man from his death in sin to life."

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 And if Christ be in you, etc. - This is the criterion by which you may judge of the state of grace in which ye stand. If Christ dwell in your hearts by faith, the body is dead because of sin, δι' ἁμαρτιαν, in reference to sin; the members of your body no more perform the work of sin than the body of a dead man does the functions of natural life. Or the apostle may mean, that although, because of sin, the life of man is forfeited; and the sentence, dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return, must be fulfilled on every human being, until the judgment of the great day; yet, their souls being quickened by the indwelling Spirit of Christ, which enables them to live a life of righteousness, they receive a full assurance that their bodies, which are now condemned to death because of sin, shall be raised again to a life of immortal glory.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 8:10-17
If the Spirit be in us, Christ is in us. He dwells in the heart by faith. Grace in the soul is its new nature; the soul is alive to God, and has begun its holy happiness which shall endure for ever. The righteousness of Christ imputed, secures the soul, the better part, from death. From hence we see how much it is our duty to walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. If any habitually live according to corrupt lustings, they will certainly perish in their sins, whatever they profess. And what can a worldly life present, worthy for a moment to be put against this noble prize of our high calling? Let us then, by the Spirit, endeavour more and more to mortify the flesh. Regeneration by the Holy Spirit brings a new and Divine life to the soul, though in a feeble state. And the sons of God have the Spirit to work in them the disposition of children; they have not the spirit of bondage, which the Old Testament church was under, through the darkness of that dispensation. The Spirit of adoption was not then plentifully poured out. Also it refers to that spirit of bondage, under which many saints were at their conversion. Many speak peace to themselves, to whom God does not speak peace. But those who are sanctified, have God's Spirit witnessing with their spirits, in and by his speaking peace to the soul. Though we may now seem to be losers for Christ, we shall not, we cannot, be losers by him in the end.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Romans 8:10 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

εἰeiIfG1487
δὲdenowG1161
ΧριστὸςChristosChristG5547
ἐνen[is] inG1722
ὑμῖν,huminyou,G4771
τὸtotheG3588
μὲνmenindeedG3303
σῶμαsōmabody [is]G4983
νεκρὸνnekrondeadG3498
διὰdiaon account ofG1223
ἁμαρτίανhamartiansinG266
τὸtotheG3588
δὲdehoweverG1161
πνεῦμαpneumaSpiritG4151
ζωὴzōē[is] lifeG2222
διὰdiaon account ofG1223
δικαιοσύνην.dikaiosunēnrighteousness.G1343

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 8:10

  • Galatians 2:20

    I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

  • Ephesians 3:17

    That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21

    For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

  • Romans 8:11

    But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:1-4

    For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

  • John 11:25-26

    Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

  • John 17:23

    I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

  • Colossians 1:27

    To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

  • Philippians 1:23

    For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

  • Colossians 3:3-4

    For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

  • John 14:19-20

    Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

  • Philippians 3:9

    And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
if Christ.
Joh 6:56; 14:20,23; 15:5; 17:23; 2Co 13:5; Eph 3:17; Col 1:27
the body.
11; 5:12; 2Co 4:11; 5:1-4; 1Th 4:16; Heb 9:27; 2Pe 1:13,14; Re 14:13
but.
Joh 4:14; 6:54; 11:25,26; 14:19; 1Co 15:45; 2Co 5:6-8; Php 1:23
Col 3:3,4; Heb 12:23; Re 7:14-17
life.
5:21; 2Co 5:21; Php 3:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Romans 8:9

    But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

  • Romans 8:10

    And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

  • Romans 8:11

    But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Read all of Romans 8

Romans 8:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Empero si Cristo está en vosotros, el cuerpo á la verdad está muerto á causa del pecado; mas el espíritu vive á causa de la justicia.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais si Christ est en vous, le corps est bien mort à cause du péché, mais l’Esprit est vie à cause de la justice.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn aber Christus in euch ist, so ist der Leib zwar tot der Sünde wegen, der Geist aber Leben der Gerechtigkeit wegen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si autem Christus in vobis est, corpus quidem mortuum est propter peccatum, spiritus vero vivit propter justificationem.