Romans

Paul's letter explaining salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and the importance of living a holy life.

Chapter 8

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

*There is thus no judgment for those in Christ Jesus, who don't follow their sinful desires, but instead follow the Spirit's guidance.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

*The Spirit's life rule in Christ has set me free from sin and death laws.

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:

*Since the law couldn't fix the problem because it was too weak, God sent his Son to look like a sinner and defeat sin in our bodies.

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

*So that the law's fairness is achieved through us, we don't follow our physical desires, but instead, we follow the Spirit's guidance.

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

*People who focus on physical desires think about physical things, but people who focus on spiritual matters think about spiritual things.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

*To think about earthly things leads to death, but thinking about spiritual things brings life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

*Because our natural thoughts go against God, as they don't follow his rules and cannot do so.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

*Therefore, those who only live physically can't make God happy.

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.

*But you're not just physical beings; you're guided by the Spirit. If God's Spirit lives within you, then you belong to Christ. But if someone doesn't have Christ's Spirit, they don't belong to him.

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

*If Jesus is within you, your body dies to sin; however, the Spirit brings life due to righteousness.

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.

*But if the Spirit who brought Jesus back to life lives in you, the same one who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your physical bodies through the Spirit living in you.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

*So, friends, we owe a duty, not to our physical selves, to keep living for our physical selves.

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.

*If you focus on your physical desires, you will die, but if you use the Spirit to control your body's actions, you will live.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

*For those guided by God's Spirit, they are like God's children.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

*You didn't get a spirit that makes you afraid again. Instead, you got a spirit that helps you call God "Father" or "Dad."

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

*The Spirit directly tells us that we are like God's children.

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

*If we are children, we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus. If we suffer with Him, we will also be glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

*I believe that the hardships we face now are not important when compared to the great glory that will be revealed later.

19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

*The eager creature is waiting for the showing of God's true people.

20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

*The living being became bound to weakness, not because it wanted to, but because of the one who put it there, doing so with the hope of a better outcome.

21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

*Because the creature will be freed from being trapped in decay, it will experience wonderful freedom as a child of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

*We understand that all of creation, including nature, is groaning and struggling with pain until now.

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

*And not just them, but us too, who have the Spirit's first fruits, we ourselves feel sad inside while waiting for the adoption - that is, the freeing of our body.

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

*We are saved through hope, but true hope cannot be seen; if something can be seen, it's not hope anymore. Hope is for things we don't see yet.

25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

*But if we hope for something we can't see, then we patiently wait for it to happen.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

*The Spirit also helps us when we are weak. We don't always know how to pray properly, but the Spirit prays for us with deep feelings that can't be put into words.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

*And the one who looks inside our hearts knows what the Spirit's thoughts are, because he prays for believers in line with God's plan.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

*We understand that everything works out well for those who love God and follow his plan.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

*For those he knew beforehand, he planned for them to become like his Son's shape, so they would be the first in a big family of siblings.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

*Furthermore, those he chose ahead of time, he also invited; and those he invited, he also declared righteous; and those he made righteous, he also honored with glory.

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

*So, what do we say about all this? If God is on our side, who could possibly be against us?

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

*He didn't spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us. So, how can He not also generously give us everything?

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

*Who can accuse God's chosen people? It is God who declares them righteous.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

*Who is it that judges and condemns? It is Christ who died but then rose again, now sitting at God's side, the one who prays for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

*Who can break our connection with Christ's love? Is it hardship, trouble, punishment, hunger, being without clothes, danger, or war?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

*As written, "For your benefit, we are killed every day; we are considered like sheep about to be sacrificed."

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

*No, in all these difficulties, we are stronger than the winners because of the one who loves us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

*I truly believe that nothing can stop, not even death or life, not angels or important beings, not any power now or in the future, and not anything happening now or later.

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

*Nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ Jesus, not even great heights or depths or any other living thing.

read summary

Back to Chapters

Back to Books

* work in progress, there will be mistakes