The mind of the flesh and the mind of the Spirit: the indwelling Spirit and putting to death the deeds of the body (Romans 8:5–13)

Says "The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace" (8:6, BSB), "because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God" (8:7, BSB) and does not submit to God's law. τὸ φρόνημα (to phronēma, "the mindset") names the settled outlook of each sphere (lex.G4561; lex.G4151; lex.G2222).

Says The Spirit dwells in every believer: "You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ" (8:9, BSB). The same Spirit is called "the Spirit of God" and "the Spirit of Christ."

Uncertain What τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα ζωή (to de pneuma zōē, 8:10) refers to. This commentary leans to the Holy Spirit, "the Spirit is life": ζωή is a noun, "life," not "alive," and in 8:2, 6, and 11 πνεῦμα is the Spirit who gives life. The alternative is the believer's own spirit, "your spirit is alive" (BSB), since it is set against τὸ σῶμα (to sōma, "the body") in the same verse (lex.G4983). The Greek note takes the same lean (note.language.Rom.8.9-Rom.8.17.pneuma-huiothesia).

Says "He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you" (8:11, BSB). On either reading below, God gives the life, and it is tied to the Spirit who dwells in believers (lex.G1774).

Uncertain Whether 8:11 ends with the genitive διὰ τοῦ ἐνοικοῦντος αὐτοῦ πνεύματος (dia tou enoikountos autou pneumatos, "through His Spirit who dwells in you"; ℵ A C, the Coptic versions, Clement, Hippolytus; NA28, WH, TR; followed by the BSB) or the accusative διὰ τὸ ἐνοικοῦν αὐτοῦ πνεῦμα (dia to enoikoun autou pneuma, "because of His Spirit who dwells in you"; B with the Western and Byzantine witnesses D F G K L, the Latin and Syriac versions, Irenaeus (Latin), Origen, Tertullian; SBLGNT, Treg, Byz). The genitive makes the Spirit the agent of the giving of life; the accusative makes the indwelling Spirit its ground. Both readings are well attested, and no lean is taken (var.Rom.8.11.dia-pneumatos).

Says "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" (8:13, BSB). θανατοῦτε (thanatoute, "you put to death") is present: a continuing action, done πνεύματι (pneumati, "by the Spirit").

Implies Putting to death the deeds of the body is a real duty, not a condition that earns life. Those addressed are already under no condemnation (8:1) and are led by the Spirit (8:14), and the action is done "by the Spirit." Life is God's gift (6:23). On union with Christ and the end of sin's reign, see note.exegetical.Rom.6.1-Rom.6.14.union-and-sanctification and note.language.Rom.6.6-Rom.6.7.palaios-anthropos-dedikaiotai.