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Romans 8
World English Bible, Catholic edition, in plain modern English. About the translations
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision, the traditional Catholic English Bible. About the translations
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. CCC
3 For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, CCC · Fathers
4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;
7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile toward God, for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be.
8 Those who are in the flesh can’t please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. CCC · Fathers
10 If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. CCC
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Fathers
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. CCC
15 For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” CCC · Fathers
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; CCC
17 and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him. CCC
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us. CCC
19 For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. CCC · Fathers
20 For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope CCC
21 that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. CCC · Fathers
22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. CCC
23 Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body. CCC
24 For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees? CCC
25 But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.
26 In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered. 1 CCC
27 He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God. CCC
28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. CCC
29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. CCC
30 Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified. CCC
31 What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? CCC
32 He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things? CCC
33 Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. CCC · Fathers
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Fathers
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 There is now therefore no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh.
2 For the law of the spirit of life, in Christ Jesus, hath delivered me from the law of sin and of death. CCC
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 of sin, hath condemned sin in the flesh. CCC · Fathers
4 That the justification of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit.
5 For they that are according to the flesh mind the things that are of the flesh: but they that are according to the spirit mind the things that are of the spirit.
6 For the wisdom of the flesh is death: but the wisdom of the spirit is life and peace.
7 Because the wisdom of the flesh is an enemy to God. For it is not subject to the law of God: neither can it be.
8 And they who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you 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. CCC · Fathers
10 And if Christ be in you, the body indeed is dead, because of sin: but the spirit liveth, because of justification.
11 And if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you; he that raised up Jesus Christ, from the dead shall quicken also your mortal bodies, because of his Spirit that dwelleth in you. CCC
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh to live according to the flesh.
13 For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die: but if by the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live. Fathers
14 For whosoever are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. CCC
15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again in fear: but you have received the spirit of adoption of sons, whereby we cry: Abba (Father). CCC · Fathers
16 For the Spirit himself giveth testimony to our spirit that we are the sons of God. CCC
17 And if sons, heirs also; heirs indeed of God and joint heirs with Christ: yet so, if we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him. CCC
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that shall be revealed in us. CCC
19 For the expectation of the creature waiteth for the revelation of the sons of God. CCC · Fathers
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity: not willingly, but by reason of him that made it subject, in hope. CCC
21 Because the creature also itself shall be delivered from the servitude of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. CCC · Fathers
22 For we know that every creature groaneth and travaileth in pain, even till now. CCC
23 And not only it, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit: even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the sons of God, the redemption of our body. CCC
24 For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope. For what a man seeth, why doth he hope for? CCC
25 But if we hope for that which we see not, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity. For, we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit himself asketh for us with unspeakable groanings, 1 CCC
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what the Spirit desireth: because he asketh for the saints according to God. CCC
28 And we know that to them that love God all things work together unto good: to such as, according to his purpose, are called to be saints. CCC
29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestinated to be made conformable to the image of his Son: that he might be the Firstborn amongst many brethren. CCC
30 And whom he predestinated, them he also called. And whom he called, them he also justified. And whom he justified, them he also glorified. CCC
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who is against us? CCC
32 He that spared not even his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how hath he not also, with him, given us all things? CCC
33 Who shall accuse against the elect of God? God is he that justifieth:
34 Who is he that shall condemn? Christ Jesus that died: yea that is risen also again, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. CCC · Fathers
35 Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation? Or distress? Or famine? Or nakedness? Or danger? Or persecution? Or the sword?
36 (As it is written: For thy sake, we are put to death all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.) Fathers
37 But in all these things we overcome, because of him that hath loved us.
38 For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor might,
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.
Where our lessons quote this chapter
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.
Read the Catechism
- CCC 782 “The People of God is marked by characteristics that clearly distinguish it from all other religious, ethnic, political, or cultural groups found…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 602 “Consequently, St. Peter can formulate the apostolic faith in the divine plan of salvation in this way: "You were ransomed from the…”
“… in His love and subjection, and giving of thanks, shall also receive from Him the greater glory of promotion, looking forward to the time when he shall become like Him who died for him, for He, too, "was made in the likeness of sinful flesh,”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 693 “Besides the proper name of "Holy Spirit," which is most frequently used in the Acts of the Apostles and in the Epistles,…”
“For ye," he declares, "are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter VIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“And for this reason, he says, "This mortal must put on immortality, and this corruptible must put on incorruption." And again he declares, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter X. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 632 “The frequent New Testament affirmations that Jesus was "raised from the dead" presuppose that the crucified one sojourned in the realm of…”
- CCC 695 “Anointing. the symbolism of anointing with oil also signifies the Holy Spirit, to the point of becoming a synonym for the Holy…”
- CCC 989 “We firmly believe, and hence we hope that, just as Christ is truly risen from the dead and lives for ever, so…”
- CCC 990 “The term "flesh" refers to man in his state of weakness and mortality. The "resurrection of the flesh" (the literal formulation of…”
Read the Fathers
“after the flesh, ye shall die.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter X. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 259 “Being a work at once common and personal, the whole divine economy makes known both what is proper to the divine persons,…”
- CCC 1996 “Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond…”
- CCC 2543 “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it,…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 257 “O blessed light, O Trinity and first Unity!" God is eternal blessedness, undying life, unfading light. God is love: Father, Son and…”
- CCC 693 “Besides the proper name of "Holy Spirit," which is most frequently used in the Acts of the Apostles and in the Epistles,…”
- CCC 1303 “From this fact, Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace: - it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation…”
- CCC 1972 “The New Law is called a law of love because it makes us act out of the love infused by the Holy…”
- CCC 1996 “Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond…”
“[Of those] to whom He says, "I have said, Ye are gods, and all sons of the Most High." To those, no doubt, who have received the grace of the "adoption, by which we cry, Abba Father.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter VI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“… Peter says in his Epistle: "Whom, not seeing, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, ye have believed, ye shall rejoice with joy unspeakable;" neither do we receive another Holy Spirit, besides Him who is with us, and who cries, "Abba, Father;”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter IX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“For those to whom he was writing were not without flesh, but they were those who had received the Spirit of God, "by which we cry, Abba, Father.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter VIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1996 “Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond…”
- CCC 2572 “As a final stage in the purification of his faith, Abraham, "who had received the promises," is asked to sacrifice the son…”
- CCC 2639 “Praise is the form of prayer which recognizes most immediately that God is God. It lauds God for his own sake and…”
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- CCC 793 “Christ unites us with his Passover: all his members must strive to resemble him, "until Christ be formed" in them. "For this…”
- CCC 1265 “Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte "a new creature," an adopted son of God, who has…”
- CCC 1460 “The penance the confessor imposes must take into account the penitent's personal situation and must seek his spiritual good. It must correspond…”
- CCC 1499 “By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to…”
- CCC 1996 “Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond…”
- CCC 2572 “As a final stage in the purification of his faith, Abraham, "who had received the promises," is asked to sacrifice the son…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 280 “Creation is the foundation of "all God's saving plans," the "beginning of the history of salvation" that culminates in Christ. Conversely, the…”
- CCC 1721 “God put us in the world to know, to love, and to serve him, and so to come to paradise. Beatitude makes…”
- CCC 2572 “As a final stage in the purification of his faith, Abraham, "who had received the promises," is asked to sacrifice the son…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 280 “Creation is the foundation of "all God's saving plans," the "beginning of the history of salvation" that culminates in Christ. Conversely, the…”
- CCC 671 “Though already present in his Church, Christ's reign is nevertheless yet to be fulfilled "with power and great glory" by the King's…”
- CCC 1046 “For the cosmos, Revelation affirms the profound common destiny of the material world and man: For the creation waits with eager longing…”
- CCC 2572 “As a final stage in the purification of his faith, Abraham, "who had received the promises," is asked to sacrifice the son…”
“For the creature has been subjected to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope; since the creature itself shall also be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXXII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 280 “Creation is the foundation of "all God's saving plans," the "beginning of the history of salvation" that culminates in Christ. Conversely, the…”
- CCC 671 “Though already present in his Church, Christ's reign is nevertheless yet to be fulfilled "with power and great glory" by the King's…”
- CCC 1046 “For the cosmos, Revelation affirms the profound common destiny of the material world and man: For the creation waits with eager longing…”
- CCC 2572 “As a final stage in the purification of his faith, Abraham, "who had received the promises," is asked to sacrifice the son…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 280 “Creation is the foundation of "all God's saving plans," the "beginning of the history of salvation" that culminates in Christ. Conversely, the…”
- CCC 400 “The harmony in which they had found themselves, thanks to original justice, is now destroyed: the control of the soul's spiritual faculties…”
- CCC 671 “Though already present in his Church, Christ's reign is nevertheless yet to be fulfilled "with power and great glory" by the King's…”
- CCC 1046 “For the cosmos, Revelation affirms the profound common destiny of the material world and man: For the creation waits with eager longing…”
- CCC 1741 “Liberation and salvation. By his glorious Cross Christ has won salvation for all men. He redeemed them from the sin that held…”
- CCC 2572 “As a final stage in the purification of his faith, Abraham, "who had received the promises," is asked to sacrifice the son…”
“The apostle, too, has confessed that the creation shall be free from the bondage of corruption, [so as to pass] into the liberty of the sons of God.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXXVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 280 “Creation is the foundation of "all God's saving plans," the "beginning of the history of salvation" that culminates in Christ. Conversely, the…”
- CCC 671 “Though already present in his Church, Christ's reign is nevertheless yet to be fulfilled "with power and great glory" by the King's…”
- CCC 1046 “For the cosmos, Revelation affirms the profound common destiny of the material world and man: For the creation waits with eager longing…”
- CCC 2630 “The New Testament contains scarcely any prayers of lamentation, so frequent in the Old Testament. In the risen Christ the Church's petition…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 280 “Creation is the foundation of "all God's saving plans," the "beginning of the history of salvation" that culminates in Christ. Conversely, the…”
- CCC 735 “He, then, gives us the "pledge" or "first fruits" of our inheritance: the very life of the Holy Trinity, which is to…”
- CCC 1046 “For the cosmos, Revelation affirms the profound common destiny of the material world and man: For the creation waits with eager longing…”
- CCC 2630 “The New Testament contains scarcely any prayers of lamentation, so frequent in the Old Testament. In the risen Christ the Church's petition…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2630 “The New Testament contains scarcely any prayers of lamentation, so frequent in the Old Testament. In the risen Christ the Church's petition…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 741 “The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself…”
- CCC 2559 “Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God." But when we…”
- CCC 2630 “The New Testament contains scarcely any prayers of lamentation, so frequent in the Old Testament. In the risen Christ the Church's petition…”
- CCC 2634 “Intercession is a prayer of petition which leads us to pray as Jesus did. He is the one intercessor with the Father…”
- CCC 2736 “Are we convinced that "we do not know how to pray as we ought"? Are we asking God for "what is good…”
- CCC 2739 “For St. Paul, this trust is bold, founded on the prayer of the Spirit in us and on the faithful love of…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2543 “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it,…”
- CCC 2634 “Intercession is a prayer of petition which leads us to pray as Jesus did. He is the one intercessor with the Father…”
- CCC 2736 “Are we convinced that "we do not know how to pray as we ought"? Are we asking God for "what is good…”
- CCC 2766 “But Jesus does not give us a formula to repeat mechanically. As in every vocal prayer, it is through the Word of…”
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- CCC 313 “We know that in everything God works for good for those who love him." The constant witness of the saints confirms this…”
- CCC 395 “The power of Satan is, nonetheless, not infinite. He is only a creature, powerful from the fact that he is pure spirit,…”
- CCC 1821 “We can therefore hope in the glory of heaven promised by God to those who love him and do his will. In…”
- CCC 2012 “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him . . . For those whom he fore…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 257 “O blessed light, O Trinity and first Unity!" God is eternal blessedness, undying life, unfading light. God is love: Father, Son and…”
- CCC 501 “Jesus is Mary's only son, but her spiritual motherhood extends to all men whom indeed he came to save: "The Son whom…”
- CCC 1161 “All the signs in the liturgical celebrations are related to Christ: as are sacred images of the holy Mother of God and…”
- CCC 1272 “Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character)…”
- CCC 1821 “We can therefore hope in the glory of heaven promised by God to those who love him and do his will. In…”
- CCC 2012 “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him . . . For those whom he fore…”
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- CCC 2852 “A murderer from the beginning, . . . a liar and the father of lies," Satan is "the deceiver of the whole…”
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- CCC 603 “Jesus did not experience reprobation as if he himself had sinned. But in the redeeming love that always united him to the…”
- CCC 706 “Against all human hope, God promises descendants to Abraham, as the fruit of faith and of the power of the Holy Spirit.…”
- CCC 2572 “As a final stage in the purification of his faith, Abraham, "who had received the promises," is asked to sacrifice the son…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 1373 “Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes…”
- CCC 2634 “Intercession is a prayer of petition which leads us to pray as Jesus did. He is the one intercessor with the Father…”
“… the Son of God, who did also rise again, and was taken up into heaven, as he himself [Paul] says: "But at the same time, [it, is] Christ [that] died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Fathers
“For we have been counted," says the Apostle Paul, "all the day long as sheep for the slaughter;”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1