Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation – but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.

So then, brothers, ▼

▼Or  brothers and sisters; also verse 29

we are debtors, ^bnot to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

Ἄρα οὖν, ἀδελφοί, ὀφειλέται ἐσμέν, οὐ τῇ σαρκὶ τοῦ κατὰ σάρκα ζῆν,

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you ^cput to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

εἰ γὰρ κατὰ σάρκα ζῆτε μέλλετε ἀποθνῄσκειν, εἰ δὲ πνεύματι τὰς πράξεις τοῦ σώματος θανατοῦτε, ζήσεσθε.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

For all who are ^dled by the Spirit of God are ^esons ▼

▼See discussion on “sons” in the Preface

of God.

ὅσοι γὰρ πνεύματι θεοῦ ἄγονται, οὗτοι ▼

▼ υἱοί εἰσιν θεοῦ = Treg: || υἱοὶ θεοῦ εἰσιν = WH NA/NIV; || εἰσιν υἱοὶ θεοῦ = RP

υἱοί εἰσιν θεοῦ ⸃.

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. ▼

▼The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture; also in verse 23.

And by him we cry, ‘Abba, ▼

▼Aramaic for father

Father.’

For ^jyou did not receive ^kthe spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of ^ladoption as sons, by whom we cry, ^m“Abba! Father!”

οὐ γὰρ ἐλάβετε πνεῦμα δουλείας πάλιν εἰς φόβον, ἀλλὰ ἐλάβετε πνεῦμα υἱοθεσίας ἐν ᾧ κράζομεν· Αββα ὁ πατήρ·

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

ⁿThe Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

αὐτὸ τὸ πνεῦμα συμμαρτυρεῖ τῷ πνεύματι ἡμῶν ὅτι ἐσμὲν τέκνα θεοῦ.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

and if children, then ^oheirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, ^pprovided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

εἰ δὲ τέκνα, καὶ κληρονόμοι· κληρονόμοι μὲν θεοῦ, συγκληρονόμοι δὲ Χριστοῦ, εἴπερ συμπάσχομεν ἵνα καὶ συνδοξασθῶμεν.