Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Romans 8:11

εἰ δὲ κ.τ.λ. Develops the thought implied in 10 that the body, too, even now is quickened by the new life; it has become a ὅπλον δικαιοσύνης, Romans 6:13.

τὸ πν. τ. ἐγ. The resurrection of Jesus is a measure and warrant both of the will and of the power of the Spirit of GOD, to bring life into what is dead. Cf. Romans 4:24 and Romans 5:6; Romans 5:10-11.

ζωοποιήσει. Cf. Romans 6:8. The reference is not to the final resurrection, but to the present spiritual quickening of the whole man, the foretaste of that. The future is used, because a condition has to be fulfilled by man, πίστις; cf. Romans 6:11 (with 8).

τὰ θνητὰ σώματα. Your bodies, dead though they be; cf. Romans 7:24 and Romans 7:4.

The whole context seems to be decisive in favour of this line of interpretation. The section (Romans 8:1-11) balances the preceding section (Romans 7:7-25). There the inability of the law by itself to produce the higher spiritual life was shown; and the argument dealt primarily and mainly with human life as it is now. Here the whole object is to show that the Gospel provides just such a power as law lacks, a power, that is, to revive and renew the human spirit so as to enable it to mould and master the whole life. The life and death spoken of are the spiritual life and death already described; the raising is the present liberation of the spirit which affects the body also, making it too serve its true ends and live its true life. The raising of Jesus is a proof both of the will and character and power of that Spirit, which operated then and operates now through the risen Life communicated now to man; cf. Romans 6:2-11. The future resurrection is not referred to; but it is of course implied as a consequence of the whole relation thus described between GOD and man. Cf. closely 2 Corinthians 4:10-11; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:14-16. The thought of the future resurrection life becomes explicit in Romans 8:17. As. Romans 5:1-11 argued that if GOD so loved us as to give His Son to die for us, He must love us enough to complete His saving work in us through His Son; Song of Solomon 8:1-11 argues that if GOD had power and will to raise Jesus from the dead, He must have power and will to raise us in and through His Son from the death of sin.

Continues after advertising

BibliaPlus

Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Romans 8:11

Old Testament

New Testament