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Time after Pentecost · Proper 10 · Year A

Romans 8:12-17

Life Through the Spirit

July 12, 2026

The Holy Trinity, Jean Bourdichon
The Holy Trinity, Jean Bourdichon, 1503–1508Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris
God the Father in a papal tiara and Christ with his cross sit side by side holding one open book, with the dove of the Spirit between them in a blue and gold mandorla above the globe.You have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and heirs with Christ.Jean BourdichonCourt painter to four kings of France, whose books of hours are among the most famous of the French Renaissance.Bibliothèque nationale de France, ParisThe Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris, which keeps the Great Hours of Anne of Brittany.Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 13:1-9, 18-23Mt 13:1-9, 18-23
EpistleRom. 8:12-17Rom 8:12-17
Old TestamentIsa. 55:10-13Is 55:10-13
PsalterPs. 65:(1-8) 9-13Ps 65:(1-8) 9-13

Overview & Insights

“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you… he will give life to your mortal bodies.” (Romans 8:11)

Romans 8:1–17 discusses six new-covenant blessings to the believer that proceed from the Spirit: justification (v. 1), obedience (vv. 2–8, 12–13), indwelling (vv. 9–10), resurrection (v. 11), adoption (vv. 14–16), and inheritance (v. 17). Romans 8:18–30 adds one more new-covenant blessing of the Spirit, glory (through suffering), which I will discuss in the next unit.

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Take it further: Romans 8:12-17

Commentary

Working Preacher: Commentary on Romans 8:12-25Working Preacher: Commentary on Rom 8:12-25 Working Preacher

Lutheran lectionary commentary on the Spirit of adoption and heirs with Christ.

Enduring Word: Romans 8Enduring Word: Rom 8 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on the whole chapter.

Precept Austin: Romans 8 ResourcesPrecept Austin: Rom 8 Resources Precept Austin

Study hub gathering many commentators on Romans 8 verse by verse.

BibleHub: Commentaries on Romans 8:12BibleHub: Commentaries on Rom 8:12 BibleHub

Parallel classic commentaries keyed to living by the Spirit as God's children.

StudyLight: Romans 8 CommentariesStudyLight: Rom 8 Commentaries StudyLight

Many complete commentaries on Romans 8 gathered on one passage page.

Background & Word Study

BibleProject: Romans 5-16 OverviewBibleProject: Rom 5-16 Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of the second half of Paul's argument in Romans.

BibleHub: Romans 8 InterlinearBibleHub: Rom 8 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek-English interlinear for word-level study of the chapter.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Romans 8Catena: Rom 8 Catena

Patristic comments gathered verse by verse on Romans 8.

Questions preachers ask

What is life in the Spirit?

Those in whom the Spirit dwells are set free from the flesh, and the same Spirit that raised Jesus will give life to their mortal bodies.

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