And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

ROMANS 8:10KJV
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Romans 8:10 (KJV)

What does Romans 8:10 mean?

Romans 8:10 describes a contrast within those who have Christ in them. Their bodies remain subject to death because of sin, while the Spirit is associated with life because of righteousness: being right with God.

The phrase “Christ be in you” speaks of Christ’s presence among the people Paul is addressing. Following verse 9, Paul focuses on what that presence means for their bodies and for life through the Spirit.

The Greek behind Romans 8:10

  • “dead” — νεκρός (nekros): This means dead. In this verse, the word is often understood in light of the body’s coming death, since verse 11 speaks of God giving life to mortal bodies.
  • “Spirit” — πνεῦμα (pneuma): This word can mean spirit, breath, or wind. The surrounding passage speaks of God’s Spirit, which helps explain the KJV’s capital “Spirit” here.
  • “righteousness” — δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē): This word carries the sense of being right or just. Here Paul connects righteousness with life, setting it against the connection between sin and death.

Why Romans 8:10 matters

  • Paul places two realities side by side rather than treating bodily death as the whole story. The sentence turns on “but,” contrasting the dead body with the Spirit as life.
  • The passage looks beyond the body’s present condition. Verse 11 speaks of God giving life to mortal bodies through his Spirit, adding a future prospect to the contrast in verse 10.

Where else these words appear

“righteousness” Greek G1343 · used in 85 verses

  • Matthew 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
  • Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
  • Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

“body” Greek G4983 · used in 122 verses

  • Matthew 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
  • Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
  • 1 Corinthians 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

“dead” Greek G3498 · used in 123 verses

  • Matthew 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
  • Acts 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
  • 1 Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

“life” Greek G2222 · used in 126 verses

  • Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
  • John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
  • Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.