This scripture has been given to us as proof of the trinity, or the teaching that Jesus is Yahweh (Jehovah). Yet we find nothing here about God, the Son and the holy spirit being three persons in one being or one God, nor does it say that Jesus is Yahweh. The assumption appears to be that since the spirit is referred to as the spirit of God and also the spirit of Christ, that this should be accepted as proof that Jesus is God Almighty. Even accepting that the holy spirit is referred to as both the spirit of God and the spirit of Christ, however, does not mean that Jesus is Yahweh. If so, then should also accept that David is Yahweh, since the throne of Israel is referred to as both the throne of Yahweh and the throne of David. -- 1 Kings 1:48; 2:24; 1 Chronicles 29:23. -- See also our document on Similarities.

It is true that the spirit of Christ can be viewed as the same as the spirit of God. This does not prove the trinity, nor does it prove that Jesus is Yahweh, for God's spirit does work through Jesus, since the spirit has been given to Jesus by the only true God, the Father. (Isaiah 11:2; 61:1; John 3:34; 17:1,3; Acts 2:33) Thus when referring to the spirit of Christ, it is basically the same as the spirit of God, since it is from God that Jesus receives his power, authority and commandment. -- Matthew 28:18; John 3:35; 5:19,26,30; 6:28,29,38,48-51,57,63; 7:16-18,28,29; 8:18,28,29,40,42,54; 10:17,18,37,38; 12:29,50; 13:32 14:10,28,31; 16:28; 17:1,3,25.

Nevertheless, let us examine what Paul is saying here. We first find that Paul points to the spirit of God as dwelling in the believer. This makes more sense when viewed from the standpoint that the spirit is God's personal power and influence. Thus this spirit is not spoken of as "God", but rather the spirit "of" God.

The thought behind the scripture, however, is that the spirit of Christ represents the "mind" of Christ. The context of Romans 8:5 shows that Paul is speaking of the thoughts of the mind: "For those who are after the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." Romans 8:9 shows that this speaks of walking after the flesh versus walking after the spirit. Those who walk after the flesh have their minds set on things of the flesh - the things seen; those who walk after the spirit have their minds set on the things of the spirit -- that which is not visible, but seen by the eye of faith. The Christian is in the spirit, not the flesh, as the apostles says, "if the spirit [mind, disposition] of God dwells in [stays within] you," in contradistinction to living to the flesh, and having sin dwelling in us. (Romans 7:17,20) The disposition of Christ in us would mean that we would be in likeness to him, even as he is in the likeness of God.

The following is from Matthew Henry's Comments:

• Romans 8:1-9 Believers may be chastened of the Lord, but will not be condemned with the world. By their union with Christ through faith, they are thus secured. What is the principle of their walk; the flesh or the Spirit, the old or the new nature, corruption or grace? For which of these do we make provision, by which are we governed? The unrenewed will is unable to keep any commandment fully. And the law, besides outward duties, requires inward obedience. God showed abhorrence of sin by the sufferings of his Son in the flesh, that the believer's person might be pardoned and justified. Thus satisfaction was made to Divine justice, and the way of salvation opened for the sinner. By the Spirit the law of love is written upon the heart, and though the righteousness of the law is not fulfilled by us, yet, blessed be God, it is fulfilled in us; there is that in all true believers, which answers the intention of the law. The favour of God, the welfare of the soul, the concerns of eternity, are the things of the Spirit, which those that are after the Spirit do mind. Which way do our thoughts move with most pleasure? Which way go our plans and contrivances? Are we most wise for the world, or for our souls? Those that live in pleasure are dead, (1 Timothy 5:6). A sanctified soul is a living soul; and that life is peace. The carnal mind is not only an enemy to God, but enmity itself. The carnal man may, by the power of Divine grace, be made subject to the law of God, but the carnal mind never can; that must be broken and driven out. We may know our real state and character by inquiring whether we have the Spirit of God and Christ, or not, ver. 9. Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. Having the Spirit of Christ, means having a turn of mind in some degree like the mind that was in Christ Jesus, and is to be shown by a life and conversation suitable to his precepts and example. Henry, Matthew. "Commentary on Romans 8". "Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible". http://bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries/MatthewHenryComplete/ mhc-com.cgi?book=ro&chapter=008. 1706

The last phrase "he does not belong to Him" in the scripture does not appear to be referring to Jesus, but God, that such a person does not belong to God, and is therefore not a son of God. -- See Romans 8:14.

The expression spirit of Christ [Greek, khristos, or christos] could also be translated spirit of an anointed one, as that is what the Greek word "khristos" means. Thus the phrase would read: "But if anyone does not have the spirit of an anointed one." The spirit of God should live in all Christians who have thus been anointed. Another form of the word is used in reference to the church at 2 Corinthians 1:21; Hebrews 1:9. This same word is used of Jesus at Acts 4:27. The entire church by the anointing of the holy spirit becomes sons of God. -- Compare Galatians 3:16,26-29.

The Greek word "khristos"* [or, christos] in the New Testament of King James Version, as well as many other translations, is always translated "Christ", with a capital "C". However, its use in the Septuagint** is of many others than Jesus. Thus in the Septuagint, a king of Israel was described upon occasion as christos tou Kuriou, "the anointed of the Lord." (1 Samuel 2:10,35; 2 Samuel 1:14; Psalm 2:2; 18:50; Habbakkuk 3:13) We don't argue that we know for sure that "khristos" is not referring to Jesus in Romans 8:9; we just want to note that "khristos" does not necessarily mean Jesus in every instance that it appears in the scriptures. It is true that most translators have made it appear so; it was the thought of the KJV translators, that "khristos" was used in the Bible as another personal name for Jesus, and thus the KJV, and most other translations, have made it appear so. However, it is a noun translated from the Hebrew mashiyach (Strong's Hebrew #4899***), meaning anointed, and used of many people and even things. However, this not a crucial argument, nor even needed, to understand that Romans 8:9 does not mean that Jesus is Yahweh.
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*http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=5547&version=kjv
**The Septuagint is a translation of the Old Testament into Greek
***http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/OldTestamentHebrew/heb.cgi?number=04899

Trinitarians (and others) often seem to read more into the words "dwell in" than the context and other uses of this word would warrant. The Greek word translated "dwell" (or "live") in Romans 8:9 is Strong's #3611*. It is the same word used in Romans 7:17,18,20, where Paul uses himself as a illustration of fallen man with sin dwelling in him. In such case, sin is the force or influence in the life of the unregenerate. Not that sin is a person who is actually living in the sinner.
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http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=3611

In Romans 8:11, another word used for the spirit of God "dwelling" in us is Strong's 1774*, a word related to Strong's 3611. This word is used in Colossians 3:16, where it is the "*word* of Christ" that is to dwell in us. Again it is the "word" of Christ that is the force or influence that impresses the life of the believer. The word of Christ is not a person actually living in the believer. Also the word is used in 2 Timothy 1:5, where it is *faith* that dwelt in Timothy's grandmother, mother and Timothy. Here it is is faith that acts as the force or influence in the life of the believers.
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*http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=1774

Thus we see there is nothing in Romans 8:9 that gives any proof of the trinity or oneness doctrines. Last Update of this document: July 27, 2003

This Bible message may be photocopied and freely distributed by any wishing to share its message with others. We only ask that no changes or additions are made to its contents and that this notice is also given.

See also:
Jesus is not Yahweh - Click Here
Alleged Incommunicable Attributes of the Trinity - Click Here Related Books

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