Οἱ γὰρ κατὰ σάρκα ὄντες τὰ τῆς σαρκὸς φρονοῦσιν, οἱ δὲ κατὰ πνεῦμα τὰ τοῦ πνεύματος. (Romans 8:5)
Two Ways of Being, Two Ways of Thinking
Romans 8:5 is a model of Pauline parallelism and theological contrast, presented with clear prepositional logic. It divides all people into two categories — those who are “according to the flesh” and those who are “according to the Spirit” — and then correlates each group with its way of thinking.
This verse’s grammar hinges on:
Attributive participial phrases that define identity
Prepositional phrases that express orientation
Parallel neuter noun phrases indicating domains of thought
A simple but powerful verb: φρονοῦσιν (“they think / set their minds on”)
We’ll explore the verse’s elegant syntax using a clear table structure.
Grammatical Analysis Table
| Greek Phrase | Form & Morphology | Function | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| οἱ κατὰ σάρκα ὄντες | Articular present participle + preposition + accusative | Defines those oriented by the flesh | “those who are according to the flesh” |
| τὰ τῆς σαρκὸς | Accusative neuter plural article + genitive | Object of φρονοῦσιν | “the things of the flesh” |
| φρονοῦσιν | Present active indicative, 3rd person plural from φρονέω |
Main verb | “they think” or “they set their minds on” |
| οἱ κατὰ πνεῦμα | Articular prepositional phrase, masculine plural | Defines those oriented by the Spirit | “those who are according to the Spirit” |
| τὰ τοῦ πνεύματος | Accusative neuter plural article + genitive | Implied object of φρονοῦσιν | “the things of the Spirit” |
Parallelism with Purpose
Both clauses begin with οἱ κατὰ…, using the preposition κατά with the accusative to show conformity or orientation.
The participle ὄντες (“being”) is used in the first clause but understood in the second, maintaining symmetry.
The verb φρονοῦσιν governs both groups and is placed only once, linking both halves logically and rhythmically.
The neuter plurals τὰ τῆς σαρκὸς and τὰ τοῦ πνεύματος represent comprehensive categories — the values, desires, and priorities of each realm.
> This is not merely about thoughts, but about mental orientation — what shapes your values and aims.
What Controls the Mind, Controls the Life
Romans 8:5 teaches that identity precedes behavior: what you are “according to” determines what you mind.
Those according to the flesh think fleshly thoughts.
Those according to the Spirit orient themselves to spiritual concerns.
This isn’t just a matter of mental preference — it’s about spiritual alignment, and grammar makes the division airtight.
The parallel Greek clauses are not just stylistically balanced — they are spiritually definitive.
