ACC ~ Romans 8 v12

THE SOUL SERVING ITS CREATOR. ORIGEN: God did not make us in his image in order for us to be bound to the service of the flesh but rather that our soul, serving its Creator, might make use of the service and ministry of the flesh for that purpose. COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

WE ARE DEBTORS. AMBROSIASTER: It is right and clear that we are not obliged to follow Adam, who lived according to the flesh, and who by being the first to sin left us an inheritance of sin. On the contrary, we ought rather to obey the law of Christ who, as was demonstrated above, has redeemed us spiritually from death. We are debtors to him who has washed our spirits, which had been sullied by carnal sins, in baptism, who has justified us and who has made us children of God. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

DEBTORS NOT TO THE FLESH. CHRYSOSTOM: Once again, Paul is not speaking here about the nature of the flesh. … For in many ways we are indebted to that. We have to give it food, warmth, rest, medicine, clothing and a thousand other things. In order to show us that this is not what he is talking about, Paul adds the words: “to live according to the flesh.” … It is not to take charge of our life. The flesh must follow, not lead, and it must receive the laws of the Spirit, not seek to control us. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 14.

PELAGIUS: The force of this whole argument is to show that the law, which was given for the carnally minded, is not necessary for those who are spiritual. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

THEODORET OF CYR: Since we have obtained salvation from Christ the Lord and have received the grace of the Spirit, we are obliged to serve him. INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

Rom