Does the phrase "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" belong in Romans 8:1?
No. The phrase “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” does not belong in Romans 8:1. The earliest manuscripts do not contain it there, and it fits Romans 8:4. Leaving it in verse 1 wrongly suggests salvation comes by walking in the Spirit rather than by faith plus nothing.
Les explains that he noticed long ago that the phrase does not really fit Romans 8:1, and that it actually belongs in verse 4. He says all the earliest manuscripts do not have it in verse 1, and all the great Bible scholars agree it is an error that should not be there. The reason it matters is that salvation is faith plus nothing—no human energy, no human merit. If the words remain in verse 1, they imply a person got into Christ Jesus by not walking in the flesh but by walking in the Spirit, which is not what got us into the Body of Christ. Down in verse 4, however, the phrase is perfect and exactly where it belongs, because it follows the work of God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and condemning old Adam, so that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
More Questions
Why would leaving "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" in Romans 8:1 be a problem?
If you leave that clause in Romans 8:1, it makes salvation conditional on not walking in the flesh but walking in the Spirit, which contradicts the truth that walking in the Spirit is not what got us into the Body of Christ.