What does “as many as” mean in Romans 8:14?
In Romans 8:14, “as many as” means “all of you who are led by the Spirit of God.” It is an exclusivist phrase, applying specifically to those led by the Spirit, not everyone. Paul could just as well have said it that way, showing this is part of his consistent doctrine.
Les explains that Paul’s “for as many” in Romans 8:14 could just as well have been stated, “for all of you who are led by the Spirit of God.” He stresses that this is exclusivist: it identifies those who are led by the Spirit, not everyone. This isn’t a slip of Paul’s pen; it is part and parcel of Pauline doctrine and fits everything else Paul wrote. Les prefers using multiple Scripture portions because building doctrine on one or two verses is thin ice. The surrounding context describes the believer as a son, a full heir, and a joint heir with God Himself.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
More Questions
What does 'for as many as are led by the Spirit of God' mean in Romans 8:14?
In Romans 8:14 the phrase 'for as many' means all of you who are led by the Spirit of God—the ones who are the sons of God.
Who are the sons of God according to Romans 8:14?
Romans 8:14 teaches that as many as are led by the Spirit of God are not merely hoped to be or might be, but they actually are the sons of God.