The phrase was not in the original manuscripts of Romans 8:1, so many Bibles omit it and place it in verse 4, where it belongs.
Les Feldick says that just about every commentary and scholar he has read maintain that the last part of Romans 8:1 — "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" — was never in the original manuscripts, apart from a few. He says someone, not inspired, added it because it comes up later in the chapter where it is appropriate. For Les, the essential truth of the verse is simply "There is therefore now no condemnation" for those in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1 — The verse whose wording is in question; the KJV includes the phrase, while many Bibles omit it.
Romans 8:4 — The verse where the phrase "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" properly belongs.
Romans 8:1 in the King James Version reads: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." The same wording is found in Romans 8:4: "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:5 begins the contrast between the flesh and the Spirit: "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." Romans 8:9 shows that the believer is not in the flesh: "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Scripture itself does not explain why some manuscripts lack the phrase in verse 1; it simply preserves the truth that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
Les Feldick addresses this textual question directly when he reaches Romans 8:1 in his Romans study. He says he will not even use the rest of the verse because, in his words, just about every commentary and every scholar that has really looked into these things maintain that the last part of verse 1 was never in the original manuscripts; only in a few. He concludes that somewhere along the line someone, not inspired, added the words "who walked not after the flesh, but after the Spirit," because the same wording comes up a little later in the chapter where it is appropriate. Les then tells his listeners to take verse 1 for its first part alone: "There is therefore now no condemnation." He explains that every son of Adam is born under condemnation, but through the Gospel there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. As he says in another lesson, if the Holy Spirit dwells in you, then you are a believer in Christ, and there is now no condemnation.
Les Feldick says the phrase "comes up a little later in the chapter where it's appropriate." That later place is Romans 8:4, where Paul writes, "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." The wording about walking after the Spirit fits there because it appears in the middle of Paul's teaching about being in Christ and walking in the Spirit.
Les emphasizes the first part of Romans 8:1 as all that is needed: "There is therefore now no condemnation." Condemnation rests on every son of Adam, but the Gospel changes that for those in Christ Jesus. Les uses the account of Noah to show the security: once Noah and his family were in the ark and the door was shut, nothing could touch them. In the same way, there is nothing God can bring against those in Christ Jesus.
Les explains that the flesh in Romans 8 refers to old Adam, the sin-bent personality under which people are born. Those who walk after the flesh mind the things of the flesh, while those who walk after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit. Believers are not in the flesh if the Spirit of God dwells in them. Les also reminds believers that because their position is in Christ, they should walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the desires of the flesh.
No Condemnation Through the Gospel
Les shows that condemnation rests on every son of Adam, but through the Gospel those in Christ have no condemnation.
The Manuscript Evidence in Romans 8:1
Les directly says the final phrase of Romans 8:1 was not in the original manuscripts and was added by someone uninspired; he urges readers to take the first part of the verse alone.
The Holy Spirit in Romans 8
Les contrasts Romans 7 with Romans 8, noting that the Holy Spirit appears throughout Romans 8.
Flesh Means Old Adam
Les explains that the flesh in Romans 8:5 refers to old Adam, and that walking after the flesh is living under that sin-bent personality.
Walking After the Spirit
Les says believers walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit, and that the Spirit becomes the believer's guideline for living.
Crucified With Christ: What It Means to Be a New Creation (Romans 6 & Galatians 2)
You know, and every time I read that verse, I have to be amazed that the world behaves as well as they do. It's a wonder that they behave as well as they do, and we know that it's almost coming apart at the seams anymore, but still there is no concern for the things of God amongst the carnal mind. All right, so then verse 8.
Indwelling Spirit and No Condemnation
Les links the indwelling Holy Spirit with being a believer in Christ, and therefore having no condemnation.
Walk in the Spirit From Our Position
Les says that since believers are in Christ, they should walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the desires of the flesh.
Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The verse at the center of the question. The KJV includes the phrase, but some manuscripts omit it.
Romans 8:4: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The verse where the same phrase appears in its proper context.
Romans 8:9: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Shows the believer is not in the flesh because the Spirit of God dwells in them.
Les Feldick says the phrase was never in the original manuscripts, apart from a few. It was added later by someone uninspired, and it appears again in Romans 8:4 where it belongs. Many Bibles therefore omit it from verse 1.
Yes. Les teaches that the verse's first part is all that is needed: "There is therefore now no condemnation." The assurance rests on being in Christ Jesus, not on walking in a certain way.
It belongs in Romans 8:4: "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Les says it comes up later in the chapter where it is appropriate.
He said that just about every commentary and scholar he has read maintain that the last part of Romans 8:1 was never in the original manuscripts; only in a few.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 8:2 Explained — Free from the Law of Sin and Death