Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Romans 8:13

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

By death he means here not only the immortal punishment in gehenna; but he also calls death the life spent on earth in evil deeds. On the contrary, if by spiritual life we put to death the evil deeds of the flesh, we shall live both then — with life unending, and now — with a virtuous life. For whoever is dead to the world, that one lives. Note, however, that he did not say: you put to death the body (for that would be murder), but: "the deeds of the flesh," evidently, the sinful ones. …

Commentary on Romans ↗

Irenaeus

Rightly therefore does the apostle declare, "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;" and, "Those who are in the flesh cannot please God:" not repudiating [by these words] the substance of flesh, but showing that into it the Spirit must be infused. …

Irenaeus Against Heresies Book 5 ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

When by our spirit we put to death the works of the flesh we are impelled by the Spirit of God, which grants the continence by which we restrain, master and overcome concupiscence.

On Continence 5.12 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, "for if you live according to the flesh," he gives the reason for the above conclusion. And first, as to the flesh, saying, "if you live according to the flesh," namely, by following the desires of the flesh, "you will die," namely, the death of guilt in the present and the death of damnation in the future: "she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives" (1 Tim 5:6). …

Commentary on Romans ↗