Verse 12 introduces a conclusion, so then, based on the argument presented in 8.11. So then (Greek ara oun) are the same words with which Paul drew his conclusion in 7.25 this, then, is my condition.

Paul strengthens his words by using a familiar form of address, brothers. The present experience of life and peace made possible by God’s Spirit (8.6), and the promise of eternal life, which will be effective through God’s Spirit (8.11), bring the believers under an obligation to God’s Spirit.

We have an obligation is literally “we are debtors” (Revised Standard Version, King James Version), and it appears in the Jerusalem Bible as “there is … necessity for us.” Paul’s intention is to stress as strongly as possible the believer’s obligation no longer to live his life under the domination of his human nature. In a number of languages the only way of expressing obligation is to use some kind of verbal auxiliary meaning “must,” but such a form makes it necessary to specify who are obligated to do what. For this context one may translate: “we must live as the Spirit of God tells us; we must not live as our human nature wants us to live” or “… as we want to live because of our human nature.” The latter adaptation may be required in some languages since human nature may be spoken of as an instrument but not as a subject of “wanting.”

The we in this context is, of course, inclusive.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .