In the same way that verses 12 and 13 are closely related (in the New English Bible and Jerusalem Bible they form a separate paragraph), so verses 14 to 17 are a unit within themselves. Verses 12-13 indicate that obedience is demanded of the believer, while verses 14-17 take up the theme of obedience and indicate its joyful results.

Most translations render the verb in this verse as led by, though others use “guided by” (Moffatt and An American Translation*) or “moved by” (New English Bible and Jerusalem Bible). Other languages may use “directed by” or “commanded by,” but in some instances an active expression may be preferable—for example, “obey God’s Spirit” or “follow God’s Spirit.” The verb chosen should imply voluntary submission to the leadership of God’s Spirit.

In this verse Paul describes the believers as God’s sons, while in verse 16 they are described as God’s children. Both terms describe the natural relationship which exists between parent and child. One might argue that sons in contrast with children could imply status and certain privileges, but the shift from sons to children in these verses is essentially stylistic, and no significant differences of meaning should be attributed to the variation in terms.

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 .