“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. — Christ's death condemned ἐν τῇ σαρκί (en tē sarki, "in the flesh") the sin that ruled there; this κατάκριμα (katakrîma, "condemnation") of sin clears the believers. The δικαίωμα τοῦ νόμου (dikaiōma tou nomou, "righteous requirement of the law") is fulfilled ἐν ἡμῖν (en hēmin, "in us") not by law-keeping but by the Spirit's transformative work. Flesh and Spirit are now the operative contrasts.
Church Fathers on Romans 8:4
“That the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh.” What means this word, righteousness? Why, the end, the scope, the well-doing. For what was its design, and what did it enjoin? To be without sin. This then is made good to us (κατώρθωται ἡμἵν) now through Christ. And the making a stand against it, and the getting the better of it, came from Him. But it is for us to enjoy the victory. Then shall we never sin henceforth? We never shall…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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