“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. — The σαρκικὸς νοῦς (sarkikos nous, "carnal mind") is ἔχθρα (echthra, "enmity/hostility") toward God; it refuses ὑποτάσσω (hypotassō, "submit") to God's νόμος (nomos, "law"). The negation is double: it does not submit and δύναμαι (dynamai, "cannot") submit. This is anthropological: the flesh-dominated mind is incapable of submission. Only the Spirit breaks this bondage.
Church Fathers on Romans 8:7
“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:” and this is worse than death. Then to show how it is at once death and enmity; “for it is not subject to the Law of God,” he says, “neither indeed can be.” But be not troubled at hearing the “neither indeed can be.” For this difficulty admits of an easy solution. For what he here names “carnal mindedness” is the reasoning (or “way of thinking,” λογισμὸν) that is earthly, gross, and eager-hearted after the things of this life…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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