Theophylact of Ohrid, on Rom 8:7

“Because the wisdom of the flesh is an enemy to God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither can it be.”

“The spiritual mind produces peace, while the carnal mind produces enmity against God. Does this mean, then, that the carnal mind takes up arms against God? No, he says; but it is said to be enmity against God because it is not subject to His law. Do not be troubled, however, upon hearing "neither indeed can be," but understand these words as you ought. The carnal mind cannot be subject to God as long as it remains such. This is the same as saying: a harlot cannot be chaste. For he did not say "will not be able" (οὐ δυνήσεται) in the future tense, but in the present (οὐ — in Theophylact — δύναται; in the Greek original — γὰρ δύναται), that is, now, while remaining carnal. Otherwise, how could the wicked have become good: Paul himself, the thief, and a countless multitude of other depraved people, if change were impossible? So too in the Gospel the Lord said, "a bad tree cannot bring forth good fruit" (Matt. 7:18), that is, as long as it remains bad. So let us not think about the carnal, but let us think about the spiritual, so that we may have peace with God, who gives us the Spirit, through Whom everything that was difficult to fulfill in the times of the law is easy for us.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.

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