The Mortification of Sin

By John Owen

A Timeless Puritan Classic on Killing Sin, Walking by the Spirit, and the Daily Work of Holiness

"Be killing sin or it will be killing you." — John Owen

What are you doing with the sin that remains in you?

Every believer knows the struggle. Sin is not eliminated at conversion—it is dethroned, but it fights on. And John Owen refuses to let the Christian make peace with it. Writing from Romans 8:13—"if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live"—Owen presses one relentless, hopeful truth: the sin we do not kill is busy killing us.

In The Mortification of Sin, Owen dismantles the shallow remedies we so often reach for—mere willpower, outward reform, or a vague resolve to do better—and points instead to the only power that can put sin to death: the Spirit of God at work in a living faith. This is not a call to self-hatred or grim self-effort. It is a call to wage war on sin the way the gospel intends, with Christ's strength rather than our own.

Owen writes as both physician and pastor. He diagnoses the deceit of indwelling sin with unsettling precision, then applies the remedy with equal care—never leaving the reader in despair, always driving them back to Christ.

In this classic work, Owen helps the reader:

• Understand what mortification actually is—and the false substitutes that counterfeit it
• See why sin must be dealt with daily, not occasionally
• Recognize the deceitfulness of indwelling sin and the danger of leaving it unchecked
• Learn to put sin to death by the Spirit, not by mere human resolve
• Distinguish true, gospel-rooted holiness from outward moral effort
• Find hope and freedom in Christ rather than defeat under the law

Written in the 17th century, this Puritan classic has shaped how generations of Christians understand sanctification. Its central charge remains as searching today as ever: sin is never static, and the believer is never off duty.

What Makes This Generations Edition Different

Many modern editions make Owen easier to read by shortening his text. Our editorial team took a different path: this edition keeps Owen's full text (with very few exceptions) and carefully modernizes the language, so you get the complete depth and force of his arguments in a form you can actually read.

This Generations edition includes:

• The complete, unabridged original text (with very few exceptions)
• Careful modernization of Owen's language for today's reader
• Scripture references throughout
• Light guidance to make this classic more accessible

Perfect for:

• Personal devotional reading and self-examination
• Family worship and discipleship
• Small groups and men's or women's studies
• Seasons of spiritual struggle or renewed pursuit of holiness
• Readers who love classic authors like John Owen, Andrew Murray, and Henry Scougal

At a time when so much Christian living settles for outward appearances, The Mortification of Sin calls the believer to the real work of holiness—and reminds us that the fight against sin is not fought in our strength, but in His.