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For when we were in the flesh, the [a]sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Howbeit, I had not known sin, except through [b]the law: for I had not known [c]coveting, except the law had said, [d]Thou shalt not [e]covet:

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 7:5 Greek passions of sins.
  2. Romans 7:7 Or, law
  3. Romans 7:7 Or, lust
  4. Romans 7:7 Ex. 20:17; Dt. 5:21.
  5. Romans 7:7 Or, lust

For when we were in the realm of the flesh,[a](A) the sinful passions aroused by the law(B) were at work in us,(C) so that we bore fruit for death.(D) But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law(E) so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.(F)

The Law and Sin

What shall we say, then?(G) Is the law sinful? Certainly not!(H) Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.(I) For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”[b](J)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 7:5 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
  2. Romans 7:7 Exodus 20:17; Deut. 5:21