Romans 7:5-7
International Standard Version
5 For while we were living according to our human nature,[a] sinful passions were at work in our bodies[b] by means of the Law, to bear fruit resulting in death. 6 But now we have been released from the Law by dying to what enslaved us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit, not under the old writings.
The Law Shows Us What Sin Is
7 What should we say, then? Is the Law sinful? Of course not! In fact, I wouldn’t have become aware of sin if it had not been for the Law. I wouldn’t have known what it means to covet if the Law had not said, “You must not covet.”[c]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Romans 7:5 Lit. our flesh
- Romans 7:5 Lit. members
- Romans 7:7 Cf. Exod 20:17
Romans 7:5-7
New International Version
5 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) 6 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
7 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)
Footnotes
- 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.
- Romans 7:7 Exodus 20:17; Deut. 5:21
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