¹⁵ for ^(A)the Law brings about wrath, but ^(B)where there is no law, there also is no violation.

^20 [a](A)The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, ^(B)grace abounded all the more,

⁵ For while we were ^(A)in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were ^(B)aroused by the Law, were at work ^(C)in ^[a]the members of our body to bear fruit for death. ⁶ But now we have been ^(D)released from the Law, having ^(E)died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in ^(F)newness of ^(G)the ^[b]Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

^7 (H)What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? ^(I)May it never be! On the contrary, ^(J)I would not have come to know sin except ^[c]through the Law; for I would not have known about ^[d]coveting if the Law had not said, “^(K)You shall not ^[e]covet.” ⁸ But sin, ^(L)taking opportunity ^(M)through the commandment, produced in me ^[f]coveting of every kind; for ^(N)apart ^[g]from the Law sin is dead. ⁹ I was once alive apart ^[h]from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; ¹⁰ and this commandment, which was ^[i](O)to result in life, proved ^[j]to result in death for me; ¹¹ for sin, ^(P)taking an opportunity ^(Q)through the commandment, ^(R)deceived me and through it killed me. ^12 (S)So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

¹³ Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? ^(T)May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.

The Conflict of Two Natures

¹⁴ For we know that the Law is ^(U)spiritual, but I am ^(V)of flesh, ^(W)sold ^[k](X)into bondage to sin. ¹⁵ For what I am doing, ^(Y)I do not understand; for I am not practicing ^(Z)what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. ¹⁶ But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with ^(AA)the Law, confessing that the Law is good. ¹⁷ So now, ^(AB)no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my ^(AC)flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. ¹⁹ For ^(AD)the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. ²⁰ But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, ^(AE)I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

²¹ I find then ^(AF)the ^[l]principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. ²² For I joyfully concur with the law of God ^[m]in ^(AG)the inner man, ²³ but I see ^(AH)a different law in ^[n]the members of my body, waging war against the ^(AI)law of my mind and making me a prisoner ^[o]of ^(AJ)the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from ^[p](AK)the body of this ^(AL)death? ^25 (AM)Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh ^(AN)the law of sin.

⁹ For if ^(A)the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ^(B)ministry of righteousness abound in glory.

¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of ^[a]the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “^(A)Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.”

²¹ Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? ^(A)May it never be! For ^(B)if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness ^[a]would indeed have been ^[b]based on law. ²² But the Scripture has ^(C)shut up ^[c]everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

²³ But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, ^(D)being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore the Law has become our ^(E)tutor to lead us to Christ, so that ^(F)we may be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a ^[d](G)tutor. ²⁶ For you are all ^(H)sons of God through faith in ^(I)Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For all of you who were ^(J)baptized into Christ have ^(K)clothed yourselves with Christ. ^28 (L)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is ^[e]neither male nor female; for ^(M)you are all one in ^(N)Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if ^(O)you ^[f]belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s ^[g]descendants, heirs according to ^(P)promise.