The Law and Sin

⁷ What shall we say, then?^(A) Is the law sinful? Certainly not!^(B) Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.^(C) For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”^{[a](D) 8} But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,^(E) produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.^(F)

⁹ The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”^[a](A) and whatever other command there may be, are summed up^(B) in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^[b](C)

Human Plans and God’s Plans

³² “Now I commit you to God^(A) and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance^(B) among all those who are sanctified.^{(C) 33} I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.^{(D) 34} You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.^{(E) 35} In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”