Sin’s Use of the Law

What should we say then?(A) Is the law sin? Absolutely not!(B) But I would not have known sin if it were not for the law.(C) For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet.[a](D) And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment,(E) produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead.(F) Once I was alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life again 10 and I died. The commandment that was meant for life(G) resulted in death for me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me,(H) and through it killed me. 12 So then, the law is holy,(I) and the commandment is holy and just and good.

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Footnotes

  1. 7:7 Ex 20:17

(A)What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? (B)[a]Far from it! On the contrary, (C)I would not have come to know sin except [b]through the Law; for I would not have known about [c]coveting if the Law had not said, “(D)You shall not [d]covet.” But sin, (E)taking an opportunity (F)through the commandment, produced in me [e]coveting of every kind; for (G)apart [f]from the Law sin is dead. I was once alive apart [g]from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin came to life, and I died; 10 and this commandment, which was [h](H)to result in life, proved [i]to result in death for me; 11 for sin, (I)taking an opportunity (J)through the commandment, (K)deceived me, and through it, killed me. 12 (L)So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 7:7 Lit May it never happen!
  2. Romans 7:7 Or through law
  3. Romans 7:7 Or lust
  4. Romans 7:7 Or lust
  5. Romans 7:8 Or lust
  6. Romans 7:8 Or from law
  7. Romans 7:9 Or from law
  8. Romans 7:10 Lit to life
  9. Romans 7:10 Lit to death