Romans 7
Released from the Law
1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
The Law and Sin
7 What shall we say then? Is the lawLaw: νόμος (Nomos). The Greek nomos (νόμος) denotes law—particularly the Mosaic law. While believers are not under law but under grace (Romans 6:14), Christ fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17) and wrote it on believers' hearts (Hebrews 8:10). sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. Kingdom: Romans 7:11, 7:13. Word: Romans 4:15, 5:20, 1 Corinthians 15:56. Sin: Romans 7:17, John 15:22, 15:24 +3
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. Word: Romans 7:4, 7:6, 7:11, 8:7, 10:5, Galatians 2:19, 3:10 +2
10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. Word: Romans 10:5, Galatians 3:12. Parallel theme: Leviticus 18:5, 2 Corinthians 3:7
11 For sinSin: ἁμαρτία (Hamartia). The Greek hamartia (ἁμαρτία) means sin—missing the target of God's perfection. 'All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' (Romans 3:23), requiring Christ's atoning sacrifice., taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Kingdom: Romans 7:8. Sin: Hebrews 3:13. Word: James 1:22. Parallel theme: Genesis 3:13, James 1:26
12 Wherefore the lawLaw: νόμος (Nomos). The Greek nomos (νόμος) denotes law—particularly the Mosaic law. While believers are not under law but under grace (Romans 6:14), Christ fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17) and wrote it on believers' hearts (Hebrews 8:10). is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. Word: Galatians 3:21
The Struggle with Sin
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. Sin: Isaiah 50:1. Word: Psalms 119:25, Proverbs 30:5. Parallel theme: Romans 7:18, 1 Kings 21:20, 21:25, 2 Kings 17:17, Isaiah 52:3, Matthew 5:22, 5:28 +5
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. Parallel theme: Romans 12:9, 14:22, Psalms 19:12, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Nahum 1:7, Galatians 5:17, 2 Timothy 2:19, Hebrews 1:9, James 3:2, Jude 1:23 +5
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Word: Romans 7:12, 7:14, 1 Timothy 1:8
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sinSin: ἁμαρτία (Hamartia). The Greek hamartia (ἁμαρτία) means sin—missing the target of God's perfection. 'All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' (Romans 3:23), requiring Christ's atoning sacrifice. that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Good: Romans 7:19, Philippians 2:13. Parallel theme: Romans 7:25, Genesis 6:5, Job 14:4, Psalms 51:5, John 3:6, Galatians 5:17, 5:24, Titus 3:3 +5
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Parallel theme: Romans 7:15
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Sin: Romans 7:17
21 I find then a lawLaw: νόμος (Nomos). The Greek nomos (νόμος) denotes law—particularly the Mosaic law. While believers are not under law but under grace (Romans 6:14), Christ fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17) and wrote it on believers' hearts (Hebrews 8:10)., that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. Word: Romans 6:14, 7:23, 8:2, Psalms 119:133. Parallel theme: Romans 6:12, Psalms 119:37, John 8:34, Hebrews 2:17, 4:15, 2 Peter 2:19 +5
22 For I delight in the law of GodGod: Θεός (Theos). The Greek Theos (Θεός) refers to deity, used both for the one true God and false gods. Context determines whether it denotes the Father specifically or the Godhead generally. after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sinSin: ἁμαρτία (Hamartia). The Greek hamartia (ἁμαρτία) means sin—missing the target of God's perfection. 'All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' (Romans 3:23), requiring Christ's atoning sacrifice. which is in my members. Word: Romans 7:5, 7:25, 8:2. Sin: Romans 6:19, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Hebrews 12:4. Parallel theme: Psalms 142:7, Galatians 5:17, James 4:1, 1 Peter 2:11 +5
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. References Jesus: Philippians 3:3, 1 Peter 2:5. Word: Colossians 3:17. Sin: Isaiah 49:13