Romans 07

The letter to the

CHRISTIANS

at Rome

A perfect illustration

Chapter Seven

Two principles

01 Don’t you know, brothers [and sisters], (for I speak to them that know the Law,) how that the Law [the Ten Commandments] has dominion over a man [and a woman] as long as he [or she] lives? Note 1

Two laws

02 For [example], the woman which has a husband is bound by the Law [of God] to her husband so long as he lives. But if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband [another law]. 03 So then if, while her husband is alive, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress [by the Law of God]. But if her husband be dead, she is free from [the condemnation of] that Law so that she is no adulteress, though [or if] she be married to another man. Note 2

The spiritual "marriage" requires a "death"

04 Because of this, my brothers [and sisters], you also are become dead to the law [of the "old man"] by the body of Christ. That you should be married to Another, even to Him who is raised from the dead [and now you come under His Law], that we should bring forth fruit [or good actions] to God.

05 For when we were in the flesh [acknowledging no Guide], the motions of sins [or sinful passions], which were [aroused] by the [effect of the old husband’s] law, worked in our members [or bodies] to bring forth fruit [or actions] to death. 06 But now we are delivered from the law [of sin and death, the old husband], that being dead [to that] in which we were [once] held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. Note 3

07 What shall we say then? Is the Law [of God the cause of] sin?

God forbid! No, I had not known sin, but by the Law.

For I had not known [what] lust [was], except the Law had said, You shall not covet. Note 4

08 But sin [my inborn corruption], taking occasion by the [absence of the knowledge of the] commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence [or evildoing]. For without the Law sin was dead [or unknown to me]. 09 For I was alive without the Law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died [and was set free]. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be to death, 11 for sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me [spiritually]. Note 5

The purpose of the Law

12 Wherefore the Law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13 Was then that which is good made death to 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 [or dangerous].

14 For we know that the Law is spiritual: but [as a sinner] I am carnal, sold [as a slave] under sin [the sinmaster].

15 For that which I do, I allow [or choose] not:

for what I would [choose], that do I not;

but what I hate, that do I. Note 6

My actions prove it to me

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent to the Law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin [the sinmaster] that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would [do], I do not:

but the evil which I would not [do], that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it,

but sin that dwells in me. Note 7

The principle of sin

21 I find then a law [or principle], that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the Law of God after the inward man [or in my mind]: 23 but I see another law [or principle] in my members [my body], warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity [and making me a slave] to the "law of sin [and death]" which is in my members. Note 8