But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the new way[a] of the Spirit(A) and not in the old letter of the law.

Sin’s Use of the Law

What should we say then?(B) Is the law sin? Absolutely not!(C) On the contrary, I would not have known sin if it were not for the law.(D) For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet.(E)[b] And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment,(F) produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 7:6 Lit in newness
  2. Romans 7:7 Ex 20:17

But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law(A) so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.(B)

The Law and Sin

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

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 7:7 Exodus 20:17; Deut. 5:21

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.

What shall we say then? Is the law 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.

But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

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