Romans — Chapter 7
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1Know 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?
2For 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.
3So 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.
4Wherefore, 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.
5For 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.
6But 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.
7What 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.
8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
13Was 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.
14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18For 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.
19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25I 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.
1Or are ye ignorant, brethren (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law hath dominion over a man for so long time as he liveth?
2For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband.
3So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man.
4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, [even] to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.
5For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
6But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.
7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Howbeit, I had not known sin, except through the law: for I had not known coveting, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet:
8but sin, finding occasion, wrought in me through the commandment all manner of coveting: for apart from the law sin [is] dead.
9And I was alive apart from the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died;
10and the commandment, which [was] unto life, this I found [to be] unto death:
11for sin, finding occasion, through the commandment beguiled me, and through it slew me.
12So that the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.
13Did then that which is good become death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, by working death to me through that which is good; --that through the commandment sin might become exceeding sinful.
14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15For that which I do I know not: for not what I would, that do I practise; but what I hate, that I do.
16But if what I would not, that I do, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me.
18For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me, but to do that which is good [is] not.
19For the good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I practise.
20But if what I would not, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me.
21I find then the law, that, to me who would do good, evil is present.
22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.
24Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death?
25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then I of myself with the mind, indeed, serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
1Or do you not know, brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law is lord over a person as long as he lives?
2For a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the marriage.
3So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she is joined to another man, she is not an adulteress.
4So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you could be joined to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God.
5For when we were in the flesh, the sinful desires, aroused by the law, were active in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.
6But now we have been released from the law, because we have died to what controlled us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit and not under the old written code.
7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! Certainly, I would not have known sin except through the law. For indeed I would not have known what it means to desire something belonging to someone else if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”
8But sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of wrong desires. For apart from the law, sin is dead.
9And I was once alive apart from the law, but with the coming of the commandment, sin became alive
10and I died. So I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life brought death!
11For sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it I died.
12So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.
13Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Absolutely not! But sin, so that it would be shown to be sin, produced death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.
14For we know that the law is spiritual—but I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin.
15For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want—instead, I do what I hate.
16But if I do what I don’t want, I agree that the law is good.
17But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me.
18For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it.
19For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want!
20Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me.
21So, I find the law that when I want to do good, evil is present with me.
22For I delight in the law of God in my inner being.
23But I see a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members.
24Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
1Or don’t you know, brothers (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man for as long as he lives?
2For the woman that has a husband is bound by law to the husband while he lives, but if the husband dies, she is discharged from the law of the husband.
3So then if, while the husband lives, she is joined to another man, she would be called an adulteress. But if the husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she is joined to another man.
4Therefore, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might produce fruit to God.
5For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law, worked in our members to bring out fruit to death.
6But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.
7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn’t have known sin, except through the law. For I wouldn’t have known coveting, unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”
8But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead.
9I was alive apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10The commandment, which was for life, this I found to be for death;
11for sin, finding occasion through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me.
12Therefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.
13Did then that which is good become death to me? May it never be! But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, was producing death in me through that which is good; that through the commandment sin might become exceedingly sinful.
14For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin.
15For I don’t know what I am doing. For I don’t practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do.
16But if what I don’t desire, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good.
17So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me.
18For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it doing that which is good.
19For the good which I desire, I don’t do; but the evil which I don’t desire, that I practice.
20But if what I don’t desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me.
21I find then the law, that, to me, while I desire to do good, evil is present.
22For I delight in God’s law after the inward man,
23but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.
24What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death?
25I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God’s law, but with the flesh, the sin’s law.
Summary
Paul explains the believer's release from the Law through death with Christ, acknowledges the Law's holiness, and describes the intense inner struggle — "the good that I would I do not, but the evil which I would not, that I do" — crying out for deliverance.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the marriage analogy, the Law's purpose, and the inner struggle — addressing the debate about who Paul is describing.
- Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "The Wretched Man's Cry" on v.24 (MTP Vol. 10, No. 633) "O wretched man that I am! — this is not the cry of an unbeliever; it is the cry of a believer who is honest about his struggle. The man who never feels this wretchedness has never truly fought against sin. The war proves you're alive." Sermon: "Deliverance Through Christ" on v.25 (MTP Vol. 22, No. 1366) "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord — that is the answer. Not through willpower, not through the Law, not through self-improvement — through Jesus Christ. He is the deliverer. The struggle is real; the deliverance is also real."
Videos
The Bible Project — Romans Overview
Animated overview of the book's literary structure, themes, and theological message. Excellent visual introduction. (Approx. 8 minutes)
Reflection
- 1. "The good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do" (v.19). Every honest man knows this struggle. You want to be better — but you keep failing. This is not a sign that you're not saved; it's a sign that you're in the fight. Are you fighting or have you given up?
- 2. "In me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing" (v.18). Brutal honesty about the flesh. You cannot improve the flesh — you can only put it to death (chapter 8). Are you trying to reform your flesh or crucify it?
- 3. "O wretched man that I am!" (v.24). Paul — the greatest apostle — felt wretched about his sin struggle. If you never feel this, you may not be fighting hard enough. Wretchedness about sin is healthy — it drives you to Christ.
- 4. "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (v.25). The answer to the struggle is not trying harder — it is Christ. Deliverance comes through Him, not through willpower. Are you depending on Christ or on yourself?
- 5. Paul says the Law is "holy, and just, and good" (v.12) — but sin uses it as a weapon. How does knowing that the problem is sin (not the Law) change how you view God's commands?
- 6. The inner struggle (vv.14-25) is the experience of every honest believer. Does knowing that Paul experienced this same war encourage you in your own struggle? How?
- 7. Paul "delights in the law of God after the inward man" (v.22) — his new nature loves God's law. Do you delight in God's Word? Is there a genuine desire for holiness in you, even when you fail?
- 8. The chapter ends with a cry for deliverance (v.24) — not a resolution through willpower. The answer comes in chapter 8: the Spirit. Are you trying to win the war in your own strength, or are you depending on the Spirit?
- 9. "Who shall deliver me?" (v.24). The question assumes you CANNOT deliver yourself. Have you reached that conclusion — that self-effort cannot produce holiness? That only Christ can deliver?