1No law having power over a person longer than he liveth, 4we therefore, being become dead to the law by the body of Christ, are left free to place ourselves under a happier dispensation. 5For the law through the prevalency of corrupt passions could only serve as an instrument of sin unto death; although it be in itself holy, and just, and good; 14as is manifest by our reason approving the precepts of it, whilst our depraved nature is unable to put them in practice. 24The wretchedness of man in such a situation, and God's mercy in his deliverance from it through Christ.
1KNOW ye not, abrethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) bhow that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
a ch. 9.3; 10.1; 2.18. b ch. 3.19; 6.14.
2For cthe 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.
c Ge. 2.23,24. Mal. 2.16. Nu. 5.29. Pr. 6.29,32. Mat. 19.4-9. 1Co. 7.2,10,39. Le. 22.12,13.
3dSo then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: ebut if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
d Nu. 5.20,21. Ju. 14.20. Mat. 5.32. v.2. e Ru. 1.13. 1Ti. 5.14. Le. 22.12,13.
4Wherefore, my brethren, fye also are become dead to the law gby the body of Christ; that hye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, ithat we should bring forth fruit unto God.
f ch. 6.14; 8.2. Ga. 2.19,20; 5.18. Ep. 2.15. Col. 2.14. Ga. 3.13; 4.4,5. 1Pe. 2.24. Tit. 2.14. g Ep. 2.16. Col. 1.22. h 2Co. 11.2. Ho. 2.19,20. i Mat. 5.16. Jn. 15.8. Ga. 5.22. Phi. 1.11. Ps. 127.3. Lu. 1.42.
5For when we were jin the flesh, the 1*motions of sins, which were by the law, kdid work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
1Gr. passions.
*motions-impulses.
j ch. 8.8,9. Ep. 2.1. k Ga. 5.19-21; 6.8. ch. 6.13,19,21,23. Tit. 3.3. Mat. 15.19. Ja. 1.15.
6lBut now we are delivered from the law, 2that being dead wherein we were held; mthat we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
2Or, being dead to that.
l v.4. ch. 6.14; 8.2. Ga. 2.19,20. m v.4. ch. 6.4,11,13,19,22. Jn. 4.23,24. Phi. 3.3. 2Co. 3.6,7. ch. 2.29. Lu. 1.74,75. Ga. 5.22,23.
7What shall we say then? nIs the law sin? God forbid. oNay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known 3lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
3Or, concupiscence.
n v.5,8,11,13. 1Co. 15.56. o Ex. 20.17. De. 5.21. ch. 3.19,20; 4.15.
8But sin, ptaking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all *manner of *concupiscence. qFor without the law sin was dead.
*manner-kind, sort.
*concupiscence-strong desire or appetite, especially of a sexual nature.
p ch. 4.15; 5.20. 1Co. 15.56. v.5,9,11. Ga. 5.13. 1Ti. 5.14. q Mar. 10.20. Lu. 18.11,12. Jn. 15.22. 1Co. 15.56. Ga. 3.19. ch. 3.28.
9For rI was alive without the law once: but swhen the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
r Mat. 19.20. Lu. 18.11,12. Phi. 3.5,6. s ch. 3.19,20; 10.5. Ga. 3.10. v.5,7-14. Ps. 38.4-8; 40.12.
10And the commandment, twhich was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
t ch. 10.5. Le. 18.5. Eze. 20.11. 2Co. 3.7. ch. 3.19,20.
11uFor sin, taking occasion by the commandment, vdeceived me, and by it slew me.
u v.8,9,13. He. 3.13. Je. 17.9. Ja. 1.15. 1Co. 15.56. v Ge. 3.13.
12Wherefore wthe law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
w Ps. 19.7-9; 119.39,96,137,138. 1Ti. 1.8.
13Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. xBut sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
x v.8-11. ch. 3.20; 5.20. Jn. 15.22.
14For we know that the law is yspiritual: but I am zcarnal, sold under sin.
y He. 4.12. Mat. 5.22,28; 22.37. Le. 19.17. z v.15,18,19,21,23,25. 1Co. 3.1,3. Is. 6.5; 64.6. 1Ki. 21.20. 2Ki. 17.17. Is. 50.1,10.
15aFor that which I do I 4*allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
4Gr. know.
*allow-approve of.
a Ga. 5.17,24. v.18,19,21,23-25.
16If then I do that which I would not, bI consent unto the law that it is good.
b v.14,22. Da. 9.5.
17Now then cit is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
c v.20,22-25.
18For I know that din me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: efor to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
d Ge. 6.5; 8.21. Job 14.4. Ps. 51.5. Is. 1.6; 64.6. e v.16,22,25. Phi. 2.13; 3.12. Ga. 5.17. 2Co. 3.5.
19fFor the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
f v.15-17.
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 glaw, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
g v.23,25. ch. 8.2. v.17,20,24. Ga. 5.17. Ep. 6.12. Col. 3.5,9. ch. 6.6. Is. 1.6; 64.6. Ps. 65.3.
22For hI delight in the law of God after ithe inward man:
h Ps. 1.2; 119.35; 19.7-11; 40.8; 119.77,97,111. v.12,14,16. i ch. 2.29. 2Co. 4.16. Ep. 3.16. Lu. 17.21. 1Pe. 3.4. 1Jn. 3.9. Col. 3.10. 2Co. 5.17. Jn. 3.3,5,6.
23But I see janother 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.
j Job 40.4. Ps. 38.4,5. Is. 6.5; 64.6. v.21,24,25. Ga. 5.17. Ja. 4.5; 3.2. 1Pe. 2.11. ch. 6.13,19. Pr. 24.16. Ec. 7.20. 1Ki. 8.38,46. Ps. 142.7.
24kO wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from 5the body of this ldeath?
5Or, this body of death.
k 1Ki. 8.38. Ps. 38.2,10; 77.3-9. l Ps. 88.5. ch. 6.6; 8.23.
25mI thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with nthe mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
m Ps. 103.2-5. 1Co. 15.57. Phi. 4.6. Col. 3.17. Ep. 5.20. 2Co. 12.9. n v.15-24. Ga. 5.17-24.