The Law and Sin

⁷ What shall we say, then?^(A) Is the law sinful? Certainly not!^(B) Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.^(C) For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”^[a](D)

¹⁰ I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life^(A) actually brought death. ¹¹ For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,^(B) deceived me,^(C) and through the commandment put me to death. ¹² So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.^(D)

¹³ Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good^(E) to bring about my death,^(F) so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

¹⁴ We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual,^(G) sold^(H) as a slave to sin.^{(I) 15} I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.^{(J) 16} And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.^{(K) 17} As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.^{(L) 18} For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[a](M) For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.^{(N) 20} Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.^(O)

²¹ So I find this law at work:^(P) Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being^(Q) I delight in God’s law;^{(R) 23} but I see another law at work in me, waging war^(S) against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin^(T) at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?^{(U) 25} Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!^(V)

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law,^(W) but in my sinful nature^[b] a slave to the law of sin.^(X)

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin,^(A) and the power of sin is the law.^(B)