Romans 7

Text

The original text is written in Koine Greek.

Some most ancient manuscripts containing this chapter are:

Codex Vaticanus (AD 325-350)

Codex Sinaiticus (AD 330-360)

Codex Alexandrinus (ca. AD 400-440)

Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (ca. AD 450; complete)

This chapter is divided into 25 verses.

Structure

The New King James Version organises this chapter as follows:

Romans 7:1-6 = Freed from the Law

Romans 7:7-12 = Sin’s Advantage in the Law

Romans 7:13-25 = Law Cannot Save from Sin

The New International Version divides this chapter into two sections:

Romans 7:1-6 = Released From the Law, Bound to Christ

Romans 7:7-25 = The Law and Sin

Lifelong authority of the Law

Writing to "those who know the [Jewish] Law, Paul says that the Law has authority over a man (only) "as long as he lives" (Romans 7:1).

Jewish Christians in Rome would have been familiar with the Hebrew Bible but many commentators recognise that "the whole Roman Church, whether Jewish or Gentile, would be familiar with it; many of them having been disciples of the synagogue, and all being directed constantly to the use of the Old Testament by apostolic precept and example". William Robertson Nicoll, however, argues that "neither Roman nor Mosaic law is specially referred to: the argument rests on the nature of law in general".

Marriage provides an example:

For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. (New King James Version)

Verse 3

New King James Version

So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.

Verse 4

New King James Version

Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another — to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.

The law provides knowledge of sin

Paul asks a rhetorical question in verse 7:

Is the law sin? Certainly not! (Greek: μη γενοιτο, mē genoito), he replies, But if it had not been for the Law, I would not have known (i.e. recognised) sin (New King James Version) or I would not have known what sin is really like (Contemporary English Version).

Verse 25

New King James Version

I 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.