Source Scripture
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Romans 7:7-13
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.
Question in context
Paul asks the question directly and answers, “God forbid.” The law identifies coveting as sin; sin then uses the commandment as an occasion for deception and death. The problem in the passage is sin, not the holiness of the commandment.
What the passage itself says
- Paul says he would not have known coveting as sin without the commandment.
- Sin takes occasion by the commandment; the commandment itself is not identified as the deceiver or killer.
- The paragraph concludes by calling the law holy and the commandment holy, just, and good.
Immediate and confirming witnesses
Read these passages with the source Scripture to follow the immediate and confirming context.
- Confirming witness: Psalm 19:7-11
The prophetic witness calls the law perfect and YAHUAH's commandments right, pure, and more desirable than gold. - Confirming witness: Romans 3:20
The law supplies the knowledge of sin even though works of law cannot justify flesh. - Confirming witness: 1 John 3:4
John defines sin as transgression of the law, agreeing with Paul's use of the commandment to identify sin. - Confirming witness: James 1:22-25
James calls believers to be doers and names the standard the perfect law of liberty.
Related Words in Context
There is not yet a separate Words in Context study for this exact passage. Use the linked Scripture witnesses above for further study.