Romans 7:14

Romans 7:14

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

a. NLT: So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.

b. NIV: We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.

c. YLT: for we have known that the law is spiritual, and I am fleshly, sold by the sin;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am a creature of the flesh [carnal, unspiritual], having been sold into slavery under [the control of] sin.

e. Worrell Translation: For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.

1. “For we know that the law is spiritual…”

a. For [1063 * gar] [Strong: a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):--and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.]

b. we know [1492 * eido] [Strong: a primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent 3700 and 3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know:--be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot.]

c. that [3754 * hoti] [Strong: neuter of 3748 as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.]

d. the law [3551 * nomos] [Strong: from a primary nemo (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle):--law.]

e. is [2076 * esti] [Strong: third person singular present indicative of 1510; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.]

f. spiritual [4152 * pneumatikos][Strong:  non-carnal, i.e. (humanly) ethereal (as opposed to gross), or (daemoniacally) a spirit (concretely), or (divinely) supernatural, regenerate, religious:--spiritual.][Thayer: relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as part of the man which is akin to God and serves as his instrument or organ, that which possesses the nature of the rational soul, belonging to a spirit, or a being higher than man but inferior to God, belonging to the Divine Spirit, of God the Holy Spirit, one who is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God, pertaining to the wind or breath; windy, exposed to the wind, blowing.]

1). The law is a spiritual thing. It was given by God, therefore it emanates from the spiritual as contrasted from the material, the carnal, the natural, even though it affects all of them.

2). The law is spiritual. Two verses previous Paul wrote that the law was good, just and holy.

a). Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

3). Even in unregenerate men under the Old Covenant, the law had a limited effect for good and helped man obey God.

a). Psalm 19:7-11 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

19:8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

19:9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

19:11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

4). It was not until the New Covenant was instituted, because of what Jesus did, that mankind has the opportunity presented in the gospel to be forgiven and delivered from sin.

a). Acts 13:38, 39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

2. “…but I am carnal, sold under sin.”

a. but [1161 * de] [Strong: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. I [1473 * ego] [Strong: a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic):--I, me.]

c. am [1510 * eimi] [Strong: the first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist (used only when emphatic):--am, have been, X it is I, was.]

d. carnal [4559 * sarkikos] [Strong: from 4561; pertaining to flesh, i.e. (by extension) bodily, temporal, or (by implication) animal, unregenerate:--carnal, fleshly.]

e. sold [4097 * piprasko] [Strong: a reduplicated and prolonged form of prao prah'-o; (which occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses) contracted from perao (to traverse; from the base of 4008); to traffic (by travelling), i.e. dispose of as merchandise or into slavery (literally or figuratively):--sell.]

f. under [5259 * hupo] [Strong: a primary preposition; under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (underneath) or where (below) or time (when (at)):--among, by, from, in, of, under, with. In the comparative, it retains the same general applications, especially of inferior position or condition, and specially, covertly or moderately.]

g. sin [266 * hamartia] [Strong: from 264; a sin (properly abstract):--offence, sin(-ful).]

1). We were sold under sin when our first parents Adam and Eve sinned and ate of the tree God commanded them that if they ate of it they would “surely die”. 

a). Genesis 2:16, 17 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

2). Death entered man’s existence because of his sin.

a). Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

b). Adam died spiritually first and died physically 930 years later, he died physically because he died spiritually first.

3). Through man’s one disobedience to God and obedience to the devil, man became a servant or slave to the devil.

a). Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness.

4). Spiritual death entered the spirit of man and he became a servant to the devil, and unregenerate man has followed that ever since.

a). Ephesians 2:2, 3 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

5). What follows in Romans 7:15-24 is a description of “the law of sin and death” that operates in every human being. We were sold into this condition by the sin of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. When mankind sinned spiritual death entered into his spirit, “the law of sin and death” became part of man’s nature and he began to walk in bondage to the devil, the enemy became his master. We were sold into this condition by our first parents.

a). Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

b). 1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;