Romans 7:7

WEB

⁷What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn’t have known sin except through the law. For I wouldn’t have known coveting unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”

KJV

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.

BSB

⁷What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”

FBV

⁷So what do we conclude? That the law is sin? Of course not! I wouldn't have known what sin was unless the law defined it. I wouldn't have realized that wanting to have other people's things for myself was wrong without the law that says, “Don't desire for yourself what belongs to someone else.”

Related Resources

20 Questions episode 41 (part 2 after internet issues) - Mike Winger
Toward a Christian Worldview: Romans 7:1-13 - Mike Winger
Book of Romans Summary: A Complete Animated Overview (Part 2) - BibleProject
Does Romans 7 Describe a Christian? - Desiring God
How the Pharisees Blew It and We Might Too: The Mark Series pt 23 (7:1-23) - Mike Winger
10 Qs with Mike Winger: My (fake) "pro-flat earth" video (Ep 58) - Mike Winger
Christ Fulfills the Law - Grace to You
The Blasphemy of the Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-22) - Grace to You
Does the Law Aggravate Our Sin Nature? - Desiring God

References

Exodus 20:17

¹⁷“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Deuteronomy 5:21

²¹“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Extra References

Romans 3:20

²⁰Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

Romans 4:15

¹⁵For the law produces wrath; for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience.

1 Corinthians 15:56

⁵⁶The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

Exodus 20:17

Deuteronomy 5:21

Romans 13:9

⁹For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,”^[+] You shall not covet,”and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Romans 7:8

⁸But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead.

Psalms 19:7-12

⁷The LORD’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. The LORD’s covenant is sure, making wise the simple. ⁸The LORD’s precepts are right, rejoicing the heart. The LORD’s commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes. ⁹The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever. The LORD’s ordinances are true, and righteous altogether. ¹⁰They are more to be desired than gold, yes, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb. ¹¹Moreover your servant is warned by them. In keeping them there is great reward. ¹²Who can discern his errors? Forgive me from hidden errors.

1 John 2:15-16

¹⁵Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him. ¹⁶For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s.

1 Thessalonians 4:5

⁵not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don’t know God,