Romans 7:14 BSB — MannaFest

Romans 7:14

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

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

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

KJV

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

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Commentary

4 voices

Tertullian

Against Marcion Book V (220)

Who can draw a distinction, and say that there are two gods, one just and the other good, when He ought to be believed to be both one and the other, whose commandment is both "just and good? "Then, again, when affirming the law to be "spiritual" he thereby implies that it is prophetic, and that it is figurative.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Even where there is spiritual life there are remainders of carnal affections, and so far a man may be sold under sin; he does not sell himself to work wickedness, as Ahab did ( 1 Kings xxi. 25 ), but he was sold by Adam when he sinned and fell--sold, as a poor slave that does his master's will against his own will--sold under sin, because conceived in iniquity and born in sin.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

For, we know that the law is spiritual - This is a general proposition, and probably, in the apostle’s autograph, concluded the above sentence. The law is not to be considered as a system of external rites and ceremonies; nor even as a rule of moral action: it is a spiritual system; it reaches to the most hidden purposes, thoughts, dispositions, and desires of the heart and soul; and it reproves and condemns every thing, without hope of reprieve or pardon, that is contrary to eternal truth and rectitude.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

15 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
Οἴδαμεν	Oidamen	We know
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
ὅτι	hoti	that	G3754 →
ὁ	ho	the	G3588 →
νόμος	nomos	Law	G3551 →
πνευματικός	pneumatikos	spiritual	G4152 →
ἐστιν,	estin	is,	G1510 →
ἐγὼ	egō	I myself	G1473 →
δὲ	de	however	G1161 →
σάρκινός	sarkinos	fleshly	G4560 →
εἰμι	eimi	am	G1510 →
πεπραμένος	pepramenos	sold	G4097 →
ὑπὸ	hupo	under	G5259 →
τὴν	tēn	<the>	G3588 →
ἁμαρτίαν.	hamartian	sin.	G266 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Romans 7:18
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
leads to
- John 3:6
  Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.
- Psalms 51:5
  Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
- Galatians 5:17
  For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.
- Romans 7:25
  Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
- Psalms 119:115–117
  Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may obey the commandments of my God.
Through
1 Kings 21:25
(Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel.
leads to
- 1 Kings 21:20
  When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of…
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
Through
Isaiah 52:3
For this is what the LORD says: “You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.”
leads to
- 1 Peter 1:18
  For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,
- Isaiah 45:13
  I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild My city and set My exiles free, but not for payment or reward, says the LORD…

Featured studies on this passage

Walks through Romans 7

The Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22–23 names a singular fruit (karpos, not fruits) with nine visible facets. Gifts are distributed; fruit is unified. Every believer bears the whole fruit. The grammar is the theology.

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Walks through Romans 7

The Divided Self, MannaFest

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The Flesh

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About Romans

The Crucifixion — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Romans: the study guide →Read chapter 7 →The featured study →

Continue: Romans 7 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Romans

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Romans