Romans 7:8

But sin took advantage of the commandment to arouse in me every form of covetousness, for where there is no consciousness of Law sin shows no sign of life.

Open English Bible (US)

In The King James Version

But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

In Context

7What are we to say, then? That Law and sin are the same thing? Heaven forbid! On the contrary, I should not have learned what sin is, had not it been for Law. If the Law did not say ‘You must not covet,’ I should not know what it is to covet.

9There was a time when I myself, unconscious of Law, was alive; but when the commandment was brought home to me, sin sprang into life, while I died!

Read all of Romans 7

Cross References

John 15:22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have had no sin to answer for; but as it is, they have no excuse for their sin.

Romans 4:15Law entails punishment; but, where no Law exists, no breach of it is possible.

Romans 7:11Sin took advantage of the commandment to deceive me, and used it to bring about my death.

Romans 7:17This being so, the action is no longer my own, but is done by the sin which is within me.

James 1:14A man is in every case tempted by their own passions – allured and enticed by them.

Matthew Henry on Romans 7:8-25

Excellency of the Law; Usefulness of the Law. ( a. d. 58.) 7 What 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. 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto… Read the whole commentary →

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