Romans 7 14

Romans 7:14 kjv

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

Romans 7:14 nkjv

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

Romans 7:14 niv

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

Romans 7:14 esv

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

Romans 7:14 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.

Romans 7 verses

Romans 7 14 Meaning

Romans 7:14 declares a fundamental tension in the human condition, particularly as experienced under the perfect standard of God's Law. It states that the divine Law, being of the Spirit and holy, is in perfect opposition to human nature, which is characterized by the flesh. The individual, recognizing this divine standard, acknowledges being inherently bound and enslaved to sin, incapable of fully living up to the Law's righteous demands.

Romans 7 14 Context

Romans chapter 7 continues Paul's exposition on the Law, justification, and sanctification. The initial verses (Rom 7:1-6) declare that believers are released from the Law's dominion through Christ's death, enabling them to serve in the new way of the Spirit. From Romans 7:7, Paul transitions to defend the Law's inherent goodness, showing that it is not the problem but rather a tool God uses to reveal and magnify sin. The specific context of Romans 7:14 introduces the acute tension between this good, spiritual Law and fallen humanity's inability to keep it. Historically and culturally, Jewish believers revered the Torah (the Law) as God's perfect gift, the pathway to righteousness and life. Paul, a former zealous Pharisee, understood this reverence. However, his conversion revealed that while the Law was indeed perfect and spiritual, human flesh was fundamentally incapable of meeting its demands, leading to a profound inner conflict which is described in this chapter. This passage implicitly addresses the Jewish misunderstanding that perfect Law-keeping was attainable through human effort alone, contrasting it with the reality of the universal bondage to sin.

Romans 7 14 Word analysis

• For we know (Οἴδαμεν γάρ - Oidamen gar): "Oidamen" signifies a shared, common knowledge or accepted theological truth within the Christian community or a universal understanding. "Gar" (for/because) introduces the reason or explanation for a previous statement, though here it stands as an emphatic opening. It implies Paul is appealing to a generally acknowledged truth about the Law.
• the law (ὁ νόμος - ho nomos): Refers to the Mosaic Law, the complete divine revelation given through Moses. This term throughout Romans carries the weight of God's perfect moral and ethical standard, which defines right and wrong.
• is spiritual (πνευματικός ἐστιν - pneumatikos estin): "Pneumatikos" is derived from pneuma (spirit). This signifies that the Law originates from God's Spirit, possesses the nature of the Spirit, and concerns spiritual realities. It is perfect, holy, pure, and demands perfect inner obedience, not just external compliance. It operates on the deepest level of human conscience and being.
• but I (ἐγὼ δέ - ego de): "Ego" is the emphatic personal pronoun, placing strong emphasis on "I." Paul contrasts the nature of the Law with his own personal state, possibly speaking for himself, or representatively for fallen humanity, or the struggling believer. "De" (but/however) marks a strong contrast.
• am carnal (σάρκινός εἰμι - sarkinos eimi): "Sarkinos" describes something made of flesh. While often implying mere physical matter, in theological contexts like Paul's, it strongly contrasts with "spiritual." It refers to the fallen human nature (sarx, flesh) which is subject to sin, weakness, corruption, and an inherent inability to please God or obey Him perfectly without divine enablement. It denotes a human state characterized by the sinful propensity inherited from Adam.
• sold under sin (πεπραμένος ὑπὸ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν - pepramenos hypo tēn hamartian): "Pepramenos" is a perfect passive participle, indicating a past completed action with continuing results, like a state of being. "Sold" suggests not a voluntary transaction but being placed in a state of bondage. "Hypo tēn hamartian" means "under sin" or "under the authority of sin." Sin (hamartia) is here personified as a slave master or a dominating power. This phrase denotes a profound and pervasive condition of humanity—an inherited, innate slavery to sin, where human will and actions are constantly influenced and often controlled by sin's power. It describes a fallen state where humanity cannot truly escape sin's grasp through self-effort alone.

Romans 7 14 Bonus section

The interpretation of "I" in Romans 7, especially verses 14-25, has generated significant theological discussion. Some scholars view it as Paul describing his personal pre-conversion experience, explaining the struggle he felt before Christ delivered him from the Law's condemnation and sin's dominion. Others see it as the universal experience of an unconverted person who is under the Law but lacks the Spirit, showcasing the Law's role in bringing self-awareness of sin. A third major view posits that Paul is describing the ongoing, albeit redeemed, struggle of a true believer against indwelling sin. In this interpretation, the "carnal" aspect refers to the remaining "flesh" or sin nature that even a regenerated person battles, recognizing the Law's spiritual ideal while acknowledging the reality of persistent sinful desires. Each interpretation underscores the fundamental tension between the holy demands of God and the imperfect human condition. Regardless, the core message remains that human strength is insufficient to overcome the power of sin without divine intervention.

Romans 7 14 Commentary

Romans 7:14 captures a critical theological truth by starkly contrasting the divine Law with fallen humanity. The Law is pronounced "spiritual"—perfect, holy, and emanating from God's own character, thus demanding inner purity and external righteousness. This makes the Law inherently good and flawless. However, the "I" (representing humanity, whether pre-conversion or the ongoing struggle against indwelling sin) is described as "carnal"—inherently limited, flawed, and marked by the fallen fleshly nature. The powerful phrase "sold under sin" illustrates this fallenness not merely as committing sins, but as existing in a state of bondage where sin exercises a dominating authority over the individual, a condition from which one cannot self-deliver. This verse explains why, despite the Law's perfect goodness, it cannot justify or sanctify. The problem isn't the Law; it's the incapacitation of human nature, which, though capable of knowing God's standard, is powerless to fully uphold it due to its intrinsic slavery to sin. It sets the stage for the desperate cry of Romans 7:24 and the subsequent declaration of freedom in Christ found in Romans 8.