Romans 7:6 kjv
But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Romans 7:6 nkjv
But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
Romans 7:6 niv
But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
Romans 7:6 esv
But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
Romans 7:6 nlt
But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.
Romans 7 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 6:14 | For sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law, but under grace. | Law vs. Grace framework |
| Gal 5:18 | But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. | Freedom in the Spirit |
| John 8:36 | If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. | Christ's liberating freedom |
| Heb 10:14 | For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. | Christ's finished work |
| Col 2:14 | Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. | Christ's victory over the law |
| 1 Cor 7:39 | The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will. | Analogy of marital bond and death |
| 2 Cor 3:6 | Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. | New Covenant distinction |
| Eph 2:15 | Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, making peace. | Christ reconciling through His death |
| Acts 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. | Justification apart from the law |
| Gal 2:19 | For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. | Paul's personal testimony |
| John 1:17 | For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. | Law vs. Grace |
| Rom 8:1 | There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. | Freedom from condemnation |
| Rom 7:4 | Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. | Previous verse context |
| Rom 7:2-3 | For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband at that while but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. | Elaboration on the marriage analogy |
| Rom 3:28 | Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. | Faith over works |
| Rom 3:31 | Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. | Purpose of the law |
| Heb 9:15 | And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. | New Covenant through death |
| Gal 3:25 | But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. | Law as a tutor |
| Phil 3:9 | And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. | Righteousness by faith |
| 1 Thess 4:1 | Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even so ye would abound more. | Walking to please God |
Romans 7 verses
Romans 7 6 Meaning
Believers are no longer bound by the law because they have died to it through the body of Christ. This death to the law liberates them to serve God in a new spiritual reality, not under the old way of the written code.
Romans 7 6 Context
This verse is part of a larger argument in Romans concerning the believer's relationship to the law and sin. The preceding verses (Romans 7:1-6) use the analogy of marriage to illustrate how death to the law releases believers from its binding claims. They have died to the law through Christ's sacrifice, freeing them to be united with Christ, their new husband, and to bear fruit for God. This freedom is not lawlessness but a transition to a new life of obedience motivated by love and the indwelling Spirit, rather than a legalistic adherence to the old covenant's regulations. The immediate context emphasizes that this spiritual reality allows believers to serve God "in the newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."
Romans 7 6 Word Analysis
- Ὥστε (hōste): "Therefore," "so that." Connects this statement as a consequence or result of the previous teaching, specifically the believers' death to the law.
- ἡμεῖς (hēmeis): "We." Refers to believers in Christ.
- γεγενήμεθα (gegenēmetha): Perfect passive indicative of γίνομαι (ginomai), "to become," "to be born." Signifies a completed action that has a present continuing result. "We have become" or "We have been made."
- τεθνήκεσαν (tethnēkesan): Perfect active indicative of θνῄσκω (thnēskō), "to die." This tense indicates a permanent state of death. "We have died."
- τῷ (tōi): Dative case article. Indicates the agent or means through which the death occurred. "To" or "by."
- νόμῳ (nomōi): Dative case noun from νόμος (nomos), "law." Refers to the Mosaic Law or the principle of law in general. "The law."
- ἀφ’ (aph'): Preposition ἀπό (apo) contracted with the article. "From."
- οὗ (hou): Genitive relative pronoun. "Which," referring back to the law.
- δουλ εύ ουσιν (douleusousin): Future active indicative of δουλεύω (douleuō), "to serve," "to be a slave." The future tense suggests a continuous action into the future, contrasted with their former bondage. "We might serve."
- καινότητι (kainotēti): Dative case noun from καινότης (kainotēs), "newness." Refers to a fresh, different, or regenerated state or quality. "Newness."
- πνεύματος (pneumatos): Genitive case noun from πνεῦμα (pneuma), "spirit." Refers to the Holy Spirit or the inner, spiritual man. "Of the spirit."
- καὶ (kai): "And."
- οὐ (ou): "Not."
- παλαιότητι (palaio tēti): Dative case noun from παλαιότης (palaio tēs), "oldness," "antiquity." Contrasts with "newness," referring to the outward, ritualistic, and carnal observance of the Law. "Oldness."
- γράμματος (grammatos): Genitive case noun from γράμμα (gramma), "letter." Refers to the literal, external demands of the Law, as opposed to its spiritual intent or the Spirit's power. "Of the letter."
Words/Group by Words Analysis:
- "died to the law": This is a crucial concept. It doesn't mean the law is abolished or is no longer God's standard. Instead, believers, through Christ's sacrifice, are freed from the jurisdiction or binding authority of the law as a means of salvation or righteousness. The Law can no longer condemn them or accuse them before God, because they are considered "dead" to its demands in Christ.
- "serve in newness of spirit": This is contrasted with "oldness of the letter." Serving in "newness of spirit" means serving out of a transformed inner life, empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit. It's a service motivated by love and gratitude, not by fear or obligation to a legal code. The "spirit" here is likely the Holy Spirit, who regenerates and indwells believers, enabling them to live a life pleasing to God.
- "not in oldness of the letter": This signifies serving based on external regulations, strict adherence to rules without internal transformation. It's a legalistic, outward observance that cannot produce true righteousness. The "letter" kills because it only exposes sin and cannot give life.
Romans 7 6 Bonus Section
This verse highlights the theological distinction between the Law and Grace, a central theme in Paul's letter to the Romans. The "oldness of the letter" is often associated with the external demands of the Law, which, while righteous, can lead to death if pursued without the Spirit. The "newness of spirit" represents the transformed life believers experience through the indwelling Holy Spirit, enabling them to fulfill the Law's underlying principles through love and faith. This transformation is rooted in Christ's redemptive work and His victory over sin and death. The analogy of marriage used in the preceding verses underscores the absoluteness of this transition – just as a wife is bound to her husband until his death, believers were bound to the Law, but are now free to be united to the resurrected Christ.
Romans 7 6 Commentary
Having died to the Law through union with Christ's death, believers are now released from its authority. This freedom allows them to serve God not through a rigid, outward observance of religious rules ("the oldness of the letter"), but through the empowering, inner life brought about by the Holy Spirit ("the newness of spirit"). This is a fundamental shift in the believer's relationship with God, moving from a covenant of Law to a covenant of Grace through Christ. It is the Spirit who enables this vital, loving service.