Study Desk

What shall we say, then?^(m) Is the law sinful? Certainly not!⁽ⁿ⁾ Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.^(o) For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "You shall not covet."^[b](p)

But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,^(q) produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.^(r)

Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.

I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life^(s) actually brought death.

For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,^(t) deceived me,^(u) and through the commandment put me to death.

So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.^(v)

Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good^(w) to bring about my death,^(x) so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.