Romans 7:13

Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Certainly not! But in order that sin might be exposed as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Roman church while concluding his examination of the Law’s function in his own spiritual condition. He speaks from the standpoint of a person under the commandment, contrasting the Law’s inherent goodness with sin’s destructive operation.

The words — Paul contrasts ἀγαθὸν (agathon, "good") with θάνατος (thanatos, "death") to show the commandment’s nature versus sin’s result. He answers his own question with μὴ γένοιτο (mē genoito, "Never! would it be!"), a strong rhetorical denial that the good Law caused his death.

The thread — The text explicitly separates the Law’s holiness from the origin of evil, echoing James 1:13’s claim that God tempts no one and Galatians 3:21’s denial that the Law opposes God’s promises. Paul’s explanation aligns with Romans 7:8, where sin seizes the commandment as an opportunity to produce covetous desire.

Why it lands — The passage states that sin used the good commandment to expose its own deadly character, not that the commandment itself caused death. It requires readers to identify the Law’s righteous standard as distinct from sin’s corrupt exploitation of that standard.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

Cross-references

James 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.
Galatians 3:21 Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.
Romans 7:8 But sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from the law, sin is dead.
Romans 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,
Romans 5:20 The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,