Romans 7:5

For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses believers in Rome, explaining the transition from the old covenant to the new. He contrasts the former life bound to the law with the present life released through Christ's death.

The words — παθηματα (pathēmata) translates literally as passions or strong emotional impulses. The conjunction ὅτε (hote) marks a specific past timeframe, anchoring the statement to a completed era of human existence.

The thread — The passage echoes Ephesians 2:3, which describes living while fulfilling the cravings of the flesh. It also parallels Galatians 5:16 and Galatians 5:24, which contrast walking by the Spirit with crucifying fleshly desires.

Why it lands — The text states that under the law, human nature produces actions that lead to destruction. It requires the reader to recognize that moral effort under the old system cannot yield life and must be abandoned for the Spirit's work.

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

For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

Cross-references

Ephesians 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.
Galatians 5:16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 3:10 All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
Romans 6:13 Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.
Romans 6:21 What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.
Romans 7:7 What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
1 John 3:4 Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.