Study it in the app“But now we have been released from the law, having died to that in which we were held, so that we serve as slaves in newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.”
Butδὲnowνυνὶwe have been releasedκατηργήθημενfromἀπὸthe law,τοῦ νόμουhaving diedἀποθανόντεςto thatinἐνwhichᾧwe were held,κατειχόμεθαso thatὥστεweἡμᾶςserve as slavesδουλεύεινinἐνnewnessκαινότητιof the Spiritπνεύματοςandκαὶnotοὐin the oldnessπαλαιότητιof the letter.γράμματος
now
"Now", "at this moment"; a stronger form of "now".
Where else “nyni” appearsbe done away
To come to an end, or stop having power over someone.
Where else “katērgēthēmen” appearslaw
The instructions God gave Israel through Moses; also, the whole of Scripture.
Where else “nomou” appearsdie
To stop living: the end of life in the body.
Where else “apothanontes” appearsrestrain
To hold someone back, not let them go on.
Where else “kateichometha” appearsso that
So much that, to the point that.
Where else “hōste” appearsbe a slave
Serve as a slave, be wholly at someone's service.
Where else “douleuein” appearsnewness
Newness: what is new and different.
Where else “kainotēti” appearsSpirit
God himself at work, giving life and dwelling in believers.
Where else “pneumatos” appearsoldness
Oldness: what is old and has passed.
Where else “palaiotēti” appearsletter of law
The law as mere writing, against the Spirit who gives life.
Where else “grammatos” appears“Of the Spirit” can also be understood “of the spirit”; compare 2:29.
5For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were through the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.
6 · This verse (above)
7What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! On the contrary, I did not know sin except through the law; for I would not have known coveting if the law had not said, You shall not covet.
1. What it says
What does Paul say he does and does not do, and how does he feel about it? (vv. 15-19, 24)
2. What it means
Why do you think Paul describes his inner struggle so frankly? What answer does he give at the end? (vv. 21-25)
3. How I live it
Paul admits his inner struggle without hiding it. To whom could you confidently tell a struggle of your own?
