For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul masterfully uses "spiritual" for the Law and "carnal" for himself, not just to contrast good and bad, but to highlight the Law's divine origin and demands versus his own earthly, sin-bound constitution. The phrase "sold under sin" is particularly striking, implying not an original state of slavery, but a condition of involuntary captivity to sin, as if purchased by an enemy, which points to the tragedy of his situation.
For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is explaining the inability of the law to bring about true righteousness. He contrasts the spiritual nature of God's law with his own fallen, fleshly condition, acknowledging that he is enslaved to sin. This sets the stage for his detailed, and often debated, exploration of the internal struggle between the spirit and the flesh that continues even after conversion.
Paul declares the Law is 'spiritual.' What does that mean, and how does it contrast with our 'carnal' nature?
When Paul says the Law is 'spiritual,' he's highlighting its divine origin and perfect, unearthly standard. It's not about outward actions alone, but the very thoughts and intentions of our hearts.
The Law's Divine Standard:
Our 'Carnal' Nature:
This contrast sets the stage for understanding why the Law, though good, reveals our sin rather than saving us. It’s like trying to use a laser-accurate measuring tool to gauge a warped piece of wood – the tool is perfect, but the material is flawed.
Paul's description of being 'sold under sin' is intense. What does this powerful metaphor reveal about our bondage to sin?
The phrase 'sold under sin' is a vivid metaphor that speaks to a profound sense of enslavement. It’s not that we were born into sin as our rightful condition, but that we have been captured and delivered into its service.
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The Meaning of 'Sold':
The Impact of This Bondage:
Understand the original words
pneumatikos · Greek Adjective
Of or relating to the Holy Spirit; that which is animated, influenced, or characterized by the Spirit of God rather than human nature.
sarkinos · Greek Adjective
The fallen, rebellious human nature prone to sin and corruption; it signifies a state apart from the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
pipraskō · Greek Verb
Used metaphorically to describe the state of being completely under the authority or control of something; in this case, being a slave to the power of sin.
Paul is wrestling with the tension between the perfect, spiritual standard of God's Law and the reality of human weakness and sinfulness. This verse highlights that even under the Mosaic Law, or a renewed understanding of it through Christ, the internal struggle against sin persists. This struggle isn't a sign of the Law's failure, but a testament to the Law's spiritual nature and the deep-seated problem of human corruption.
c. 2000 BC
Abrahamic Covenant Established
God establishes a foundational covenant with Abraham, promising descendants and land, setting the stage for the formation of Israel as a nation under divine law.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus and Law Given at Sinai
The Israelites are delivered from Egyptian slavery. God gives the Law, including the Ten Commandments, through Moses at Mount Sinai, shaping their national and religious identity.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, deporting many Israelites. This event serves as a stark warning about the consequences of disobedience to God's law.
586 BC
Babylonian Exile Begins
The Neo-Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling much of the southern kingdom of Judah. This profound crisis challenges their understanding of God's covenant and law.
c. 539 BC
Return from Exile
Under the Persian Empire, many Judeans return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and their community. This period sees a renewed emphasis on the Law and covenant faithfulness.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry, Death, and Resurrection
Jesus fulfills the Law and inaugurates a new covenant through his sacrificial death and resurrection, offering a way for humanity to be reconciled with God.
c. AD 57-58— this verse
Paul Writes Romans
Paul, imprisoned or under house arrest, writes his letter to the church in Rome. He is deeply engaged in explaining the nature of God's saving work through Jesus Christ and its implications for both Jews and Gentiles, addressing the core tension between divine law and human sinfulness.
This verse describes the initial promise of a Redeemer who would crush the head of the serpent, establishing the foundational conflict between humanity's fallen state and God's redemptive plan that Paul explores in Romans 7.
Psalm 51:5David's confession of being born a sinner ('sinful from the time my mother conceived me') resonates with Paul's declaration of being 'sold under sin,' highlighting the deep-seated nature of sin from birth.
Galatians 5:17This passage directly parallels Paul's struggle in Romans 7, stating that 'the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.'
Colossians 1:13Paul speaks of God rescuing believers from the dominion of darkness and transferring them to the kingdom of His beloved Son, which speaks to the 'being sold under sin' from which deliverance is needed.
1 John 1:8John warns that if we claim to have no sin, we deceive ourselves, acknowledging that even believers can have sin 'dwelling' within them, aligning with Paul's complex description of his own inner conflict.
pulpitRomans 7:14: "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin."
Verse 14. - For we know (we are all already aware of this; we recognize it as a principle; we can surely have no doubt of it; cf Romans 2:2; Romans 3:10) that the Law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. The statement of ver. 12 is here in effect repeated as being one that cannot be gainsaid with respect to the Law, but with use now of the epithet πνευματικός; and this in opposition to myself being…
bengelRomans 7:14: "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin."
Romans 7:14 . Πνευματικός ἐστι , is spiritual ) it requires, that every feeling of man should correspond to the feeling [ i.e. the will] of God; but God is a Spirit.— σαρκικὸς , carnal ) Romans 7:18 .— εἰμὶ , I am ) Paul, after he had compared together the twofold state of believers, the former in the flesh, Romans 7:5 , and the present in the Spirit, Romans 7:6 , proceeds in the next place from the descripti…
Paul masterfully uses "spiritual" for the Law and "carnal" for himself, not just to contrast good and bad, but to highlight the Law's divine origin and demands versus his own earthly, sin-bound constitution. The phrase "sold under sin" is particularly striking, implying not an original state of slavery, but a condition of involuntary captivity to sin, as if purchased by an enemy, which points to the tragedy of his situation.
Paul is explaining the inability of the law to bring about true righteousness. He contrasts the spiritual nature of God's law with his own fallen, fleshly condition, acknowledging that he is enslaved to sin. This sets the stage for his detailed, and often debated, exploration of the internal struggle between the spirit and the flesh that continues even after conversion.
Paul is explaining the inability of the law to bring about true righteousness. He contrasts the spiritual nature of God's law with his own fallen, fleshly condition, acknowledging that he is enslaved to sin. This sets the stage for his detailed, and often debated, exploration of the internal struggle between the spirit and the flesh that continues even after conversion.
"For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin." — Paul masterfully uses "spiritual" for the Law and "carnal" for himself, not just to contrast good and bad, but to highlight the Law's divine origin and demands versus his own earthly, sin-bound const…
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Last reviewed October 2026