For sin was in the world before the law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law.
Parallel translations
- WEB For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law.
- KJV (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
- NKJV (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
- NASB for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not counted against anyone when there is no law.
- NLT Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Sin existed before the Mosaic law, though it was not formally charged without law. Sin and its effects predate the giving of the law.
Overview
Paul notes that sin was present in the world from Adam to Moses, even though sin is 'not charged' as transgression where there is no explicit law. His point is that death still reigned in that period, showing sin's deadly presence apart from the law. This supports his argument that humanity's problem stems from Adam, not merely from breaking the Mosaic law.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Rom 4:15because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.
- 1 Cor 15:56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
- 1 Jn 3:4Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.
- Gen 4:7–11If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.”
- Gen 38:7But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death.
- Gen 38:10What he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, so He put Onan to death as well.
- Gen 18:20Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous,
- Gen 13:13But the men of Sodom were wicked, sinning greatly against the LORD.
- Gen 19:4Before they had gone to bed, all the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, surrounded the house.
- Gen 6:11Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and full of violence.
- Gen 6:5–6Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.
- Gen 8:21When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.
- 1 Jn 3:14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.
- Gen 19:32Come, let us get our father drunk with wine so we can sleep with him and preserve his line.”
- Gen 19:36Thus both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father.
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 5:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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