Romans 7:14 – Cherev

Verse 14 Greek Text

7:14Οἴδαμεν γὰρ ὅτι ὁ νόμος πνευματικός ἐστιν, ἐγὼ δὲ σάρκινός εἰμι πεπραμένος ὑπὸ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν.

Verse 14 Sentence Flow

γὰρ - postpositive explanatory conjunction = for
  Οἴδαμεν - PfActInd1P first person plural = we know 
    ὅτι - subordinating conjunction = that
      ἐστιν - PI3S = is
        ὁ νόμος - NNMS, subject = the law
        πνευματικός - ANMS, predicate adjective = spiritual
    δὲ - adversative conjunction = but
      εἰμι - PAI1S = am
        ἐγὼ - N1S = I
        σάρκινός - fleshly (weak, sinful, fallen, grotesquely human)
        πεπραμένος - PfMPtcNMS, attributive participle = sold
          ὑπὸ - preposition of agency + accusative = under
            τὴν ἁμαρτίαν - NAFS, object of the preposition = sin

Verse 14 Translation Rationale

Romans 7:14 begins with a postpositive γὰρ that connects us back to the the context immediately preceding. In the previous context, Paul is defending the Law and making the point that it isn’t the Law that is sinful, it’s sin. Therefore, we know, perfect active indicative first person plural verb, is acting upon the ὅτι clause as its object. We know that the law is spiritual. ὁ νόμος is our nominative masculine singular noun functioning as the subject of the clause, ἐστιν is functioning as the linking verb, and πνευματικός is the predicate adjective modifying ὁ νόμος.

The ὅτι clause is followed by the δὲ adversative conjunction which Paul will use to set up a contrast. “I am fleshly,” says Paul. This word σάρκινός means “being human at a disappointing level of behavior or character.”¹ In essence, σάρκινός points to our fallenness or sinful nature. The part of us that is unable to do what the Law commands. πεπραμένος is an attributive participle in the perfect which is modifying ἐγὼ and means sold. Therefore, “I am sold.” The content of the verbal aspect is supplied in the prepositional phrase ὑπὸ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν. This prepositional phrase is translated “under sin.” ὑπὸ is rendered “under” because it’s followed by an accusative case.

The Greek of Romans 7:14 is not terribly difficult to follow. Paul seems to be using some deliberate slavery language to indicate his plight of being in a sinful nature. Perhaps a useful correlative passage for understanding who sold Paul ὑπὸ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν would be Romans 8:20.

Verse 14 English Translation

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin.

Verse 14 Interpretive Questions

Who did the selling if Paul is “sold” under sin?

References

Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000, 914. ↩︎