A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 6

Another statement of sabbath law in Exodus follows:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Exodus 31:12, 13 (Tanakh) Exodus 31:12, 13 (NET) Exodus 31:12, 13 (NETS)

Exodus 31:12, 13 (English Elpenor)

And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying: The Lord (Yehovah, יהוה) said to Moses, And the Lord (κύριος) spoke to Moyses, saying: And the Lord (Κύριος) spoke to Moses, saying,
‘Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying: Verily ye shall keep My sabbaths (שַׁבְּתֹתַ֖י), for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am HaShem (יְהֹוָ֖ה) who sanctify you. “Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep my Sabbaths (shabbath, שבתתי), for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord (Yehovah, יהוה) who sanctifies you. And you, instruct the sons of Israel, saying, “Observe and keep my sabbaths (σάββατά)!  For it is a sign with me and among  you for your generations in order that you may know that I am the Lord (κύριος) who consecrates you. Do thou also charge the children of Israel, saying, Take heed and keep my sabbaths (σάββατά); [for] they are a sign with me and among you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am the Lord (Κύριος) that sanctifies you.

Yehovah (יְהֹוָ֖ה) was explicit about the purpose of the sabbaths He made for people: that you may know that I am the Lord (Yehovah, יהוה) who sanctifies you.[1]  Paul wrote to believers in Colossae (Colossians 2:6-17 NET):

Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord (κύριον, a form of κύριος), continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing[2] with thankfulness.  Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.  For in him all the fullness (πλήρωμα) of deity lives in bodily form, and you have been filled (πεπληρωμένοι, a form of πληρόω) in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.  In him you also were circumcised—not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly[3] body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ.  Having been buried with him in baptism,[4] you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the[5] dead.  And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you[6] alive[7] with him, having forgiven all your transgressions.  He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us.  He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.  Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days (σαββάτων, a form of σάββατον)—these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ [Table]!

The Greek word translated reality above was σῶμα (KJV: body): Christ is the body which cast the shadow.

I rely now on the Holy Spirit and his continuous infusion of God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to quash any impulse to rush out and indulge my favorite sin after reading: He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us.  He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.[8]

It is extremely interesting to me that where the NET described a believer’s circumcision as the removal of the fleshly body because the NA28 proposed τοῦ σώματος τῆς σαρκός as the more original text, the KJV described it as putting off the body of the sins of the flesh because the Stephanus Textus Receptus had του σωματος των αμαρτιων της σαρκος.  Even if των αμαρτιων was added by a scribe, I doubt that Paul would take offense at this amplification.

He wrote to believers in Rome (Romans 6:1-4 NET):

What shall we say then?  Are we to remain[9] in sin so that grace may increase?  Absolutely not!  How can we who died to sin still live in it?  Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life.

The NET translators chose live above for two different Greek words.  In—so we too may live a new life[10]live was περιπατήσωμεν (a form of περιπατέω) in Greek.  And in—How can we who died to sin still live in it?[11]—it was ζήσομεν (a form of ζάω).  I don’t have any particular quarrel with translating περιπατήσωμεν live.  But perhaps ζήσομεν in such close proximity could have been translated something like fester to capture the tone better: How can we who died to sin still fester in it?

What appears to be hung out there as a rhetorical question or lament in Paul’s letter to the Romans was actually answered quite succinctly in his letter to the Galatians: One will continue to fester in sin if one does not live (περιπατεῖτε, another form of περιπατέω) by the Spirit: But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.[12]

The English translation—you will not carry out—is weaker here than the Greek: οὐ μὴ τελέσητε.  The second person plural verb τελέσητε is an aorist subjunctive form of τελέω.  So οὐ μὴ makes this clause a “Subjunctive of Emphatic Negation…the absolute and unequivocal denial of the probability of an event EVER OCCURING at any moment or time in the future.”[13]  So if I ever bring the sinful desires of the flesh to maturity or carry them out, I am not at that moment living by the Spirit.

It’s not a time to debate a point but to recalibrate my senses to become more accustomed and attuned to the Spirit of God (Romans 7:18-20 NET).

For I know that nothing good lives (οἰκεῖ, a form of οἰκέω) in me, that is, in my flesh.  For I want to do the good, but I cannot[14] do it.  For I do not do the good I want, but[15] I do the very evil I do not want!  Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but[16] sin that lives (οἰκοῦσα, another form of οἰκέω) in me.

Paul’s command—κρινέτω, translated doletjudge, is an imperative form of κρίνωdo not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days[17] makes no sense to me on its surface.  I don’t know how to stop religious people from making religious judgments about religious things.  But if I understand κρινέτω here as rule, things begin to fall into place.

I have sinned.  I have lived, walked, been led by the sin that lives in me rather than the Holy Spirit.  That very moment when I need most of all to get back to living, walking, being led by Christ’s Spirit is the very moment religious people descend with their judgments.  Should they refrain my own religious mind jabbers away at me with similar judgments.  If I turn then to live, walk or be led by the judgments of religious people or my own religious mind, I have still not returned to live, walk, be led by the Spirit of God.  I have refused to enter his rest.

The regulations in the law regarding food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days…are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ![18]  A believer must be certain of this.  The sabbath laws continued:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Exodus 31:14, 15 (Tanakh) Exodus 31:14, 15 (NET) Exodus 31:14, 15 (NETS)

Exodus 31:12, 13 (English Elpenor)

Ye shall keep the sabbath (הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת) therefore, for it is holy unto you; every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. So you must keep the Sabbath (shabbath, השבת), for it is holy for you.  Everyone who defiles it must surely be put to death; indeed, if anyone does any work on it, then that person will be cut off from among his people. And you shall keep the sabbaths (σάββατα), because this is holy for you. The one who profanes it shall with death be put to death. Everyone who will do work in it, that soul shall be destroyed from among his people. And ye shall keep the sabbaths (σάββατα), because this is holy to the Lord for you; he that profanes it shall surely be put to death: every one who shall do a work on it, that soul shall be destroyed from the midst of his people.
Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day is a sabbath (שַׁבַּ֧ת) of solemn rest (שַׁבָּת֛וֹן), holy to HaShem; whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath (הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת) day, he shall surely be put to death. Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath (shabbath, שבת) of complete rest (shabbathown, שבתון), holy to the Lord; anyone who does work on the Sabbath (shabbath, השבת) day must surely be put to death. For six days you shall do works, but on the seventh day there is sabbata (σάββατα), a rest (ἀνάπαυσις) holy to the Lord.  Everyone who does work on the seventh day (τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ) shall be put to death. Six days thou shalt do works, but the seventh day is the sabbath (σάββατα), a holy rest (ἀνάπαυσις) to the Lord; every one who shall do a work on the seventh day (τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ) shall be put to death.

A believer bullied by the fear of death into living by these sabbath regulations rather than the Holy Spirit not only exchanges the reality of Christ for a shadow but frustrates the purpose of the sabbath as revealed in the law: that ye may know that I am the Lord that sanctifies (ἁγιάζων, a form of ἁγιάζω) you.[19]  For indeed he who makes holy (ἁγιάζων, a form of ἁγιάζω) and those being made holy (ἁγιαζόμενοι, another form of ἁγιάζω) all have the same origin (ἐξ ἑνὸς πάντες; KJV: are all of one), and so he is not ashamed to call them brothers[20]

Or do you not know, brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law is lord over a person as long as he lives? Paul wrote believers in Rome (Romans 7:1-6 NET):

For a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the marriage.  So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress.  But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she is joined to another man, she is not an adulteress.  So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you could be joined to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God.  For when we were in the flesh, the sinful desires, aroused by the law, were active in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.  But now we have been released from the law, because we have died to what controlled us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit and not under the old written code.

In the Septuagint the Greek word translated rest in the description of the sabbath as a holy rest to the Lord was ἀνάπαυσις.  I’ll conclude this essay with Jesus’ promise of ἀνάπαυσις (Matthew 11:28-30 NET):

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (ἀναπαύσω, a form of ἀναπαύω).  Take my yoke on you and learn from me because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (ἀνάπαυσιν, a form of ἀνάπαυσις) for your souls [Table].  For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.

Tables comparing Exodus 31:12; 31:13; 31:14 and 31:15 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and Exodus 31:12; 31:13; 31:14 and 31:15 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.  Following those are tables comparing Colossians 2:7; 2:11-13; Romans 6:1 and 7:18-20 in the NET and KJV.

Exodus 31:12 (Tanakh)

Exodus 31:12 (KJV)

Exodus 31:12 (NET)

And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, The Lord said to Moses,

Exodus 31:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 31:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων Καὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων

Exodus 31:12 (NETS)

Exodus 31:12 (English Elpenor)

And the Lord spoke to Moyses, saying: And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

Exodus 31:13 (Tanakh)

Exodus 31:13 (KJV)

Exodus 31:13 (NET)

‘Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying: Verily ye shall keep My sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am HaShem who sanctify you. Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. “Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep my Sabbaths, for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.

Exodus 31:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 31:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ σὺ σύνταξον τοῗς υἱοῗς Ισραηλ λέγων ὁρᾶτε καὶ τὰ σάββατά μου φυλάξεσθε σημεῗόν ἐστιν παρ᾽ ἐμοὶ καὶ ἐν ὑμῗν εἰς τὰς γενεὰς ὑμῶν ἵνα γνῶτε ὅτι ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ ἁγιάζων ὑμᾶς καὶ σὺ σύνταξον τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραὴλ λέγων· ὁρᾶτε, καὶ τὰ σάββατά μου φυλάξεσθε· σημεῖόν ἐστι παρ᾿ ἐμοὶ καὶ ἐν ἐμοὶ εἰς τὰς γενεὰς ὑμῶν, ἵνα γνῶτε ὅτι ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ ἁγιάζων ὑμᾶς

Exodus 31:13 (NETS)

Exodus 31:13 (English Elpenor)

And you, instruct the sons of Israel, saying, “Observe and keep my sabbaths!  For it is a sign with me and among  you for your generations in order that you may know that I am the Lord who consecrates you. Do thou also charge the children of Israel, saying, Take heed and keep my sabbaths; [for] they are a sign with me and among you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am the Lord that sanctifies you.

Exodus 31:14 (Tanakh)

Exodus 31:14 (KJV)

Exodus 31:14 (NET)

Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore, for it is holy unto you; every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. So you must keep the Sabbath, for it is holy for you.  Everyone who defiles it must surely be put to death; indeed, if anyone does any work on it, then that person will be cut off from among his people.

Exodus 31:14 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 31:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ φυλάξεσθε τὰ σάββατα ὅτι ἅγιον τοῦτό ἐστιν κυρίου ὑμῗν ὁ βεβηλῶν αὐτὸ θανάτῳ θανατωθήσεται πᾶς ὃς ποιήσει ἐν αὐτῷ ἔργον ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ἐκ μέσου τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ καὶ φυλάξεσθε τὰ σάββατα, ὅτι ἅγιον τοῦτό ἐστι Κυρίῳ ὑμῖν· ὁ βεβηλῶν αὐτὸ θανάτῳ θανατωθήσεται· πᾶς ὃς ποιήσει ἐν αὐτῷ ἔργον, ἐξολοθρευθήσεται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ἐκ μέσου τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ

Exodus 31:14 (NETS)

Exodus 31:14 (English Elpenor)

And you shall keep the sabbaths, because this is holy for you. The one who profanes it shall with death be put to death. Everyone who will do work in it, that soul shall be destroyed from among his people. And ye shall keep the sabbaths, because this is holy to the Lord for you; he that profanes it shall surely be put to death: every one who shall do a work on it, that soul shall be destroyed from the midst of his people.

Exodus 31:15 (Tanakh)

Exodus 31:15 (KJV)

Exodus 31:15 (NET)

Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to HaShem; whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord; anyone who does work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death.

Exodus 31:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 31:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἓξ ἡμέρας ποιήσεις ἔργα τῇ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ σάββατα ἀνάπαυσις ἁγία τῷ κυρίῳ πᾶς ὃς ποιήσει ἔργον τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ θανάτῳ θανατωθήσεται ἓξ ἡμέρας ποιήσεις ἔργα, τῇ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ σάββατα, ἀνάπαυσις ἁγία τῷ Κυρίῳ· πᾶς ὃς ποιήσει ἔργον τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ, θανατωθήσεται

Exodus 31:15 (NETS)

Exodus 31:15 (English Elpenor)

For six days you shall do works, but on the seventh day there is sabbata, a rest holy to the Lord.  Everyone who does work on the seventh day shall be put to death. Six days thou shalt do works, but the seventh day is the sabbath, a holy rest to the Lord; every one who shall do a work on the seventh day shall be put to death.

Colossians 2:7 (NET)

Colossians 2:7 (KJV)

rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἐρριζωμένοι καὶ ἐποικοδομούμενοι ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ βεβαιούμενοι τῇ πίστει καθὼς ἐδιδάχθητε, περισσεύοντες  ἐν εὐχαριστίᾳ ερριζωμενοι και εποικοδομουμενοι εν αυτω και βεβαιουμενοι εν τη πιστει καθως εδιδαχθητε περισσευοντες εν αυτη εν ευχαριστια ερριζωμενοι και εποικοδομουμενοι εν αυτω και βεβαιουμενοι εν τη πιστει καθως εδιδαχθητε περισσευοντες εν αυτη εν ευχαριστια

Colossians 2:11-13 (NET)

Colossians 2:11-13 (KJV)

In him you also were circumcised—not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Ἐν ᾧ καὶ περιετμήθητε περιτομῇ ἀχειροποιήτῳ ἐν τῇ ἀπεκδύσει τοῦ σώματος τῆς σαρκός, ἐν τῇ περιτομῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ εν ω και περιετμηθητε περιτομη αχειροποιητω εν τη απεκδυσει του σωματος των αμαρτιων της σαρκος εν τη περιτομη του χριστου εν ω και περιετμηθητε περιτομη αχειροποιητω εν τη απεκδυσει του σωματος των αμαρτιων της σαρκος εν τη περιτομη του χριστου
Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

συνταφέντες αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ |βαπτισμῷ|, ἐν ᾧ καὶ συνηγέρθητε διὰ τῆς πίστεως τῆς ἐνεργείας τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ἐγείραντος αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν συνταφεντες αυτω εν τω βαπτισματι εν ω και συνηγερθητε δια της πιστεως της ενεργειας του θεου του εγειραντος αυτον εκ των νεκρων συνταφεντες αυτω εν τω βαπτισματι εν ω και συνηγερθητε δια της πιστεως της ενεργειας του θεου του εγειραντος αυτον εκ των νεκρων
And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

καὶ ὑμᾶς νεκροὺς ὄντας [ἐν] τοῖς παραπτώμασιν καὶ τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν, συνεζωοποίησεν ὑμᾶς σὺν αὐτῷ, χαρισάμενος ἡμῖν πάντα τὰ παραπτώματα. και υμας νεκρους οντας εν τοις παραπτωμασιν και τη ακροβυστια της σαρκος υμων συνεζωποιησεν συν αυτω χαρισαμενος ημιν παντα τα παραπτωματα και υμας νεκρους οντας εν τοις παραπτωμασιν και τη ακροβυστια της σαρκος υμων συνεζωοποιησεν υμας συν αυτω χαρισαμενος ημιν παντα τα παραπτωματα

Romans 6:1 (NET)

Romans 6:1 (KJV)

What shall we say then?  Are we to remain in sin so that grace may increase? What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν; ἐπιμένωμεν τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ, ἵνα ἡ χάρις πλεονάσῃ τι ουν ερουμεν επιμενουμεν τη αμαρτια ινα η χαρις πλεοναση τι ουν ερουμεν επιμενομεν τη αμαρτια ινα η χαρις πλεοναση

Romans 7:18-20 (NET)

Romans 7:18-20 (KJV)

For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh.  For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Οἶδα γὰρ ὅτι οὐκ οἰκεῖ ἐν ἐμοί, τοῦτ᾿ ἔστιν ἐν τῇ σαρκί μου, ἀγαθόν· τὸ γὰρ θέλειν παράκειται μοι, τὸ δὲ κατεργάζεσθαι τὸ καλὸν οὔ οιδα γαρ οτι ουκ οικει εν εμοι τουτ εστιν εν τη σαρκι μου αγαθον το γαρ θελειν παρακειται μοι το δε κατεργαζεσθαι το καλον ουχ ευρισκω οιδα γαρ οτι ουκ οικει εν εμοι τουτ εστιν εν τη σαρκι μου αγαθον το γαρ θελειν παρακειται μοι το δε κατεργαζεσθαι το καλον ουχ ευρισκω
For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want! For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

οὐ γὰρ ὃ θέλω ποιῶ ἀγαθόν, ἀλλὰ ὃ οὐ θέλω κακὸν τοῦτο πράσσω ου γαρ ο θελω ποιω αγαθον αλλ ο ου θελω κακον τουτο πρασσω ου γαρ ο θελω ποιω αγαθον αλλ ο ου θελω κακον τουτο πρασσω
Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

εἰ δὲ ὃ οὐ θέλω [ἐγὼ] τοῦτο ποιῶ, οὐκέτι ἐγὼ κατεργάζομαι αὐτὸ ἀλλὰ ἡ οἰκοῦσα ἐν ἐμοὶ ἁμαρτία ει δε ο ου θελω εγω τουτο ποιω ουκετι εγω κατεργαζομαι αυτο αλλ η οικουσα εν εμοι αμαρτια ει δε ο ου θελω εγω τουτο ποιω ουκετι εγω κατεργαζομαι αυτο αλλ η οικουσα εν εμοι αμαρτια

[1] Exodus 31:13b (NET)

[2] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εν αυτη (KJV: therein) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[3] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had των αμαρτιων (KJV: of the sins) between the body and the flesh.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[4] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had βαπτισμῷ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had βαπτισματι.

[5] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article των here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[6] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had ὑμᾶς here.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

[7] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had συνεζωοποίησεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had συνεζωποιησεν (KJV: hath he quickened).

[8] Colossians 2:14 (NET)

[9] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐπιμένωμεν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had επιμενουμεν (KJV: Shall we continue) and the Byzantine Majority Text had επιμενομεν.

[10] Romans 6:4b (NET)

[11] Romans 6:2b (NET)

[12] Galatians 5:16 (NET)

[13] Justin Alfred, “EMPHATIC NEGATIONS IN BIBLICAL GREEK,” BLB Blog

[14] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οὔ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουχ ευρισκω (KJV: I find not).

[15] The NET parallel Greek text had ἀλλὰ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA28 had ἀλλ’.

[16] The NET parallel Greek text had ἀλλὰ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus, Byzantine Majority Text and NA28 had ἀλλ’.

[17] Colossians 2:16 (NET)

[18] Colossians 2:16-17 (NET)

[19] Exodus 31:13 (English Elpenor)

[20] Hebrews 2:11 (NET)

Romans, Part 28

Did that which is good, then, become death (θάνατος) to me?1 Paul continued.  It is a reasonable question considering that the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good,2 and that Paul found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life brought death (θάνατον, a form of θάνατος)!3 Absolutely not! Paul continued.  But sin, so that it would be shown to be sin, produced death (θάνατον, a form of θάνατος) in me through what is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.4

Again, I think sin personified here is Paul’s way of referring to the old man crucified with Christ.  But finally I have come to the place where Paul, by expressing the inner confusion of this house divided, one born of the flesh and of the Spirit, actually clarified the situation.

For we know that the law is spiritual – but I (ἐγὼ) am unspiritual (σάρκινος), sold into slavery to sin.5  It is difficult to hear Paul call himself unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin.  After all, what does that mean for someone like me?  But Paul was describing himself as a man deceived and seized by a fit of coveting, sin [old man], seizing the opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of wrong desires.6  In the beginning this old man (sin personified) was perceived by Paul as I (ἐγὼ), I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin. [Addendum 4/27/2024: Now I suspect this was the wishful thinking of my religious mind.]

For I don’t understand (γινώσκω) what I am doing.  For I do not do what I want (θέλω)– instead, I do what I hate.  But if I do what I don’t want (θέλω), I agree that the law is good.7  If Paul had not been a house divided, born only of the flesh of Adam, there would have been none of this confusion.  And I think the resolution goes something like this: For I [new man or woman] don’t understand what I [old man] am doing.  For I [old man] do not do what I [new man or woman] want – instead, I [old man] do what I [new man or woman] hate.  But if I [old man] do what I [new man or woman] don’t want, I [new man or woman] agree that the law is good.

Here is the first recognition, if you will, of the new I wanting, desiring, willing, something different than the old I.  With that, and beyond that, came the recognition of a possible new identity.  But now it is no longer me [new man or woman] doing it, but sin [old man] that lives in me.8 And just in case I missed it, Paul went on to elaborate this distinction.

For I [new man or woman] know (Οἶδα, a form of εἴδω; i.e., know by seeing) that nothing good lives in me [old man], that is, in my flesh (σαρκί, a form of σάρξ). For I [new man or woman] want (θέλειν, a form of θέλω) to do the good, but I [new man or woman] cannot do it.  For I [old man] do not do the good I [new man or woman] want (θέλω), but I [old man] do the very evil I [new man or woman] do not want (θέλω)!  Now if I [old man] do what I [new man or woman] do not want (θέλω), it is no longer me [new man or woman] doing it but sin [old man] that lives in me.9

And so the law is the measure by which to distinguish one I from the other, the old from the new.  The law excites the old I to rebellion and sin, while it is the earnest hope, desire and plea of the new I, though the power to fulfill that desire may seem overwhelmingly lacking.

So, I [new man or woman] find the law that when I [new man or woman] want (θέλοντι, another form of θέλω) to do good, evil [old man] is present with me [new man or woman].  For I [new man or woman] delight in the law of God in my [new man or woman] inner being.  But I [new man or woman] see a different law in my [new man or woman] members waging war against the law of my [new man or woman] mind and making me [old man] captive to the law of sin that is in my [new man or woman] members [Table].  Wretched man that I [old man] am!  Who will rescue me [new man or woman] from this body (σώματος, a form of σῶμα) of death (θανάτου, another form of θάνατος) [old man]?10

I admit that some of my designations in the preceding passage of the “new man or woman” may be arguable.  I believe, however, that through faith I, the new man or woman, lay claim to more and more of my mind and my members.  And I think that is the insight behind Paul’s gratitude, Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!11 as he self-identified as the new man, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh (σαρκὶ, a form of σάρξ) I serve the law of sin.12

The NET translators acknowledged that they added the second “I serve” for “clarity” (note 28).  But this is not like verse 17, in my flesh (ἐν τῇ σαρκί μου, literally “in this flesh of mine”).  It is simply “but this flesh” (τῇ δὲ σαρκὶ).  I think Paul’s point is better served by the NKJV translation, So then, with the mind I myself (αὐτὸς ἐγὼserve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin,13 where the double emphasis of I myself is clearly distinguished from the flesh.


1 Romans 7:13a (NET) Table

2 Romans 7:12 (NET)

3 Romans 7:10 (NET)

4 Romans 7:13b (NET) Table

5 Romans 7:14 (NET) Table

6 Romans 7:8 (NET)

7 Romans 7:15, 16 (NET)

8 Romans 7:17 (NET) Table

9 Romans 7:18-20 (NET) Table

10 Romans 7:21-24 (NET)

11 Romans 7:25a (NET) Table

12 Romans 7:25b (NET) Table

13 Romans 7:25b (NKJV) Table