Did that which is good, then, become death to me? No way! But sin, that it might appear sinful, was producing death in me through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin might become exceedingly sinful.
Truth to Learn
The Law reveals our sinfulness to the fullest extent.
Behind the Words
The word translated “appear” is phainō, which is from the noun phos, meaning “to shine” or “to make apparent.” Phainō means “to illuminate,” “to become visibly apparent,” or “to reveal.”
“Producing” is from katergadzomai, which we saw back in verse eight means, “to carry out a task until it is completely finished.” It is expressed in this verse as a participle, so it could be translated, “was completely accomplishing in me.”
The word “exceedingly” is from huperbolē, which is made up of huper (or hyper), meaning “above” and a form of ballō, meaning “to throw.” So it literally means “to throw above” or “to throw beyond.” Metaphorically, it means “to surpass” or “to be excessive.” From this we get our English word hyperbole, meaning “an extravagant exaggeration.”
Meaning Explained
Anticipating another objection, Paul now asks another of his rhetorical questions. The objection is this, “Is it possible that what is admitted to be good and pure (the law), might be changed into evil?” Paul’s response to his rhetorical question is the now familiar, me genoito, meaning “May it not be!” or “No way!”
This next sentence is very confusing to read in most translations. Let me take the liberty of making a couple of minor alterations to the translation so that it might appear to us more clearly what Paul is saying:
But sin, so that it might be made apparent as sin, is completely accomplishing death in me through that which is good (the law); so that sin might become exceedingly sinful, and this because of the commandment.
Do you see what Paul is saying? The law has not become death to us, but it has caused sin to be revealed as it truly is, very sinful, and it is the sin which causes death.
There was a comedian some years back by the name of Flip Wilson whose most famous line was, “The devil made me do it!” Well, if Flip had been around in Paul’s day he probably would have said, “The Law made me do it!” That is precisely what Paul is arguing against. The law does not make us sin, but it does cause sin to be exposed for what it really is so that we are without any excuse whatsoever.
So we can’t blame the law for our sinfulness. We have to take full responsibility for our own sin. Then we return to 1 John 1:9. Do you remember what that verse says?
Application
It is relatively easy for each of us to excuse our own sinfulness for a variety of reasons. But the Law makes our sinfulness so apparent that we no longer have any grounds for denying it. Recognizing and admitting our own sinfulness is the first step in recognizing our need for salvation from the penalty of sin.
Praise be to God for His mercy and His grace!
In God's service, for His glory,
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