Romans 7:4
What does Romans 7:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 7:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 7:4 means
Here Paul applies the illustration: believers “were made dead to the law through the body of Christ.” Christ’s crucified body is the death by which the law’s condemning claim on us is ended. The purpose is not lawlessness, but union—“that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead.” The believer’s new spouse, so to speak, is the risen Christ. From this union flows a new kind of life: “that we might bring forth fruit unto God.” The goal of redemption is fruitfulness, not mere escape. Joined to the risen Lord, we bear the character and works that please God, something the law by itself could not produce.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949In the same way, my brothers, you were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, even to him who came again from the dead, so that we might give fruit to God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862So that, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of the Christ, for your becoming another's, who out of the dead was raised up, that we might bear fruit to God;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Therefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law, by the body of Christ: that you may belong to another, who is risen again from the dead that we may bring forth fruit to God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890So that, my brethren, ye also have been made dead to the law by the body of the Christ, to be to another, who has been raised up from among [the] dead, in order that we might bear fruit toGod.
Context
Verses 1–3 laid the legal foundation and example; verse 4 delivers the theological point. The death necessary to change our legal standing is Christ’s death, and the new union is with the resurrected Christ. This transition answers how one can be free from the law’s condemnation without dishonoring the law. Verse 5 will look back to our former condition “in the flesh,” showing why fruit for God was impossible then, while verse 6 will describe the new mode of service made possible by this change—“in newness of the spirit,” not “in oldness of the letter.”
v.3So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man.
v.4This passage
v.5For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 62:5
For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee; and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
- Psalms 45:10
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; Forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house:
- Romans 6:2
God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?
- Hosea 2:19
And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in justice, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.
- John 3:29
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, that standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is made full.
- John 15:8
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and so shall ye be my disciples.
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