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1 Or do you not know, brothers (for I speak to those knowing the law), that the law rules over a man as long as he lives?
2 For the woman who is under a man has been bound by law to the living husband. But if the husband should die, she is released from the law of the husband.
3 So then, while the husband is living, she will be called an adulteress if she becomes [married] to a different husband; but if her husband should die, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress, having become [married] to a different husband.
4 Therefore, my brothers, you also were put to death to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, so that we might bear fruit to God.
5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions aroused through the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.
6 But now we were released from the law, having died in [that] to which we were held fast, so that we should serve as slaves in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known lust unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."
8 But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me every kind of lust. For apart from the law sin [was] dead.
9 For I was alive apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, but I died.
10 And the commandment, which [was] to [bring] life, I found to [bring] death.
11 For sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, deceived me, and by it, killed me.
12 Therefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy and righteous and good.
13 Then has that which is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through that which is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, having been sold under sin.
15 For what I am doing, I do not know. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, this I do.
16 But if I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that [it is] good.
17 But now [it is] no longer I [who] am doing it, but the sin dwelling in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but [how] to do the good, I do not find.
19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, this I practice.
20 But if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I [who] am doing it, but the sin dwelling in me.
21 Therefore I find this law, that [when] I wish to do the right [thing], that evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.
23 But I see a different law in my members, waging war with the law of my mind, and capturing me by the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this body of death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself with the mind serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC)
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC) is a modern translation of the Bible that strives to offer a clear and faithful rendering of the scriptures in contemporary language. This translation is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing an easy-to-read yet accurate version of the biblical text. The ABC translation aims to bridge the gap between the ancient languages in which the Bible was originally written and the modern vernacular, making it an ideal choice for both personal study and public reading.
One of the notable features of the Apostles’ Bible Complete is its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the original manuscripts. The translators of the ABC worked meticulously with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to ensure that their translation accurately reflects the original meaning and intent of the scriptures. By employing a balance of formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation techniques, the ABC aims to preserve the nuances and richness of the original languages while ensuring readability and clarity for modern readers.
The ABC also incorporates extensive cross-references and study aids to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These tools include footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, as well as explanations of difficult or ambiguous passages. This approach helps readers to grasp the deeper meanings of the scriptures and to see how different parts of the Bible interconnect. The inclusion of these study aids makes the ABC particularly useful for those who are new to the Bible, as well as for more experienced readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the Apostles’ Bible Complete has faced some criticisms. Some readers feel that the translation could benefit from further refinement in certain passages, as the balance between formal and dynamic equivalence can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in style and tone. Others have noted that while the study aids are helpful, they can occasionally overwhelm the main text, making it difficult to focus on the scripture itself. Nonetheless, the ABC remains a valuable and respected translation, appreciated for its commitment to accuracy, clarity, and accessibility, and for its ability to bring the ancient words of the Bible to life for contemporary readers.