John Calvin Commentary Romans 7:13

"Did then that which is good become death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, by working death to me through that which is good; --that through the commandment sin might become exceeding sinful." — Romans 7:13 (ASV)

Has then what is good, etc. He had until now defended the law from slander, but in such a way that it still remained doubtful whether it was the cause of death. Indeed, people’s minds were perplexed on this point—how could it be that nothing but death was gained from such a remarkable gift of God?

He now answers this objection, denying that death proceeds from the law, even though sin brings death on us through the law. And though this answer seems to contradict what he had said before—that he had found the commandment, which was given for life, to be death to him—there is still no contradiction.

He had indeed said previously that it is through our wickedness that the law is turned to our destruction, contrary to its own nature. But here he denies that the law is the cause of death in such a sense that death should be attributed to it. In 2 Corinthians 3, he discusses the law more fully. There he calls it the ministration of death; but he calls it this according to common practice in a debate, representing not the true nature of the law, but the false opinion of his opponents.

But sin, etc. With no intention to offend others, I must state that, in my opinion, this passage ought to be read as I have translated it. The meaning is this—“Sin is, in a way, regarded as just before it is revealed by the law; but when it is made known by the law, then it truly acquires its own name of sin. Consequently, it appears more wicked and, so to speak, more sinful, because it turns the goodness of the law to our destruction by perverting it. For that which makes what is by its own nature beneficial become harmful to us must be very destructive.” The significance of the whole passage is this—it was necessary for the atrocity of sin to be revealed by the law. For unless sin had burst forth into outrageous—or, as they say, enormous—excess, it would not have been recognized as sin; and its enormity appears all the more outrageous when it converts life into death, thus taking away every excuse from it.