(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Sin was indeed present in the world before Torah was given, but sin is not counted as such when there is no Torah.
For sin was in the world before the law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law.
for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Romans 5:13 (KJV)
"For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law."
Context
This verse appears within Paul's detailed explanation in Romans chapter 5 about how sin and death entered the world through Adam, and how righteousness and life come through Jesus Christ. Paul has just stated in Romans 5:12 that sin entered the world through one man and death through sin. Verse 13 functions as a parenthetical clarification regarding the period between Adam and Moses, before the Mosaic Law was formally given. Paul addresses the potential question of how sin operated and was accounted for during that specific time.
Key Themes
- Sin's Presence Before the Law: The verse clearly states that "sin was in the world" during the time before the Law given at Mount Sinai. This emphasizes that humanity's fallen nature and capacity for sinful acts existed even without a specific codified law like the Mosaic covenant.
- The Role of the Law in Imputation: While sin was present, the verse adds that "sin is not imputed when there is no law." This indicates that the giving of the Law changed the way sin was accounted for or reckoned by God. The Law provided clear commandments, making transgressions specific and definable acts of rebellion against a known standard.
- Distinction Between Sin and Transgression: This verse, alongside verse 14, implies a distinction between sin (the principle or condition) and transgression (the breaking of a specific, known commandment). While sin was universally present and led to death, the Law made it possible to identify and impute specific transgressions.
Linguistic Insights
The word translated "imputed" is the Greek term logizomai (λογίζομαι). This term is an accounting or reckoning word, meaning to count, calculate, or credit/charge something to an account. In this context, it suggests that while sin's effect (death) was present before the Law, the specific accounting or charging of sin as a violation of a clear, divine command began with the Law. This doesn't mean people weren't held accountable in any sense before the Law, but the nature of that accountability changed.
Reflection & Application
Romans 5:13 helps us understand the historical development of God's relationship with humanity and the specific purpose of the Mosaic Law. The Law wasn't given to create sin, but to reveal sin's true nature and extent (Romans 7:7). By showing humanity's inability to keep the Law, it highlighted the need for a different kind of righteousness—one that comes not by works of the law but through faith in Christ. This verse underscores that sin is a deep-seated problem of human nature, not just a matter of breaking rules, and it points towards the grace offered through Christ as the ultimate solution to both the presence and the imputation of sin. Understanding this distinction deepens our appreciation for the gospel.