Paul's testimony of the law is: "What shall we say then? Is the law sin [the sin is in the man, not in the law]? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me."

Paulus siger om loven: "Skal vi da sige, at loven er synd? Aldeles ikke! Men synden kom jeg først til at kende gennem loven. Begæret vidste jeg ikke af, før loven sagde: " Du må ikke begære! Men med budet fik synden et påskud og vakte al slags begær i mig. For uden lov er synden død. Jeg levede en gang uden lov, men da budet kom, levede synden op og jeg døde. Budet, som skulle have ført til liv, viste sig at blive min død. For med budet fik synden et påskud og forledte mig og dræbte mig med det." (Rom 7,7-11)