Romans 5:13
(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Though sin entered human experience through the act of Adam’s sin (in which the entire human race participated seminally), sin expressed itself repeatedly in people’s actions (cf. Gen. 6:5-7, 11-13) from the point of its entrance “until” (not before, as the niv has it) the Law was given. However, as Paul had already said, “Where there is no Law there is no transgression” (Rom. 4:15). This does not mean that sin does not exist unless there is a Law. It means that sin does not have the character of being a transgression apart from Law and therefore sin is not taken into account (lit., “imputed, reckoned”) as such.
Excerpt from:
Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Below are FB comments on the book of Romans (The Bible Knowledge Commentary):
