What does 'law' mean when it refers to a fact of everyday living rather than a commandment?
When 'law' refers to a fact of everyday living, it means an established principle or absolute regularity, not a commandment. Like the law of gravity or buoyancy, it describes how things consistently work. In this context, the law of the Spirit of life and the law of sin and death are such operative facts.
Les explains that the word "law" must always be determined by its context. Sometimes it is used as simply a fact of everyday living, such as the Law of Gravity: what is up is going to fall down. He also cites the Law of Buoyancy, an absolute law no man can change, though ships are built by applying it. In Romans 8:2, the same sense applies: the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the Law of Sin and Death, which was another established fundamental absolute operating every day.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
More Questions
How do you know which 'law' the Bible is talking about when it uses the word law?
The word 'law' must always be defined by its context so you can determine which law is being talked about.
How do you know what Paul means by 'law' in Romans 8:2?
When Paul uses the word 'law', you must use the context to determine which law he means, because sometimes the word 'law' refers simply to a fact of everyday living rather than to a written legal code.
How should the word 'law' be interpreted in Romans 8:2?
When studying the word 'law' in Romans 8:2, you must decide from the context what kind of 'law' is meant, because sometimes the word refers to a simple fact of everyday life, like the law of gravity.