What does “the Law” refer to in Romans 8:3?
In Romans 8:3, 'the Law' refers to the Mosaic Law, the Ten Commandments, and the whole sphere of Judaism. It is not the law of gravity or the law of sin and death. The Law was weak through the flesh.
Les explains that in Romans 8:3 the context is not about everyday laws like gravity or the law of sin and death. Rather, Paul is speaking of the Mosaic Law, the Ten Commandments, and can include the whole sphere of Judaism. The Law could not do what needed to be done because it was weak through the flesh. This fits Paul's groundwork in Romans 1-7 on sin, condemnation, and justification, and chapter 8 presents the indwelling Holy Spirit as our law.
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
More Questions
Why was the Law unable to act in Romans 8:3?
In Romans 8:3, Paul says the Law’s weakness through the flesh is why it could not do what was needed.