In Romans 7, "sin" (singular) refers to the old Adamic sin nature, while "sins" (plural) are the sinful acts that this nature produces.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul's singular "sin" throughout Romans points to 'old Adam'—the inherited fallen nature that is the fountainhead and production center of wrongdoing. The plural "sins" are the fruit, the results, and the activities that old Adam produces in daily behavior. Keeping the two distinct is essential to following Paul's argument in Romans 7.
Romans 7:5 — Paul uses "sins" in the plural for the motions/deeds that were at work while believers were in the flesh.
Romans 7:8 — Paul switches to "sin" in the singular as the inward principle that takes occasion by the commandment.
Romans 7:5 says, "For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death." Here the word is plural: "sins." In Romans 7:8 Paul writes, "But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead." The singular form treats "sin" as an inner principle that the law awakens. Then Romans 7:21 shows the resulting inward conflict: "I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me." The grammar of the passage itself distinguishes plural acts (sins) from a singular working principle (sin).
Les Feldick consistently teaches that in Romans the singular "sin" is "old Adam"—the Adamic, sinful nature we are born with. It is the fountainhead, the factory, and the production center of every wrong thing we do. The plural "sins" are the acts and results that old Adam promotes in our members. He illustrates it with a whiskey still: the still is the producer, but what it produces is what bends the mind; old Adam is the producer of "sins." At Romans 7:21, Les points out that our problem is not the individual sins but the production center behind them—old Adam. He insists that readers keep this distinction straight in order to understand Romans.
Les Feldick explains that the singular "sin" in Romans is the old Adamic nature—the fallen nature inherited from Adam. It is why Paul says at Romans 5:12 that "by one man sin entered into the world." Les calls it the fountainhead and the factory within us. It is not an individual act like theft or adultery; it is the nature that is present from birth.
According to Les, the plural "sins" are the results of the Adamic nature. They are the acts old Adam causes a person to do. In his whiskey-still illustration, old Adam is the still and "sins" are the liquor it produces. The fruit of old Adam is "sins"—the activities prompted by that fallen nature.
Les Feldick applies the distinction in Romans 7:21, where Paul writes about a law that evil is present when he wants to do good. Les says the problem is not the individual sins we do; the problem is the production center of those thoughts and sins—old Adam. Understanding that the singular "sin" is a nature and the plural "sins" are its fruit helps a reader make sense of Paul's argument about the law and the flesh.
Why the Law Can't Save You — Romans 7:5-14 Explained
Hello, and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Old Adam as the Fountainhead
Les explains that singular "sin" in Romans is old Adam—the Adamic sin nature—and that the fruit of old Adam is the plural "sins," the things we do.
Sin Is the Old Nature
Les teaches that singular "sin" is the old Adamic nature we are born with, and old Adam produces the plural "sins." He urges keeping the two separated when studying Scripture.
Sin as the Factory Within
Les calls singular "sin" the factory within us and the fallen nature inherited from Adam, while "sins" are the acts promoted by old Adam.
Whiskey Still Analogy
Using the old whiskey still, Les pictures old Adam as the producer and "sins" as what it produces—the activities that pervert the mind.
Sin vs. Sins in Context
Les summarizes the rule: singular "sin" usually refers to old Adam, while "sins" are the things old Adam causes us to do.
Sin Is Not an Act
Les clarifies that singular "sin" in Romans is not the act of sin, such as theft or adultery, but the old sin nature we are born with.
The Production Center in Romans 7:21
Les applies the distinction directly to Romans 7:21, saying the problem is not the sins but the production center of those thoughts and sins—old Adam.
Romans 7:5: For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
This verse uses the plural "sins" for the motions and deeds that acted in the members while under the law.
Romans 7:8: But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
Here the singular "sin" is treated as an inward principle that uses the commandment as an occasion.
Romans 7:21: I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
This verse describes the inner conflict, which Les uses to point to the production center behind the deeds.
Romans 5:12: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
It shows singular "sin" entering through Adam, the basis for the fallen nature.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Paul uses "sin" in the singular as the ruling power that the believer is no longer under.
In Romans, the singular "sin" refers to the old Adamic nature—the fallen nature we inherit from Adam. It is the fountainhead, the factory, and the production center of wrong behavior, not an individual act such as theft or adultery.
The plural "sins" are the acts and results that old Adam produces. They are the things a person does that are prompted by the old sin nature. Les uses a whiskey-still illustration: old Adam is the still, and "sins" are what it produces.
Yes. Romans 7:5 uses the plural "sins" for the motions that work in the members, while Romans 7:8 uses the singular "sin" as the principle that takes occasion by the commandment. Les Feldick teaches this same distinction throughout Romans: sin is the nature, sins are its fruit.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Law Can't Save You — Romans 7:5-14 Explained