Romans 7:1

"Those who know law"-the article "the" before "law" is absent in the Greek text-were Paul’s Roman readers. They lived in the capital of the empire where officials debated, enacted, and enforced laws. They of all people were very familiar with law and legal matters. But it is the acquaintance of these Roman believers with Old Testament law that is probably Paul’s point. [Note: Cranfield, 1:333.]

The Romans would not have argued with Paul that law has authority only over living people. We can anticipate where Paul would go with his argument since he earlier explained the believer’s death with Christ. Since we have died with Christ law has no authority over us (cf. Romans 6:14).