Bible Commentary

For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew [me.] 11. For sin, &c.] A reiteration of Rom 7:8, with more detail. The “deception” here is fully illustrated by the history of the Fall. (Cp. carefully Gen 3:4-5.) The Tempter “took occasion by” the prohibition to “deceive” the woman as to … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 7:11”

And the commandment, which [was ordained] to life, I found [to be] unto death. 10. ordained to life ] In the Gr. simply to life. Such was its natural tendency. “This do and thou shall live ” is the statement of a deep and holy sequence. The failure lies not in the commandment but in … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 7:10”

For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 9. For I ] The “I” is emphatic. Through this section, as often elsewhere, Sin is quasi-personified, and distinguished from the Self which nevertheless it fatally infects. It is an alien thing, an invasion, which (at the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 7:9”

But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin [was] dead. 8. But ] This word refers to the statement “I had not known lust;” and this verse explains the action of the law in causing (indirectly) the knowledge of sin. sin ] As a … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 7:8”

What shall we say then? [Is] the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 7 25. The true function of the Divine Law: to detect and condemn sin, both before and after Justification … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 7:7”

But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not [in] the oldness of the letter. 6. now ] as the fact stands. are delivered ] Lit., and better, were delivered; by our Representative’s death ideally, and actually through faith … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 7:6”

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. 5. when we were in the flesh ] For illustration of this important phrase see especially Rom 8:8-9. St Paul here assumes of Christians (1) that they were … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 7:5”

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, [even] to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 4. Wherefore ] The word marks transition from the facts to the spiritual inference. are … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 7:4”

So then if, while [her] husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 3. she shall be called ] The Gr. verb indicates a … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 7:3”

For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to [her] husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of [her] husband. 2. to her husband so long, &c]. Lit. to the living husband. So it should be rendered; q. d., “to … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 7:2”