the Week of Proper 20 / Ordinary 25
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King James Version
Romans 7:5
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When we lived however, we wanted according to our sinful desires, the Code showed us how wrong we were and deserving of punishment.
For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.
For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.
For when we were in the flesh, the evil passions which came into being through the law were working in our bodies to give the fruit of death.
For when we were in the flesh the passions of sins, which [were] by the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit to death;
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions operated through the law in every part of us and bore fruit for death.
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law, worked in our members to bring forth fruit to death.
For when we were in the flesh, sinful passions, which were by the law, wrought in our members, so as to bring forth fruit unto death.
For whilst we were under the thraldom of our earthly natures, sinful passions-- made sinful by the Law--were always being aroused to action in our bodily faculties that they might yield fruit to death.
For when wee were in the flesh, the motions of sinnes which were by the law, did worke in our members, to bring foorth fruit vnto death.
For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sin were working in our members through the Law for the bearing of fruit unto death.
For whan we were in the flesh, the synfull lustes (which were stered vp by the lawe) were mightie in oure membres to brynge forth frute vnto death.
for when we were in the carnal state of the law, the sinful passions of that state set our animal faculties to work in the service of death.
When we were living in the flesh [trapped by sin], the sinful passions, which were awakened by [that which] the Law [identifies as sin], were at work in our body to bear fruit for death [since the willingness to sin led to death and separation from God].
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
While we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.
For when we were in the flesshe the lustes of synne which were stered vppe by ye lawe raygned in oure membres to bringe forth frute vnto deeth.
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, worked in our members to bring forth fruit to death.
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 to death:
for when we were in the flesh, the passions of the sins, that [are] through the law, were working in our members, to bear fruit to the death;
In the past, we were ruled by our sinful selves. The law made us want to do sinful things that controlled our bodies, so the things we did were bringing us death.
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful desires, aroused by the law, were active in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.
For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death.
When we thought only of ourselves, the Law made us have sinful desires. It made every part of our bodies into slaves who are doomed to die.
For when we were living according to our old nature, the passions connected with sins worked through the Torah in our various parts, with the result that we bore fruit for death.
For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.
For when we were in ye flesh, the affections of sinnes, which were by the Law, had force in our members, to bring foorth fruit vnto death.
For when we were in the flesh, the wounds of sin, which were by the law, worked in our members to bring forth fruits to death.
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law, worked in our members to bring forth fruit to death.
For while we were living in the flesh, sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodiesmembers">[fn] to bear fruit for death.Romans 6:13,21; Galatians 5:19; James 1:15;">[xr]
For while we were in the flesh, the affections of sin, which are against [fn] the law, wrought powerfully in our members to yield fruits unto death;
For while we were in the flesh, the emotions of sin which are by the law, were active in our members, that we should bear fruits unto death.
When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death.
When we lived to please our bodies, those sinful desires were pulling at us all the time. We always wanted to do what the Law said not to do. Living that kind of life brings death,
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
While we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.
For, when we were in the flesh, the susceptibilities of sins which were through the law, used to be energized in our members unto the bringing forth of fruit unto death;
For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members, to bring forth fruit unto death.
For when we were in the flesh, sinful desires were working through the law in our members, to bear fruit for death.
For when we were in the fleshe, the lustes of sinne whiche were by the lawe wrought in our members, to bring forth fruite vnto death.
In the past we were ruled by our sinful selves. The law made us want to do sinful things. And those sinful desires controlled our bodies, so that what we did only brought us spiritual death.
For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were brought to light by the Law, were at work in the parts of our body to bear fruit for death.
For when we lived according to our human nature, the sinful desires stirred up by the Law were at work in our bodies, and all we did ended in death.
For whanne we weren in fleisch, passiouns of synnes, that weren bi the lawe, wrouyten in oure membris, to bere fruyt to deth.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
in the flesh: Romans 8:8, Romans 8:9, John 3:6, Galatians 5:16, Galatians 5:17, Galatians 5:24, Ephesians 2:3, Ephesians 2:11, Titus 3:3
motions: Gr. passions, Romans 1:26,*Gr.
which: Romans 3:20, Romans 4:15, Romans 5:20, 1 Corinthians 15:56, 2 Corinthians 3:6-9, Galatians 3:10, James 2:9, James 2:10, 1 John 3:4
did work: Romans 7:8-13, Matthew 15:19, Galatians 5:19-21, James 1:15
members: Romans 7:23, Romans 6:13, Romans 6:19, Colossians 3:5, James 4:1
bring: Romans 6:21
Reciprocal: Matthew 6:21 - there Mark 7:21 - out Romans 7:7 - I had Romans 7:18 - in my Romans 8:3 - For what Romans 8:6 - to be carnally minded Romans 8:13 - ye live Galatians 4:21 - ye that Philippians 3:9 - which is of the Colossians 3:7 - General
Cross-References
Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they.
Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he.
Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Gill's Notes on the Bible
For when we were in the flesh,.... This respects not their being under the legal dispensation, the Mosaic economy; which lay greatly in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, such as regarded the flesh chiefly; so their meats and drinks concerned the body; their ablutions and washings sanctified to the purifying of the flesh; their circumcision was outward in the flesh; the several rituals of the law consisted in outward things, though typical of internal and spiritual ones; hence those that trusted in them trusted in the flesh: but to be "in the flesh" stands opposed, Romans 7:8; to a being "in the spirit"; whereas there were many under that legal and carnal dispensation who were in the spirit, and had the Spirit of God, as David and others; besides, the apostle must be thought to use the phrase in such a sense, as to include all the persons he is speaking of and writing to, who were both Jews and Gentiles, for of such the church at Rome consisted; and the sense is this, "for when we", Jews and Gentiles, who are now believers in Christ, "were" formerly, before our conversion to, and faith in Christ, "in the flesh", that is, in a corrupt, carnal, and unregenerate state and condition; in which sense the word "flesh" is frequently used in the next chapter: now not all such who have flesh, sin, or corrupt nature in them, must be reckoned to be in the flesh, for there is a difference between flesh being in persons, from which none are free in this life, and their being in the flesh; nor all such who commit sin, or do carnal things at times, for there is not a just man that doth good and sinneth not; but such who are as they were born, without any alteration made in them by the Spirit and grace of God; who have nothing but flesh in them, no fear of God, nor love to and faith in Christ, nor any experience of the work of the Spirit of God upon their souls; no true sight and sense of sin, nor any spiritual knowledge of salvation by Christ; in whom flesh is the governing principle, whose minds and principles are carnal, and their conversation wholly so; yea, persons may be in the flesh, in an unregenerate state, who may abstain from the grosser immoralities of life, and even make a profession of religion: now such these had been the apostle is speaking of and to, and tells how it was with them when in this state;
the motions of sins which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death: by "the motions of sin" are meant, the evil passions and affections of the mind, the lusts of the heart, sinful desires, evil thoughts, the imaginations of the thoughts of the heart, the first motions of the mind to sin: these "were by the law"; not as the efficient cause of them, that neither produces nor encourages them; it is holy, just, and good, requires truth in the inward parts, and not only forbids the outward acts of sin, but even covetous desires, and lustful thoughts: no, these inward motions of sin arise from a corrupt heart and nature; are encouraged and cherished by the old man that dwells there; and men are enticed by Satan to a compliance with them. Some think that the meaning of the phrase is, that these secret lusts of the heart are made known by the law, as in Romans 7:7, so they are, but not whilst a man is in the flesh, or in an unregenerate state, but when he comes to be wrought upon powerfully by the Spirit of God, who makes use of the law to such a purpose: but the true sense of it is, that these motions of sin are irritated, provoked, and increased, through the law's prohibition of them; which is not to be charged as a fault on the law, but to be imputed to the depravity and corruption of man; who is like to one in a burning fever, very desirous of drink, who the more it is forbid, the more eager is he of it; or like a mighty torrent of water, which rises, rages, flows, and overflows, the more any methods are taken to stop its current; or like a filthy dunghill, which when the sun strikes powerfully on it, it exhales and draws out its filthy stench; which nauseous smell is not to be imputed to the pure rays of the sun, but to the filthiness of the dunghill: these motions of sin are said to "work in our members"; in the members of our bodies, which these sinful affections of the soul make use of to put them into action, and so they bring forth fruit; very evil fruit indeed, for nothing else can be expected from such an evil tree as the corrupt nature of man is: and this fruit is "unto death": deadly fruit, worthy of death, and would issue in eternal death, if grace did not prevent: the rise, beginning, motion, progress, and issue of sin, are most exactly and beautifully described, agreeably to this account here, by the Apostle James, James 1:13.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
For when ... - The illustration in this verse and the following is designed to show more at length the effect of the Law, whenever and whereever applied; whether in a state of nature or of grace. It was always the same. It was the occasion of agitation and conflict in a man’s own mind. This was true when a sinner was under conviction; and it was true when a man was a Christian. In all circumstances where the Law was applied to the corrupt mind of man, it produced this agitation and conflict. Even in the Christian’s mind it produced this agitation Romans 7:14-24, as it had done and would do in the mind of a sinner under conviction Romans 7:7-12, and consequently there was no hope of release but in the delivering and sanctifying power of the gospel Romans 7:25; Romans 8:1-3.
In the flesh - Unconverted; subject to the controlling passions and propensities of a corrupt nature; compare Romans 8:8-9. The connection shows that this must be the meaning here, and the design of this illustration is to show the effect of the Law before a man is converted, Romans 7:5-12. This is the obvious meaning, and all the laws of interpretation require us so to understand it.
The motions of sins - (τα παθήματα ta pathēmata.) This translation is unhappy. The expression “motions of sins” conveys no idea. The original means simply the passions, the evil affections, the corrupt desires; see the margin. The expression, passions of sins, is a Hebraism meaning sinful passions, and refers here to the corrupt propensities and inclinations of the unrenewed heart.
Which were by the law - Not that they were originated or created by the Law; for a law does not originate evil propensities, and a holy law would not cause sinful passions; but they were excited, called up, inflamed by the Law, which forbids their indulgence.
Did work in our members - In our body; that is, in us. Those sinful propensities made use of our members as instruments, to secure gratification; Note, Romans 6:12-13; compare Romans 6:23.
To bring forth fruit unto death - To produce crime, agitation, conflict, distress, and to lead to death. We were brought under the dominion of death; and the consequence of the indulgence of those passions would be fatal; compare the note at Romans 6:21.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Romans 7:5. For, when we were in the flesh — When we were without the Gospel, in our carnal and unregenerated state, though believing in the law of Moses, and performing the rites and offices of our religion.
The motions of sins, which were by the law — τα παθηματα των αμαρτιων, the passions of sins, the evil propensities to sins; to every particular sin there is a propensity: one propensity does not excite to all kinds of sinful acts; hence the apostle uses the plural number, the PASSIONS or propensities of SINS; sins being not more various than their propensities in the unregenerate heart, which excite to them. These παθηματα, propensities, constitute the fallen nature; they are the disease of the heart, the pollution and corruption of the soul.
Did work in our members — The evil propensity acts εντοις μελεσιν, in the whole nervous and muscular system, applying that stimulus to every part which is necessary to excite them to action.
To bring forth fruit unto death. — To produce those acts of transgression which subject the sinner to death, temporal and eternal. When the apostle says, the motion of sin which were by the law, he points out a most striking and invariable characteristic of sin, viz. its rebellious nature; it ever acts against law, and the most powerfully against known law. Because the law requires obedience, therefore it will transgress. The law is equally against evil passions and evil actions, and both these exert themselves against it. So, these motions which were by the law, became roused into the most powerful activity by the prohibitions of the law. They were comparatively dormant till the law said, thou shalt NOT do this, thou shalt DO that; then the rebellious principle in the evil propensity became roused, and acts of transgression and omissions of duty were the immediate consequences.
