Bible Commentaries
Romans 7

Verse 1

Know ye not . See Romans 6:3 .

speak . App-121 .

know . App-132 .

the . Omit.

law . Greek. nomas . Occurs over 190 times, of which about two-thirds are in Paul's Epistles, the greater number being in Romans and 31 in Galatians. There are 23 in this chapter.

dominion over . See Romans 6:9 , Romans 6:14 .

a = the.

man . Greek. anthropos. App-123 . The general term, meaning either man or woman.

as long = for ( App-104 .) such time (Greek. chronos) .

Verse 2

which hath, &c . Greek. hupandros. Only here.

husband . App-123 .

so long, &c. Literally while living.

if . App-118 .

be dead = should have died.

loosed = free. Greek. katargeo. See Romans 3:3 .

from . App-104 .

he = the.

Verse 3

be married to . Literally become for.

another . App-124 .

man . App-123 .

be called . Greek. chrematizo. See Luke 2:26 .

that = the.

no = not ( App-105 ) an This is an illustration of the fact that death breaks all bonds; husband and wife, master and servant.

Verse 4

are become dead = were put to death. Greek. thanatoo. See Matthew 10:21 .Mark 13:12 . 2Co 6:9 . 1 Peter 3:18 .

the law . Compare Romans 2:12-14 .

by . App-104 .Romans 7:1 .

the body : i.e. the crucified body, not the body of Christ mystical (Ephesians 1:23 ).

Christ . App-98 .

that = to the end ( App-104 .) that.

raised . App-178 .:4.

from the dead . Greek. ek nekron . App-139 .

that = in order that. Greek. hina.

should = may.

unto = to.

God . App-98 . No analogy here with the persons in the illustration. There the husband is dead. The law is not dead. But we have died to its claims. See Romans 3:19 ; Romans 6:14 .Galatians 1:3 , Galatians 1:23 , Galatians 1:24 .

Verse 5

in the flesh . Compare Romans 1:3 ; Romans 2:28 ; Romans 8:8 , Romans 8:9 .

motions of sins = sinful passions (emphasis on "sinful"). Figure of speech Antimereia, App-6 .

motions . Greek. pathema. Usually translated sufferings, afflictions. See Romans 8:18 . 2 Corinthians 1:5 , 2 Corinthians 1:6 , 2 Corinthians 1:7 . Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:24 .Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:10 . Colossians 1:24 . 2 Timothy 3:11 .Hebrews 2:9 , Hebrews 2:10 ; Heb 10:32 . 1 Peter 1:11 ; 1 Peter 4:13 ; 1Pe 5:1 , 1 Peter 5:9 .

sins . App-128 .

were = were (called out).

the law . i.e. the Mosaic Law.

to . Greek. eis . App-104 .

Verse 6

delivered . Greek. katargeo. See Romans 7:2 .

that . . . held = having died (to that) in which we were held.

wherein = in ( App-104 .) which.

that = so that.

serve . App-190 . Compare Romans 6:6 .

newness . See Romans 6:4 .

spirit . App-101 .

not . App-105 .

oldness . Greek. palaiotes. Only here. We now serve, not, as in our old nature, the letter of the Law, but, following the new nature, on a new and different principle. Compare Romans 2:29 . 2 Corinthians 3:6 .

Verse 7

What, &c . See Romans 3:5 .

God forbid . See Romans 3:4 .

known . App-132 .

but . Literally if ( App-118 ) not ( App-105 ).

known = recognized (it as). App-132 .

lust = desire, i.e. of the old nature. See John 8:44 .

except . Same as "but".

covet . Greek. epithumeo. Quoted here and Romans 13:9 from the Septuagint of Exodus 20:17 . The word is used of any strong desire, and applies to the desires of the new nature as well as to those of the old. Compare Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:17 .

Verse 8

occasions opportunity . Greek. aphorme . Here, Rom 7:11 ; 2 Corinthians 5:12 ; 2 Corinthians 11:12 .Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:13 . 1 Timothy 5:14 .

wrought = worked out. Greek. katergazomai ; See Romans 1:27 .

concupiscence . Same as "lust", Romans 7:7 .

without = apart from. Greek. choris .

was = is.

dead . App-139 .

Verse 9

came . App-106 .

revived . Greek. anazao. Here, Romans 14:9 . Luke 15:24 , Luke 15:32 .Revelation 20:5 .

Verse 10

to, unto . App-104 .

life . App-170 .

I found = was itself found by me.

Verse 11

deceived . Greek. exapatao. Here, Romans 16:18 . 1Co 3:18 . 2 Corinthians 11:3 . 2 Thessalonians 2:3 .

Verse 12

the law = the law indeed (Greek. men. Omitted by Authorized Version and Revised Version.)

just = righteous. App-191 .

Verse 13

Was . . . made . Did, then, that which is good become.

But = Nay!

appear = be seen to be. App-106 .

working = working out. See Romans 1:27 .

in . Dative case. No preposition.

exceeding . Greek. kath ' ( App-104 ) huperbolen .

sinful . Greek. hamartolos. So translated in Mark 8:38 . Luke 5:8 ; Luke 24:7 . Elsewhere, "sinner". Compare App-128 .

Verse 14

spiritual. See Romans 1:11 .

carnal . Greek. sarkikos, according to the Received Text ( App-94 ), but the Critical Texts read sarkinos (compare 2 Corinthians 3:3 ).

under . App-104 .

Verse 15

do . Same as work, verses: Romans 8:13 .

allow = approve. The same as know, verses: Romans 7:1 ; Rom 7:-7 .

what, &c . = not what I wish, this I practice.

would . App-102 . 1, Note the use of thelo , on the fight side, seven times in verses: Romans 7:15-21 .

that . . . not = this do I practice (Greek. prasso . See 2 John 1:5; 2 John 1:52 John 1:5 :29 ).

that do I = this I do (Greek. poieo) . There are three Greek. words in this verse for "do". The first is katergazomai, work out, in verses: Romans 8:13 , Romans 8:15 , Romans 8:17 , Romans 8:18 , Romans 8:20 . The second is prasso , practice, in verses: Romans 15:19 , and the third poieo , do, in verses: Romans 15:16 , Romans 15:19 , Romans 15:20 , Romans 15:21 ,

Verse 16

If . . . not = But if what I do not wish, this I do.

If . App-118 .

consent . Greek. sumphemi. Only here.

Verse 17

Now then = But now.

no more = no longer. Greek. ouketi.

sin . . . me = the indwelling sin ( App-128 .)

dwelleth . Greek. oikeo . Here, verses: Rom 18:20 ; Romans 8:9 , Rom 8:11 -. 1 Corinthians 3:16 ; 1 Corinthians 7:12 , 1Co 7:13 ; 1 Timothy 6:16 .

Verse 18

flesh , i.e. old nature.

no = not. App-105 .

to will . Same as "would", verses: Romans 7:15 , Romans 7:16 , Romans 7:19 , Romans 15:20 , Romans 15:21 .

is present . Greek. parakeimai , to be at hand. Only here and Romans 7:21 .

perform . Same as "work", Romans 7:13 , and "do-", Romans 7:15 .

I find . The texts read (is) "not" (present).

Verse 19

evil. App-128 .

do = practice. Greek. pras s o . As Romans 7:15 -.

Verse 20

Now, &c . = But if what I do not myself wish, this I do.

it is, &c . = no longer I myself (emph.)

Verse 21

a law, &c. = the law with me who wish.

Verse 22

delight. Greek. sunedomai. Only here. Compare Psalms 1:2 ; Psalms 112:1 ; Psalms 119:35 (Septuagint)

inward . Greek. eso . Adverb used as Adjective. Compare 2 Corinthians 4:16 . Eph 3:16 . 1 Peter 3:4 .

Verse 23

see . App-133 .

warring against . Greek. antistrateuomai. Only here.

bringing . . . into captivity = (seeking to) lead captive. Greek. aichmalotizo. Only here. Luke 21:24 . 2Co 10:5 . 2 Timothy 3:6 . The kindred verb, aichmaloteuo, only in Ephesians 4:8 .

law of sin: i.e. the old nature.

Verse 24

O . Omit. This exclamation is an instance of Figure of speech Ecphonesis. App-6 .

wretched . Greek. talaiporos. Only here and Revelation 3:17 . Compare talaiporia, misery, Romans 3:16 . James 5:1 ; and the verb talaiporeo, only in James 4:9 .

deliver = rescue. See first Occurance Matthew 6:13 . Greek. rhuomai .

the body of this death . The body of sin. Compare Romans 7:13 ; Romans 6:6 ; Romans 8:13 .

Verse 25

I thank. Greek. eucharisteo. See Acts 27:35 . The texts read "Thanks". Compare Romans 6:17 . Supply the Ellipsis ( App-6 ), He will deliver me.

through . App-104 .Romans 7:1 .

Jesus Christ . App-98 . XL

mind = mind (the new nature) indeed. This is the experience of every one who is the subject of the grace of God, and has received the gift of the new nature as the sign of God's justification. Not the experience of one man in two successive stages, but the co-existence of the two experiences in the one man at the same time. See The Church Epistles, by E. W. Bullinger, D. D., p. 64.