1.
Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
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) .
2.
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.
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.
3.
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.
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.
4.
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.
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 .
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.
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 .
6.
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.
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 .
7.
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.
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 .
8.
But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
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 .
9.
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
came . App-106 .
revived . Greek. anazao. Here, Romans 14:9 . Luke 15:24 , Luke 15:32 .Revelation 20:5 .
10.
And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
to, unto . App-104 .
life . App-170 .
I found = was itself found by me.
11.
For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
deceived . Greek. exapatao. Here, Romans 16:18 . 1Co 3:18 . 2 Corinthians 11:3 . 2 Thessalonians 2:3 .
12.
Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
the law = the law indeed (Greek. men. Omitted by Authorized Version and Revised Version.)
just = righteous. App-191 .
13.
Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
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 .
14.
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
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 .
15.
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
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 ,
16.
If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
If . . . not = But if what I do not wish, this I do.
If . App-118 .
consent . Greek. sumphemi. Only here.
17.
Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
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 .
18.
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
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).
19.
For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
evil. App-128 .
do = practice. Greek. pras s o . As Romans 7:15 -.
20.
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Now, &c . = But if what I do not myself wish, this I do.
it is, &c . = no longer I myself (emph.)
21.
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
a law, &c. = the law with me who wish.
22.
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
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 .
23.
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
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.
24.
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
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 .
25.
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
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.