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Romans

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Romans 7

1Or are ye ignorant, brethren (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law hath dominion over a man for so long time as he liveth?

1Know 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?

Commentary · verse 1

Paul stated in parenthesis that he was speaking to people who knew the Law, to the Jews.

2For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband.

3So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man.

4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.

2For 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.

3So 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.

4Wherefore, 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.

Commentary · verses 2-4

Doctrine: Christ's death brought about the death of the Law so that we could focus on the spiritual (Biblical Grace). Paul stated this was similar to what physically happened when a spouse became a widow and was able to marry another. Basically, Christ's death killed our first spouse (physical), so that all of us (including the Jews) could be (spiritually) married to another (Christ) so that we could bring fruit (profit) towards God.

5For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

5For 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.

Commentary · verse 5

Doctrine: Sin brings forth fruit unto death.

6But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

6But 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.

Commentary · verse 6

Doctrine: We serve by newness of the spirit (grace) not by the Law. Grace is "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life."

7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Howbeit, I had not known sin, except through the law: for I had not known coveting, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet:

7What 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.

Commentary · verse 7

Doctrine: The Law brought objective knowledge of sin. Before the Law, people knew sin in response to sinning, by feeling guilt. The Law brought knowledge of sin so that we would objectively know sin before it was committed. However, Paul stated the Law did not cause sin, it made us objectively aware of sin.

8but sin, finding occasion, wrought in me through the commandment all manner of coveting: for apart from the law sin is dead.

9And I was alive apart from the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died; 10and the commandment, which was unto life, this I found to be unto death: 11for sin, finding occasion, through the commandment beguiled me, and through it slew me.

12So that the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.

8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

10And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Commentary · verses 8-12

Doctrine: The Law is holy. The commandment holy, righteous, and good. This verse proved that the Law was not at fault for man sinning. The Law did not cause sin.

Doctrines on this passage

13Did then that which is good become death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, by working death to me through that which is good;—that through the commandment sin might become exceeding sinful.

13Was 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.

Commentary · verse 13

Before the Law, people did not know what sin objectively was until they experienced guilt after they sinned. The Law was intended for good. The Law was intended to help people avoid sinning. However, what actually happened was that telling people the objective sins to avoid actually led to the people wanting to do these objective sins. The Law was intended for good. People (specifically the sin within people) used the Law to sin more.

Doctrines on this passage

14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15For that which I do I know not: for not what I would, that do I practise; but what I hate, that I do.

14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

Commentary · verses 14-15

We know that we do evil things even though we want to do good things, and we are aware of this contradiction. Paul was specifically speaking about his being (Mind/Soul) wanting to do good, but what physically came out was not good. This was a key point to realize before reading further: verse 15 was speaking about two different entities while using the same word. Verse 15 could be stated as, "For that which I physically do I didn't intend to do: for not what my Soul would, that do I physically practise; but what my Soul hates, that I physically do."

16But if what I would not, that I do, I consent unto the law that it is good.

16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

Commentary · verse 16

Key point: verse 16 is an if/then statement. Paul was not writing about an unbeliever: the person whose being (Mind/Soul) intends to do bad. Paul was writing about a believer: the person whose being (Mind/Soul) intended to do good by grace (the influence of the Holy Spirit). Paul stated that if what his being (Mind/Soul) didn't want to do what he actually physically did, then he agreed that the law was good. Why? Because the law would objectively make him aware that what came out wasn't good. He may not realize he was doing bad because his intention was good.

17So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me.

18For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me, but to do that which is good is not.

17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18For 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.

Commentary · verses 17-18

Doctrine: When we want to do good and we do not, then it is the sin within us that does evil, not our being nor God. In the flesh there is "no good thing". Paul did not say that the being that God created in him was not good. Good comes from God, so this action couldn't be what God intended via grace. If what Paul wanted to do was good and good did not come out, then the reason wasn't due to Paul's being (Mind/Soul). The reason was due to his flesh: more specifically, due to sin in his brain.

19For the good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I practise.

19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Commentary · verse 19

From the earlier verses, we see that the Law could actually cause Paul's flesh (brain, thought process) to focus on trying to do the Law without sinning and end up causing him to sin even though his (Mind/Soul) intention was to do good.

Doctrine: Laws make the flesh want to break them. This is the flesh's fault, not the Law.

20But if what I would not, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me.

20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Commentary · verse 20

Paul blatantly concluded this portion by stating it was the sin within believers that did evil, not our being if our Mind/Soul was intent on doing good.

21I find then the law, that, to me who would do good, evil is present.

22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.

21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23But 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.

Commentary · verses 21-23

Paul summarized the issue: The Mind/Soul that intends on doing good would delight in the Law because it not only was intended to help people avoid bad, the Law also objectively made the person aware when they had done bad they didn't intend to do! However, this perspective of the Law in the believer's Mind/Soul was not shared by the sinful elements in the believer's flesh/body/brain.

24Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death?

24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Commentary · verse 24

Paul stated the conflict: How are we to resolve the problem that a believer's (Mind/Soul) intent on doing good could still result in sin?

25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then I of myself with the mind, indeed, serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

25I 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.

Commentary · verse 25

Doctrine: With the believers' minds/souls (being) they serve the Law of God (through grace). Again, this can only be done through Christ. However, the flesh/body/brain that does not serve the Law of God is focused on doing sin.

Theme of Chapter 7: Paul built on the foundation of the previous chapter that if our flesh is dead and buried with Jesus, then we ought to be resurrected with Jesus: able to walk in freedom from sin and towards eternal life. Throughout this chapter, Paul explained that if believers intended on doing good but their actions continued to be evil, it was the sin within their body/flesh/brain that did the evil, not their Mind/Soul/Being. Paul continued to explain that the difference between being a believer or an unbeliever was whether we chose to want to do good and chose to serve God through our being. Furthermore, the ultimate difference between a believer and an unbeliever was how they responded to the sin in their life: did they admit they were wrong and make up for it?...did they confess and repent?

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