Romans 7:1-13 KJV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:4

Wherefore, my brethren - This is a parallel case. You were once under the law of Moses, and were bound by its injunctions; but now ye are become dead to that law - a modest, inoffensive mode of speech, for, The law, which was once your husband, is dead; God has determined that it shall be no longer in force; so that now, as a woman whose husband is dead is freed from the law of that husband, or from her conjugal vow, and may legally be married to another, so God, who gave the law under which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 ἁμαρτιων , 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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:6

But now we are delivered from the law - We, who have believed in Christ Jesus, are delivered from that yoke by which we were bound, which sentenced every transgressor to perdition, but provided no pardon even for the penitent, and no sanctification for those who are weary of their inbred corruptions. That being dead wherein we were held - To us believers in Christ this commandment is abrogated; we are transferred to another constitution; that law which kills ceases to bind us; it is dead... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:7

Is the law sin? - The apostle had said, Romans 7:6 ; : The motions of sins, which were by the law, did bring forth fruit unto death; and now he anticipates an objection, "Is therefore the law sin?" To which he answers, as usual, μη γενοιτο , by no means. Law is only the means of disclosing; this sinful propensity, not of producing it; as a bright beam of the sun introduced into a room shows; millions of motes which appear to be dancing in it in all directions; but these were not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:8

Sin, taking occasion by the commandment - I think the pointing, both in this and in the 11th verse, to be wrong: the comma should be after occasion, and not after commandment. But sin taking occasion, wrought in me by this commandment all manner of concupiscence. There are different opinions concerning the meaning of the word αφορμη , which we here translate occasion. Dr. Waterland translates the clause, Sin, taking Advantage. Dr. Taylor contends that all commentators have mistaken the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:9

I was alive without the law once - Dr. Whitby paraphrases the verse thus: - "For the seed of Abraham was alive without the law once, before the law was given, I being not obnoxious to death for that to which the law had not threatened death; but when the commandment came, forbidding it under that penalty, sin revived, and I died; i.e. it got strength to draw me to sin, and to condemn me to death. Sin is, in Scripture, represented as an enemy that seeks our ruin and destruction; and takes all... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:10

And the commandment - Meaning the law in general, which was ordained to life; the rule of righteousness teaching those statutes which if a man do he shall live in them, Leviticus 18:5 , I found, by transgressing it, to be unto death; for it only presented the duty and laid down the penalty, without affording any strength to resist sin or subdue evil propensities. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:11

Sin, taking occasion - Sin, deriving strength from the law, threatening death to the transgressor, (see Clarke's note on Romans 7:8 ;), deceived me, drew me aside to disobedience, promising me gratification honor, independence, etc., as it promised to Eve; for to her history the apostle evidently alludes, and uses the very same expression, deceived me, εξηπατησε με· See the preceding note; and see the Septuagint, Genesis 3:13. And by it slew me - Subjected me to that death which the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:12

Wherefore the law is holy - As if he had said, to soothe his countrymen, to whom he had been showing the absolute insufficiency of the law either to justify or save from sin: I do not intimate that there is any thing improper or imperfect in the law as a rule of life: it prescribes what is holy, just, and good; for it comes from a holy, just, and good God. The Law, which is to regulate the whole of the outward conduct, is holy; and the Commandment, Thou shalt not covet, which is to regulate... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:13

Was then that which is good made death unto me? - This is the question of the Jew, with whom the apostle appears to be disputing. "Do you allow the law to be good, and yet say it is the cause of our death?" The apostle answers: - God forbid! μη γενοιτο , by no means: it is not the law that is the cause of your death, but sin; it was sin which subjected us to death by the law, justly threatening sin with death: which law was given that sin might appear - might be set forth in its own... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:13

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