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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 7:14-25

Here is a description of the conflict between grace and corruption in the heart, between the law of God and the law of sin. And it is applicable two ways:?1. To the struggles that are in a convinced soul, but yet unregenerate, in the person of whom it is supposed, by some, that Paul speaks. 2. To the struggles that are in a renewed sanctified soul, but yet in a state of imperfection; as other apprehend. And a great controversy there is of which of these we are to understand the apostle here.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 7:14-25

7:14-25 We are aware that the law is spiritual; but I am a creature of flesh and blood under the power of sin. I cannot understand what I do. What I want to do, that I do not do; but what I hate, that I do. If what I do not want to do I in point of fact do, then I acquiesce in the law, and I agree that it is fair. As it is, it is no longer I who do it, but the sin which resides in me--I mean in my human nature. To will the fair thing is within my range, but not to do it. For I do not do the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 7:18

For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh ,.... The apostle goes on to give some further account of himself, what he knew, and was fully assured of by long experience; as that dwelleth no good thing in him, that is, in his flesh, or carnal self; for otherwise there were many good things dwelt in him; there was the good work of grace, and the good word of God in him, and even Father, Son, and Spirit, dwelt in him; but his meaning is, that there was no good thing naturally in him; no... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:18

For I know that in me, etc. - I have learned by experience that in an unregenerate man there is no good. There is no principle by which the soul can be brought into the light; no principle by which it can be restored to purity: fleshly appetites alone prevail; and the brute runs away with the man. For to will is present with me - Though the whole soul has suffered indescribably by the Fall, yet there are some faculties that appear to have suffered less than others; or rather have... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:18

Verse 18 18.For I know, etc. He says that no good by nature dwelt in him. Then in me, means the same as though he had said, “So far as it regards myself.” In the first part he indeed arraigns himself as being wholly depraved, for he confesses that no good dwelt in him; and then he subjoins a modification, lest he should slight the grace of God which also dwelt in him, but was no part of his flesh. And here again he confirms the fact, that he did not speak of men in general, but of the faithful,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 7:7-25

( b ) The relation of law to sin, and how law prepares the soul for emancipation in Christ from the dominion of sin. In the section of the argument which begins at Romans 7:1 we have seen that the idea of being under sin has passed into that of being under law, in such apparent connection of thought as to identify the positions. The apostle, seeing that readers might be perplexed by such identification, now, in the first place, explains what he has meant by it. Is the Law, then, sin?... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 7:14-25

"Sold under sin!" Such is the deplorable result of the action of God's Law on man: sin is made to stand out blackly, in all its hideous evil; nay, it seems even stimulated to increased malignity of working. How so? Because of the intense opposition between the holy Law and an unholy nature: "For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin." But man's nature is not without its witness for the Divine; the spiritual is captive, but not destroyed; it is capable of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 7:14-25

The principle of progress through antagonism. In last section we saw how the soul is awakened through the Law. This Law-work is a necessity of our times. And now we have to notice how the soul is kept awake by the antagonism going on within. For the gospel is not intended to promote at any time satisfaction with self. So far from this, it is a plan for subordinating self to its rightful Sovereign, the Saviour. And so we are not only put out of conceit with ourselves in conviction and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 7:15-25

For that which I do (rather, work, or perform, or accomplish, κατεργάζομαι ) I know not : for not what I would, that I do (rather, practise; the verb here is πράσσω ); but what I hate, that I do ( ποιῶ ). But if what I would not that I do, I consent unto the Law that it is good ( καλός ). Now then ( νυνὶ δὲ , not in temporal sense, but meaning, as the case is ) it is no more I that work ( κατεργάζομαι , as before ) it, but sin that dwelleth in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 7:18-25

The inward conflict of the Christian heart. Two forces are for ever struggling for the soul of man. Goethe, the German poet, has immortalized that for us in his great drama of 'Faust,' where Mephistopheles, the prince of evil, tempts a human being too successfully into the paths of destruction. Milton has immortalized it for us in his great epic, 'Paradise Lost.' But these great poems are, after all, but echoes of the story of the Fall as told us in the Bible. These words of St. Paul are... read more

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