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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 7:7-13

Is the Law sin? "The sinful passions, which were through the Law" ( Romans 7:5 ). What does the Law bring forth such fruit? Is the LAW SIN ? Nay, that cannot be; on the contrary, we all acknowledge it, without dispute, as "holy," and every separate commandment which it gives as "holy, and righteous, and good." Nevertheless, even the holy Law has peculiar relations to the development of sin; and they are these: the Law reveals sin; the Law becomes, to a sinful man, an excitant to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 7:7-13

The work of the Law in awakening the soul. After the general statement about the two marriages of the soul, the apostle proceeds to exhibit the soul in its unregenerate state, and how it is awakened through Law to a sense of its guilt and danger. In the section now before us we have the soul presented in its state of security, and then passing into its state of alarm. The subsequent section, as we shall see, presents the soul in its regenerate condition contending successfully against its... 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 7:8

But sin, taking occasion, through the commandment wrought in me all manner of concupiscence (or, of lust ): for without (or, apart from ) law sin is dead . Here, as in Romans 5:12 , seq ., sin is personified as a power, antagonistic to the Law of God, that has been introduced into the world of man, causing death. In Romans 5:1-21 . its first introduction was found in the scriptural account of Adam's transgression. It has ever since been in the world, as is evidenced by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 7:9-11

For I was alive without (or, apart from ) law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived (or, sprang into life ) , and I died. And the commandment, which was unto life, this I found to be unto death, For sin, taking occasion, through the commandment deceived me, and through it slew me . If, in saying, "I was alive once," the writer is at all remembering his own experience, the reference may be to the time of the innocence of childhood, before he had any distinct... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 7:8

But sin - To illustrate the effect of the Law on the mind, the apostle in this verse depicts its influence in exciting to evil desires and purposes. Perhaps no where has he evinced more consummate knowledge of the human heart than here. He brings an illustration that might have escaped most persons, but which goes directly to establish his position that the Law is insufficient to promote the salvation of man. Sin here is personified. It means not a real entity; not a physical subsistence; not... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 7:9

For I - There seems to be no doubt that the apostle here refers to his own past experience. Yet in this he speaks the sentiment of all who are unconverted, and who are depending on their own righteousness.Was alive - This is opposed to what he immediately adds respecting another state, in which he was when he died. It must mean, therefore, that he had a certain kind of peace; he deemed himself secure; he was free from the convictions of conscience and the agitations of alarm. The state to which... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Romans 7:7-8

Romans 7:7-8. What shall we say then? This, to the beginning of the next chapter, is a kind of digression, wherein the apostle, in order to show, in the most lively manner, the weakness and inefficacy of the law, changes the person, and speaks as of himself. This he frequently does when he is not speaking of his own person, but only assuming another character. See Romans 3:7; 1 Corinthians 10:30; 1 Corinthians 4:6. The character here assumed is that of an unrenewed, unregenerated man;... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Romans 7:9-11

Romans 7:9-11. For I was alive In my own conceit; without the law Without the proper knowledge of its spirituality, extent, and obligation. I apprehended myself to be righteous, and in the way to life eternal; but when the commandment came That is, the law; (a part being put for the whole;) but this expression particularly intimates its compulsive force, which restrains, enjoins, urges, forbids, threatens; when, in its spiritual meaning, it came to my heart: or, when the spiritual... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Romans 7:1-25

The law cannot help (7:1-25)Through Christ, believers have not only died to sin, they have died to the law also, which means that their lives are now different. Paul gives an example. If a husband dies, the wife is no longer bound to him and is free to marry again. Likewise believers have died to the law so that the bond between them and the law is broken. However, they have been raised to new life and are now united to another, the living Christ (7:1-4). Formerly, they found that the more the... read more

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