Romans 8 - Introduction
D. VIII. The nature of the power and of the working of the New Life explained... [ Continue Reading ]
D. VIII. The nature of the power and of the working of the New Life explained... [ Continue Reading ]
1. ἌΡΑ. So, after this exposition, it becomes clear. ΝΥ͂Ν. As things now are, under the new dispensation. ΚΑΤΆΚΡΙΜΑ. In Christ there is no penal state following upon a verdict of condemnation, because in Christ men are acquitted (justified); cf. Romans 5:16 n. ΤΟΙ͂Σ ἘΝ ΧΡ. Ἰ. Those whose relation... [ Continue Reading ]
The power is the indwelling spirit. (1) It follows from this examination of man’s state under law, that in our present state, as effected by GOD, those who are made one with Christ Jesus are not under penalties. (2) For the new condition brought by the Spirit, which animates the new life we received... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ΓᾺΡ ΝΌΜΟΣ Τ. ΠΝ. Κ.Τ.Λ. The life in Christ Jesus is the new life of and in men, Christ’s life in them, their life in Christ. This life has its instrument or vehicle, as it were, in the new spirit that is in men, new, because the result of their spirit being in union with and invigorated by Christ’... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓᾺΡ explains the method of liberation. ΤῸ�. For abstract ἀδυνασία: cf. τὸ γνήσιον, 2 Corinthians 8:8; τὸ δοκίμιον, James 1:3; 1 Peter 1:7 (?); τὸ χρηστὸν, supra Romans 2:4; cf. Blass, p. 155 = the incapacity, ineffectiveness, lack of power. The construction is pendent; cf. Blass, p. 283. ΤΟΥ͂ ΝΌΜΟ... [ Continue Reading ]
ἽΝΑ. The object of the sending and the condemnation of sin. ΤῸ ΔΙΚΑΊΩΜΑ, the righteous claim of the law. The law as GOD‘s revealed will has a claim over man: the same act which repudiated the claim of sin provided for the fulfilment of the claim of the law. Law and sin are here conceived as litigan... [ Continue Reading ]
5. ΓᾺΡ. Explains how walking after spirit leads to the fulfilment of the claim of law, by a series of contrasted clauses. ΟἹ ΓᾺΡ ΚΑΤᾺ ΣΆΡΚΑ ὌΝΤΕΣ. Those who take flesh for their standard of reference and line of action. ΤᾺ ΤΗ͂Σ ΣΑΡΚῸΣ ΦΡΟΝΟΥ͂ΣΙΝ. φρονεῖν τά τινος = to adopt a man’s interests as yo... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸ ΦΡΌΝΗΜΑ. Almost = the policy, the leading idea, of the flesh when isolated and uncontrolled, i.e. of man as merely earthly. Only in this chapter.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸ ΦΡ. ΤΗ͂Σ ΣΑΡΚῸΣ ἜΧΘΡΑ ΕἸΣ ΘΕΌΝ. As before, it is the flesh as usurping and absorbing man’s whole interest which is in question, not the flesh in general.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἹ ἘΝ ΣΑΡΚῚ ὌΝΤΕΣ, those whose being is wholly involved in flesh, not = those who are living in this passing life.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὙΜΕΙ͂Σ ΔῈ. Spirit, not flesh, is even now the atmosphere and inspiration of the Christian life. ἘΝ ΠΝΕΎΜΑΤΙ. The human spirit (as shown by the contrast with σάρξ), which, in Christians, has become the channel or vehicle on and in which the divine Spirit works, πν. is that element in human nature by... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸ ΔῈ ΧΡΙΣΤῸΣ ἘΝ ὙΜΙ͂Ν. The converse of ἐν Χριστῷ; the consequence of having Christ’s Spirit. ΔΙἈ ἉΜΑΡΤΊΑΝ = for the sake of, for the purposes of sin. Cf. Mark 2:27; 1 Corinthians 11:9; Blass, p. 132. ΤὈ … ΠΝΕΥ͂ΜΑ ΖΩἨ. The spirit is not merely alive, but a principle of life in the man; under its p... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸ ΔῈ Κ.Τ.Λ. Develops the thought implied in 10 that the body, too, even now is quickened by the new life; it has become a ὅπλον δικαιοσύνης, Romans 6:13. ΤῸ ΠΝ. Τ. ἘΓ. The resurrection of Jesus is a measure and warrant both of the will and of the power of the Spirit of GOD, to bring life into what... [ Continue Reading ]
ἌΡΑ ΟΥ̓͂Ν covers the whole argument from Romans 8:12 and proceeds to conclusions as to Christian conduct; but this purpose is interrupted by the thought of the Spirit and the wide bearings of the relation of sonship to GOD. The subject of Christian conduct is resumed in c. 12. Here the main characte... [ Continue Reading ]
The interpretation of the character and obligations of human life, under the power of the indwelling Spirit, in relation to creation and to GOD. (12) If then all this is true, that our spirit in its warfare with the flesh is reinforced by GOD’s Spirit, our life intimately dependent upon Christ livin... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΈΛΛΕΤΕ�. The periphrastic future of the durative present—you will continue in or be in a state of death; ἀποθανεῖσθε = you will die, of the single event; cf. Moulton, p. 114; Burton, § 72. Consequently the reference is the same as in Romans 7:10-11. ΘΑΝΑΤΟΥ͂ΤΕ. Sc. διὰ ἁμαρτίαν, Romans 8:10; the du... [ Continue Reading ]
ὍΣΟΙ ΓᾺΡ. You must do this, for only if so led by GOD’S Spirit, are you true sons.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΛΆΒΕΤΕ. Again an appeal to baptism. ΠΆΛΙΝ. Though still δοῦλοι in a true sense (cf. Romans 6:18-19; Romans 6:22) the spirit in which they serve is not a spirit of slavery but of sonship. ΠΝ. ΥἹΟΘΕΣΊΑΣ. Cf. τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐ., Galatians 4:6. It is a spirit of sonship because it is the effect o... [ Continue Reading ]
15, 16. Parenthetic, enforcing the description of Christians as sons.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΑΥ̓ΤῸ ΤῸ ΠΝΕΥ͂ΜΑ Κ.Τ.Λ. The absence of a conjunction suggests that this is, in some sort, an explanation of the preceding phrases (rather than an analysis of the consciousness, as S. H.). If this be so, then the idea is that the Spirit, which mates man’s spirit a spirit of sonship, by inspiring this... [ Continue Reading ]
Continues the thought of 15 and so the explanation of ζήσεσθε: if children we share the life. ΚΛΗΡΟΝΌΜΟΙ. The son has a part in the possessions of the father; cf. Galatians 4:1 f. ΚΛΗΡΟΝΌΜΟΙ ΘΕΟΥ͂. Only here (n. Galatians 4:7 διὰ θεοῦ): the idea of hereditary succession is not applicable: the O.T.... [ Continue Reading ]
In the preceding verses the thoughts worked out in 2 Cor. _l.c_[161] have been summarised. In these verses the Apostle includes a wider range of thought, characteristic of Eph. and Col. Man’s present state is shown to have its analogy in the whole material creation, which is all undergoing a vital c... [ Continue Reading ]
ΛΟΓΊΖΟΜΑΙ ΓᾺΡ. The reference to δόξα in Romans 8:17 leads to the consideration of all that is involved in that final and full manifestation of GOD. ΟΥ̓Κ ἌΞΙΑ Κ.Τ.Λ. Cf. 2 Corinthians 4:17 f. ἄξια … πρός, no exact parallel to this use: = are of no weight in comparison with: = οὐδενὸς ἄξια; cf. Plato... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓᾺΡ introduces the expression of the wide range of the future revelation. ἈΠΟΚΑΡΑΔΟΚΊΑ. Philippians 1:20 only, Lft. The subst. seems not to be found elsewhere = concentrated expectation (cf. ἀποβλέπειν). ΤΗ͂Σ ΚΤΊΣΕΩΣ. Of the physical creation, cf. Giff. The renovation of nature was part of the Jewi... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΗ͂Ι ΓᾺΡ ΜΑΤΑΙΌΤΗΤΙ = the purposelessness, futility which the world of nature exhibits, until the conception of nature is itself brought under the larger conception of GOD’S eternal providence. ὙΠΕΤΆΓΗ. Prob. ref. Genesis 3:17-18. ΔΙᾺ ΤῸΝ ὙΠΟΤΆΞΑΝΤΑ = for the purposes of Him who so subjected it; c... [ Continue Reading ]
ὍΤΙ ΚΑῚ ΑΥ̓ΤῊ Ἡ ΚΤ. Not man only but the natural creation with him will be set free. ΤΗ͂Σ Δ. ΤΗ͂Σ ΦΘ. = τῆς ματαιότητος. N. the echo, but in a different sense, in 2 Peter 2:19. φθορά, in St Paul chiefly or always physical, in 2 Pet. generally moral, occurs only in Ro., 1 Co., Gal., Col. and 2 Peter... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἼΔΑΜΕΝ. The appeal to common experience. ΣΥΝΣΤ. ΚΑῚ ΣΥΝΩΔ. ΣΥΝ. not with man, but throughout all its parts, members and organisms. The cpds only here; for ὠδίν. cf Matthew 24:8; the thought is of the pangs of birth = ἐφ' ἑλπίδι κ.τ.λ.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΑΥ̓ΤΟῚ. We Christians, though we have the earnest of the Spirit and of freedom, ourselves still find our body in bondage, not yet fully emancipated. ΤῊΝ�. ΠΝ. ἀπ. only here in this connexion; cf. ἀρραβών, Ephesians 1:14; 2 Corinthians 5:5 : and cf. 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 for a fuller expression of... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓᾺΡ. These clauses explain the στενάζομεν … ἀπεκδεχόμενοι. ΤΗ͂Ι ΓᾺΡ ἘΛΠΊΔΙ. “Hope gives a definite shape to the absolute confidence of faith. Faith reposes completely on the love of GOD. Hope vividly anticipates that GOD will fulfil His promise in a particular way” Westcott, Hebrews 10:23; cf. Hort,... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙ' ὙΠΟΜΟΝΗ͂Σ = in a condition of endurance, ὑ. is steady resistance to adverse influences; and this is the peculiar Christian temper under present conditions; cf. Hebrews 12:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:5; Revelation 14:12; for ΔΙᾺ cf. Romans 2:27; Romans 14:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
26–end. This section enforces the above description of the Christian life, by the evidence of experience that GOD Himself helps man in this endurance of hope, the Holy Spirit Romans 8:26, the Father Romans 8:28, the Son Romans 8:34. 26. ὩΣΑΎΤΩΣ ΔῈ ΚΑῚ Κ.Τ.Λ. As hope is the link of fellowship betwee... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ΔῈ ἘΡΑΥΝΩ͂Ν ΤᾺΣ ΚΑΡΔΊΑΣ. Cf. Revelation 2:23; Psalms 7:10; Jeremiah 17:10; 1 Corinthians 2:10. The point seems to be that GOD’S knowledge of the hearts of men and their needs enables Him to understand the particular line (τὸ φρόνημα) of the Spirit’s intercession which is uttered with and through m... [ Continue Reading ]
The thought passes from man’s striving in prayer with the help of the Spirit, to GOD’S constant activity for man, to promote that good, which is the object, even when unexpressed or inexpressible, of the children’s prayer. ΟἼΔΑΜΕΝ, of an acknowledged fact of experience or conviction. ΤΟΙ͂Σ�. Θ. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
ὌΤΙ because, explains πάντα συνεργεῖ, the whole long process of GOD’S good will to man, a will which is act. ΟΥ̓́Σ. The consideration is confined, here, to Christians = τοῖς�. τ. θ. as His children. The aorists throughout refer to the definite acts of GOD which have come within their experience. ΠΡ... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΚΆΛΕΣΕΝ. Of the stage in which GOD’S purpose is first made known to the individual, in the call to be a Christian heard and, in this case, obeyed. A favourite idea in S. Paul and S. Peter; cf. Romans 1:1; Romans 1:7. ἘΔΙΚΑΊΩΣΕΝ. Justified sc. in answer to faith, as they are οἱ�. θ. ἘΔΌΞΑΣΕΝ. This... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸ Ὁ ΘΕῸΣ Κ.Τ.Λ., as is shown by the above enumeration.... [ Continue Reading ]
31–39. The confidence inspired by this evidence of the love of Christ and GOD. The love which is the ground of the whole relation of GOD to man is shown in its intensity (31), and its power as revealed in Christ (34, 35 a): then the consequences are drawn (35 b–39).... [ Continue Reading ]
ὍΣ ΓΕ Κ.Τ.Λ. N. the piling up of emphasis—ἰδίου—πάντων—τὰ πάντα. For ἰδίου cf. 3 τὸν ἑαυτοῦ υἱόν.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΤᾺ ἘΚΛΕΚΤΩ͂Ν Θ. Against men whom GOD has chosen: the bare words give tremendous emphasis. ΘΕῸΣ Ὁ ΔΙΚΑΙΩ͂Ν. In the face of GOD’S acquittal, the condemnation of the world is as nothing; cf. 1 Corinthians 4:9 f.; 2 Corinthians 2:16; cf. Isaiah 50:8-9.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΧΡ. Ἰ. The whole process of the Son’s action in redemption, from the Incarnation to the Ascended Life, is given in the succession of forcible phrases: in them His love is shown.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΘΛΊΨΙΣ Κ.Τ.Λ. External circumstances, however desperate in seeming, cannot separate.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἝΝΕΚΕΝ ΣΟΥ͂ Κ.Τ.Λ. Psalms 44:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙᾺ ΤΟΥ͂�. Ἡ. Romans 8:35, n. aorist.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΘΆΝΑΤΟΣ Κ.Τ.Λ. None of the spiritual powers or influences which beset men’s lives can separate; cf. Psalms 102 (103) 11 f., 138 (139) 7 f. Behind all the powers, conditions, influences, is GOD in His name of love.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΗ͂Σ�. Θ. Τ. Ἐ. ΧΡ. Ἰ. Τ. Κ. Ἡ. The full phrase sums up the whole argument from Romans 1:16.... [ Continue Reading ]