ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 7:1 In this entire chapter, LAW refers to the Mosaic law given at Mount Sinai. THOSE WHO KNOW THE LAW includes both Jews and Gentiles who are familiar with the OT. Verse Romans 7:1 introduces the principle that the law applies only to living people. In vv. Romans 7:2, Paul appl... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 7:4 Whereas the _husband_ dies in the illustration in vv. Romans 7:2, here _believers_ die to the law through the death of _Christ_. The comparison does not match perfectly, but the application is clear. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, le... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 7:5 FLESH here stands for the old “Adam”—the unbelieving former life of those who now believe. The law led to spiritual and physical DEATH (see Romans 6:23) because rebellious people broke it and suffered the consequences. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 7:6 BUT NOW represents the new era of redemptive history. Christians now enjoy new life in the Spirit. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 7:7 The claim that the Mosaic law produced sin and death raises the question, Is the law itself sinful? Paul explains that the law itself is good and that the fault lies with sin. The “I” in these verses seems to be Paul himself (see note on vv. 13–25). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = docu... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 7:8 The prohibition against coveting increased the desire for what was forbidden. Without such prohibitions, SIN LIES DEAD—it is still present, but not in a powerful way. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 7:13 Even if the law is not sin (vv. Romans 7:7), is the good law responsible for death? Paul argues that the fault lies with sin, not with the law. Through the law, sin is revealed in all its horror, while the law is shown to be good. There has been much debate as to whether P... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 7:17 Paul emphasizes the power of sin. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 7:21 The meaning of “law” in these verses has been debated. Some think every use of the word refers to the Mosaic law. Most argue that in vv. Romans 7:21 and Romans 7:23 the term means “principle.” All agree that the Mosaic law is in view in v. Romans 7:22. The Greek word used... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 7:24 WHO WILL DELIVER ME? The living presence of JESUS CHRIST is the answer to the problem of sin. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]