Commentary on Romans, Biblical exegesis 1 · Chapter 7 · Section 1
1. The text with the diuerse readings.
v. 1. Are you ignorant brethren, (know ye not, B.G.) for I speake to them that know the law, (are skilfull of the law, Be.) that the law hath dominion (power, B.) ouer a man, as long as he liueth? (as long time as he liueth, L.Gr.)
2 For the woman which is in subiection to a man, (is vnderunder the man, L. Gr.) is bound to the man, while he liueth by the law: (better, then her husband yet liuing is bound to the law, L. Rhemists.) but if the man be dead, shee is deliuered from the law of the man.
3 So then, while the man liueth, she shall be called (counted, B. be made. T.) an adulteresse, (a wedlocke-breaker, B.) if she become an other mans: B.Gr. (if she be coupled to an other man. T. couple her selfe, &c. be with an other man. L.R. take an other man. G.) but if the man be dead, she is free from the law, (of the man, L. ad.) so that she is not an adulteresse, though she become an other mans.
4 Therefore, my brethren, (or euen so, B.G.) ye are made dead also (or mortified, Be. L.A. dead, B.G.) to the law, by the bodie (in the bodie, Be.T.) of Christ, that ye should be vntounto an other, euen vntounto him that is raised (not, risen, L.T.) from the dead, that we should fructifie L. (bring forth fruit, Be. B.G.) vntounto God.
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions (infirmities, T. affections, Be. lusts. B. passions, L. foreign. Gr.) of sinnes, which were by the law, did worke, L.B. (had force. Be. G. were effectuall) in our members, to bring forth fruit vntounto death.
6 But now we are deliuered from the law, that beeing dead, (not, of death, L. or we beeing dead vntounto it, B.G.T. see the question following vponupon this place) wherein we were holden: that we should serue in the newnes of the spirit, not in the oldnes of the letter.
7 What shall we say then? is the law sinne? God forbid: (let it not be, Gr.) yea, I knew not sinne, but by the law: for I had not knowne lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not lust.
8 But sinne taking occasion by the commandement, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence: B.G.T. (some read thus, sinne taking occasion, by the commandement, &c. Be.L. see v. 11. following) for without the law sinne was dead.
9 For I once was aliue without the law: but when the commandement came, sinne revived, but I died.
10 And the commandement, which was ordained vntounto life, the same was found to be to me vntounto death.
11 For sinne tooke occasion by the commandement, and deceiued me, and thereby flew me.
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandement is holy, and iust, and good.
13 Was that then, which was good, made death vntounto me? God forbid: but sinne, that sinne might appeare, wrought death in me by that which is good: L.G. T. A. (some thus, but sinne (was death vntounto me) that sinne might appeare in working in me death, by that, which is good, Be. B.) that sinne might be out of measure sinnefull by the commandement.
14 For we know, that the law is spirituall, but I am carnall, sold vnderunder sinne.
15 For what I worke, I acknowledge not: (allow not, G. vnderstand not. L.) for, not, what I would, that doe I: but what I hate, that I doe.
16 If I doe then, that which I would not, I consent to the law that it is good.
17 Now it is no more I, that worke it, but sinne, that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know, that good dwelleth not in me, (that is, in my flesh) for to will is present with me, but how to performe that which is good, I find not.
19 For I doe not the good, which I would: but the euill, which I would not, that doe I.
20 Now if I doe, that I would not, it is no more I that worke it, but sinne, that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law L. Gr. (this law to be imposed, Be. by the law, B. Ge.) that when I would doe good, euill is present with me: (see the question following vponupon this verse.)
22 For I delight in the law of God, concerning the inner man:
23 But I see an other law in my members, rebelling against the law of my minde, and leading me captiue to the law (in the law, L.) of sinne, which is in my members.
24 O wretched man, that I am, who shall deliuer me out of this bodie of death? Be.T. (the bodie of this death. L. B.G.)
25 I thanke God through Iesus Christ our Lord: Then I my selfe in my minde serue the law of God, but in my flesh, the law of sinne.