Verse By Verse Through Romans

Chapter Seven

Romans 7:1 “Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?”

• “Know ye [them that know the law] not” is a phrase used two other times in this letter (Romans 6:3 and Romans 6:16). In the KJV.
• “Know ye not” is a phrase used in various other letters as well (I Corinthians 3:16, I Corinthians 5:6, I Corinthians 6:3, I Corinthians 6:9, I Corinthians 6:15-16, I Corinthians 6:19, I Corinthians 9:24, II Corinthians 13:5, and James 4:4). In the KJV.
• The basis of the question “Know ye not” is that Paul is directing the following points to them that know the Law of Moses. That is, to the Jews among the congregation in Rome (Deuteronomy 4:44-45, Romans 2:17-18, Romans 2:23, and Romans 3:1-2).
• The end of this verse is easily confusing. The next two verses talk about being bound to a spouse by the law and then the context shifts to the Law of Moses after that. Having said that, the end of this verse applies to both the Law of Moses towards those alive under it as well as to marriage. We will get to the points concerning marriage in verses two and three.
• We will see in the context that the Law of Moses was about the carnal man. The Law was given because of sin (Galatians 3:19 and I Timothy 1:9). Once dead, once one leaves this world, his or her fate is sealed (Luke 16:19-31). Dead people do not fornicate, worship idols, break the sabbath, etc.

• Mark 10:1-12, I Corinthians 7:1-11, and I Corinthians 7:39
• Jesus gave one exception (Matthew 5:31-32 and Matthew 19:1-12).

• Luke 16:18 and John 4:1-18
• An adulterous person is lost (I Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21, and Hebrews 13:4).

• Now to the point of the context that the previous three verses built into. Christ died to free the Jews from the Law of Moses so that they could be in Him (Galatians 3:13, Galatians 4:1-7, Colossians 2:8-15, and Hebrews 8:1-9:28).
• The Gentiles also are beneficiaries of Christ putting away the Law of Moses (Ephesians 2:1-17). However, as a reminder, the Jews are specifically addressed in this immediate context (Romans 7:1).
• To be married to Christ (Ephesians 5:22-33).
• It was not through the Law of Moses, but through Christ wherein fruit could be brought forth unto the Father (John 15:1-17).

• This is a key statement in the context of chapters seven and eight. In the flesh vs. in the Spirit is the contrast of the carnal law of Moses and the spiritual in Christ (Hebrews 7:12-16; cf. Romans 8:1-11).
• Those who followed the Law of Moses could not be justified (Acts 13:38-39, Romans 3:20, Galatians 2:16, and Hebrews 10:1-18).
• The Greek term “πάθημα” which is translated here as “motions” is most commonly translated “suffering(s)” (Romans 8:18, II Corinthians 1:5-7, Philippians 3:10, Colossians 1:24, Hebrews 2:9-10, I Peter 1:11, I Peter 4:13, and I Peter 5:1).
• “Members” is talking about parts of the human body (Matthew 5:29-30 and James 3:5). Sin working through the flesh is the point (Romans 6:13 and Colossians 3:5).
• Christ came into this world, in part, to abolish death (II Timothy 1:8-10).
• Understand this going forward. The Law of Moses was given because of transgression (Galatians 3:19). God’s intent with the Law was essentially to fence and leash a wild dog that has bitten someone. That Law was put in place, as we will talk about going forward, till Christ came to bring Him into the world. Christ then trains the dog and removes the fence and leash. The Law was good in what it was put forth to do. It was weak in the sense that it did not do what Jesus does in His law. Think about this... Under the Law of Moses land was the promise and the reward (Exodus 32:13). How does that lend to covetousness? Consider then how more law had to come (Deuteronomy 5:21). Yet, the mind didn’t change (Micah 2:1-2). That change when Jesus teaches man to focus on things eternal rather than carnal (I John 2:15-17).

• Think about this language. “We” (the Jews; Romans 7:1) were “delivered from the law” (Galatians 3:13).
• Under that law, they were dead (II Corinthians 5:14-15 and Colossians 2:4-15).
• Serving in newness of spirit, not in oldness of letter (Romans 8:1-4 and II Corinthians 3:3-18). Think about what Paul said to the Corinthians that you just read. It is great commentary on the points made here in Romans 7:6.

• The Holy Spirit now has Paul clarify some things.
• The phrase, “what shall we say” has been used a few times in this letter (Romans 3:5, Romans 4:1, and Romans 6:1) and will again be used (Romans 8:31, Romans 9:14, and Romans 9:30).
• This is to get the reader to ponder the question (cf. I Corinthians 11:22).
• The question: “Is the law sin?” God forbid (Psalms 18:30, Psalms 19:7-12, and Isaiah 42:21). This becomes clearer later in the context (Romans 7:12).
• The Law, even now being dead, is still profitable (John 5:39, Romans 15:4, II Timothy 3:15-17, etc.).
• The Law brought the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20).
• As we have discussed before in our study of Romans, sin occurred before there was the written Law of Moses (Romans 4:15 and Romans 5:12-17).
• The Lord added the Law because they were doing things they should have known better than, so to make it clear - “here is your law” (Galatians 3:19 and I Timothy 1:8-11).
• To have “known sin” is to have understood such; to know it. In fact, the Greek word “γινώσκω” [Strong’s # 1097] is also translated as “understand” (John 8:43, Acts 24:11, and Philippians 1:12).
• “Thou shalt not covet” (Exodus 20:17). Yet, before Moses taught such men still knew better (Genesis 20:1-18 and Genesis 39:7-9). The Law of Moses brought an understanding. So, knowing “thou shalt not covet” helps one understand desiring what is not lawful for one to have.
• Be careful with the “I” and “me” statements in this coming verses. Paul is not literally talking about himself. In verse nine Paul wrote “I was alive without law once…”. Paul never lived at a time wherein there was no law in place. He lived under the Laws of Moses (Philippians 3:4-5) and of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

• The Holy Spirit has Paul personify sin (cf. Romans 7:17; 7:20).
• The statement that sin taking occasion [starting point; opportunity] by [or through] the commandment is clarified further later (Romans 7:11).
• The Law of Moses was not intended to be profitable (Romans 8:3 and Hebrews 7:18-19).
• The ultimate point: “For without the law sin was dead.” Where there is no law, there is no transgression (Romans 4:15; cf. I John 3:4). For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law (Romans 5:13). This should take us back to the point of Romans 5:20.
• How does sin work (James 1:14-15)?
• Remember, Paul through the work of the Spirit is using “me”, but such is just illustrative. Again, he was never alive without the law (vs. 9).
• Concupiscence just means lust as it is translated in the previous verse (Romans 7:7; Strong’s # 1939).
• Lest one miss the illustration point, Paul is not blaming the commandment for lust occurring. This letter clarifies such (Romans 6:12 and Romans 13:14).

• I am repeating this again. Paul was NOT alive in a time wherein there was no law.
• Man was once without the Law of Moses. When the commandment came so did accountability (Romans 5:13).
• In such, sin abounded (Romans 5:20).
• With sin alive, so was spiritual death (Luke 15:24, Luke 15:32, and Ephesians 2:1-3).

• Deuteronomy 8:1, Deuteronomy 30:16, Leviticus 18:5, Proverbs 4:4, Proverbs 7:2, Ezekiel 3:21, Ezekiel 20:11-13, and Luke 10:25-28
• “I”, again, speaking in the place of man. The Law being unto death is simple to understand (Romans 8:1-3 and I Corinthians 15:56).
• Further explanation is given in the proceeding and following verses.

• We saw the Holy Spirit had Paul personify sin already in this context (Romans 7:8).
• Later in the chapter the Spirit has Paul write about the indwelling of sin and the operation of sin (Romans 7:17-20).
• Sin is deceptive (Hebrews 3:13 and Titus 3:3).
• Saints should have been awoken (I Corinthians 15:33-34). Yet, we know that when people desire to do that which is sinful, they find ways to justify it (I Samuel 15:1-26, Proverbs 16:2, Proverbs 16:25, Proverbs 21:2, Proverbs 30:12, and Hosea 12:1-14).
• Remember the process of sin and the end result (James 1:13-15).
• Not to be overly repetitious, but remember the the Law of Moses is referred to as the “law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).

• Again (cf. Romans 7:7), there is clarification about the Law.
• The Law, in itself, is not bad (Nehemiah 9:13-14 and I Timothy 1:8).
• It wasn’t good enough to justify anyone (Acts 13:38-39 and Romans 3:20).

• Another clarification. Is the good law to be blamed for one’s spiritual death? “God forbid.”
• Without the Law there is no accounting for sin (Romans 4:15 and Romans 5:13).
• Under the Law, sin had dominion wherein it does not now (Romans 6:14-15 and Romans 7:5).
• Remember that the Law of Moses came about for that the offense might abound, but then grace came to abound more (Romans 5:20).

• More clarification…
• Those prophets of old did not declare the Law from a carnal point of view, the Law was of the Spirit (II Samuel 23:1-2, Luke 1:67-79, Mark 12:36 [cf. Psalms 110:1], Acts 1:16 [cf. Psalms 41:9], Hebrews 3:7-11 [cf. Psalms 95:7-11], Hebrews 10:15-17 [cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34], I Peter 1:10-11, and II Peter 1:20-21).
• Sold under sin (John 8:34). Sold, as in merchandise, under sin. The Law of Moses did not free from sin (Acts 13:38-39). Thus, it was the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2-3).
• Regardless of the Law, if man is acting in a carnal [fleshly; I Peter 2:11] fashion, man is not going to be spiritual (I Corinthians 2:13-3:3).
• The Old Law was a carnal law, don’t forget that as this context could confuse it and that would have drastic implications (Hebrews 7:12-16).

• NKJV: “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.”
• This verse is NOT saying we cannot control ourselves (Proverbs 25:28, I Corinthians 9:25-27, Galatians 5:22-24, and II Peter 1:3-10).
• This speaks more-so to the internal conflict of the spiritual vs. the carnal (Galatians 5:17).
• When one pits the flesh vs. the spiritual; what tends to happen (Mark 14:38)?
• What things would a godly person hate (Romans 12:9)? Yes, even under the Old Law (Psalms 119:104; 119:128).
• We will later get a rewording of these points (Romans 7:19-20).

• With the law being spiritual, but man being carnal (Romans 7:14)…
• …When carnality overtakes man he does according to his carnal desires (Romans 7:15), the things he has learned to hate (cf. Psalms 119:104).
• …Carnality wins. He is overcome of evil (Romans 12:21 and Galatians 5:17).
• This is the principle of knowing better than one’s actions!
• The law is good, but the battle between the law and the flesh is there (Romans 7:22-23).

• cf. Romans 7:20
• Think about the idea of sin [knowing better than doing; transgression of the law; all unrighteousness; (James 4:17, I John 3:4, and I John 5:17) figuratively indwelling a person (cf. James 4:1-5).
• What do fleshly lusts accomplish (I Peter 2:11)?
• Therefore, make no provision to fulfill the desires of the flesh (Romans 13:13-14) so that the flesh cannot take over.

• Clarification is provided. “In me” is in reference to the flesh. Nothing good is coming from carnality; worldliness (Romans 8:5-8 and I John 2:15-17).
• Coming back to verses 15-17, carnality is taking over.
• “In my flesh…”. What works come about from the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21)?
• When you are carnal… I Corinthians 3:1-3

• Again, in different wording, the thoughts of verses 15-17 are presented in clearer terminology.
• I want to do good, but the evil wins. So what if you are willing? One’s will, his or her intentions - do not always equal to right action (i.e. Luke 22:33-34; Luke 22:54-62).
• Remember how sin comes about in a person’s life (James 1:13-15).

• We come back here to the overall context (Romans 7:5) and what was recorded in the previous chapter (Romans 6:12-14). There was no justification from sin under the Law of Moses (Acts 13:38-39).
• Living under the carnal Law of Moses caused conflict. We will see in chapter eight how the conflict should no longer exist.
• With carnality, when a person wants to do good evil is still present. Under the Law, sins were never fully gone (Hebrews 8:1-10:18).
• Though one delights in God’s law (Psalms 1:1-2) after the inward [spiritual] man, carnality is fighting back (again; Galatians 5:17 and I Peter 2:11).
• When one is so focused on the physical (i.e. circumcision, genealogy, etc.), how does the mind come back to the spiritual?
• The war in the members [physical body] (cf. Romans 6:19).

• This is a rhetorical question. He gives thanks to God through Jesus knowing the answer (Romans 11:26, II Corinthians 1:9-10, Colossians 1:12-13, and I Thessalonians 1:10).
• Was Paul “wretched?” It depends on what one thinks this word means. He was neither “miserable” (Acts 20:24, Romans 5:11, etc.) nor, as some would think, a sinner (I Corinthians 11:1, I Thessalonians 2:10, and II Timothy 4:6-8).
• With the flesh… Again, Paul is not speaking of himself here (Philippians 3:3). This wraps the chapter up. The contrast begins in the very next verse (Romans 8:1).