Thematic Bible

Themes in Romans 7

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Themes in Romans 7

Romans 7:1 (show verse)

Or, do you not know, brothers, (I am talking to people who know how law works) that the law has authority over a person only as long as he lives? [Note: It is not clear whether this refers to Roman law or the law of Moses].

Adultery » Who commits adultery
death » Figurative of regeneration
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Law » What occurs when there is no law
Marriage » Those that remarry or marry those who have been divorced
Marriage » How long wives are bound to their husbands

Romans 7:2 (show verse)

For a married woman is legally bound to her husband for as long as he lives. But, when he dies, she is released from the marriage contract.

Adultery » Who commits adultery
Adultery » Who does not commit adultery
death » Figurative of regeneration
Home » Marriage » Solemn obligations of
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Law » What occurs when there is no law
Marriage » Solemn obligations of
Marriage » Sacred
Marriage » Those that remarry or marry those who have been divorced
Marriage » Indissoluble during the joint lives of the parties
Marriage » How long wives are bound to their husbands
Wives » Duties of, to their husbands » To remain with them for life

Romans 7:3 (show verse)

So, if she lives with another man while her husband is still alive, she will be called an adulteress [i.e., a person who is sexually unfaithful to their mate]. But if her husband dies, she is legally free to marry another man without committing adultery.

Adultery » General references to
Adultery » Who commits adultery
Adultery » Who does not commit adultery
death » Figurative of regeneration
Foes of the home » Adultery
Home » Foes of the home » Adultery
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Law » What occurs when there is no law
Marriage » Those that remarry or marry those who have been divorced
Marriage » Indissoluble during the joint lives of the parties
Marriage » How long wives are bound to their husbands
Widow » Marriage of, authorized
Widow's » Were released from all obligation to former husbands
Widow's » Allowed to marry again
Wives » Duties of, to their husbands » To remain with them for life

Romans 7:4 (show verse)

Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law [i.e., were released from its binding requirements] through the body of Christ [Note: This seems to refer to Christ's death on the cross, but some think it refers to becoming a part of the church], so that you could belong to someone else, [namely] to Christ, who was raised from the dead in order that we might live spiritually productive lives for God.

Christ » Touched by others » Union with
The church » Subject to Christ
The Dead » Illustrative of » Freedom from the law
death » Figurative of regeneration
Fruit, spiritual » Conditions of fruit-bearing » Demanded
Fruitfulness » Spiritual encouraged
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Law » What occurs when there is no law
The law of God » Saints » Freed from the bondage of
the Law of moses » Christ » Abrogated, as a covenant of works
Service » How to serve the lord

Romans 7:5 (show verse)

For when we were in the flesh [i.e., before conversion], our sinful desires, aroused by [the restrictions of] the law of Moses, worked in our bodies to produce activity that led to [spiritual] death.

death » Figurative of regeneration
Evil » Kiss » Passions
Fall of man » Man in consequence of » In bondage to sin
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Law » What occurs when there is no law
The law of God » Man, by nature, not in subjection to
Service » How to serve the lord
Sin » The law » By its strictness stirs up

Romans 7:6 (show verse)

But now that we have died to what controlled us and have been released from [the requirements of] the law of Moses [i.e., under the Gospel age], we serve [God] in a new way [directed] by the Holy Spirit [Note: Some take "Spirit" here to be "spirit" and see it as describing the inner person], and not in the old way [directed] by the written law of Moses.

New creature » The believer as a
death » Figurative of regeneration
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Law » What occurs when there is no law
The law of God » Saints » Freed from the bondage of
Christian Liberty » Is freedom from » The law
Man » New » The believer as a
New » Man » The believer as a
New Birth » Described as » A new spirit
Service » How to serve the lord

Romans 7:7 (show verse)

What shall we say then? Is the law of Moses sinful? Certainly not! For I would not have known what sin was if it had not been for the law. For [example]; I would not have known [what it meant] to covet [i.e., have a strong desire for what belongs to someone else] except that the law said [Ex. 20:17], "You must not covet."

death » Figurative of regeneration
Law » What the law is
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Law » Bondage of » Purpose of
Law » What occurs when there is no law
The law of God » Gives the knowledge of sin
Purpose » Of law
Sin » The law » Gives knowledge of

Romans 7:8 (show verse)

So, through that commandment, sin found an opportunity to produce in my heart all kinds of improper desires for what belonged to others. For until there was the law, sin was dead [i.e., it did not stimulate excitement and activity as much].

death » Figurative of regeneration
Law » What the law is
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Law » What occurs when there is no law
Sin » The law » By its strictness stirs up

Romans 7:9 (show verse)

And I was [once] alive before being aware of the law [i.e., complacent and without a sense of guilt]; but when [awareness of] the commandment [not to sin] came, sin sprang to life,

death » Figurative of regeneration
Good and evil » Subjective conflict between
Law » What the law is
Law » Christ being the end of the law

Romans 7:10 (show verse)

and I died [i.e., came under its power]. And [so] the commandment, which was [intended] to bring [spiritual] life, actually brought [spiritual] death.

death » Figurative of regeneration
Good and evil » Subjective conflict between
Law » What the law is
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Ordination » What has been ordained

Romans 7:11 (show verse)

For by means of God's commandment [against sinning], sin found an opportunity to deceive me and [even] kill me [spiritually].

Carnality » Who is carnal
death » Spiritual
Error » Definition of » Sin deceptive
Good and evil » Subjective conflict between
Law » What the law is
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Sin » Conviction of, results of » Deceptive
Sin » The law » By its strictness stirs up
Transgression » Sin, definition of » Sin deceptive

Romans 7:12 (show verse)

So, the law of Moses itself is holy and the commandment [against sinning] is holy and just and good.

Carnality » Who is carnal
Commandment » The commandments of the lord
Good and evil » Subjective conflict between
Holiness » What is holy
Justice » What is just
Law » What the law is
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Law » Bondage of » Perfection of the divine
The law of God » Described as » Holy, just, and good
The bible » The law part of » Perfection of the divine
God's word » Perfection of the divine law

Romans 7:13 (show verse)

Was this [commandment] then, which was intended for my good, [actually] responsible for my [spiritual] death? Certainly not! But so that sin could be seen as [truly] sinful, it produced [spiritual] death in me through something that was good [i.e., the commandment against sinning]. This was so that, by means of the commandment [against sinning], sin could be seen as extremely sinful.

Carnality » Who is carnal
Good and evil » Subjective conflict between
Law » What the law is
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Sin » Sinfulness of
Sin » The law » Shows exceeding sinfulness of

Romans 7:14 (show verse)

For we know that the law of Moses is spiritual [i.e., from the Holy Spirit in origin and character], but I am fleshly, sold as a slave to sin. [Note: "Flesh" throughout this section refers to a person's natural inclinations to sin].

Bondage, spiritual » Sold under sin
Carnality » Who is carnal
The ten commandments » Law of, is spiritual
Evil » Where evil comes from
Good and evil » Subjective conflict between
Law » What the law is
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Law » Bondage of » Perfection of the divine
The law of God » Described as » Spiritual
Rebellion against God » Man is prone to
Sin » Secret » Sold under
Spirit/souls » What is spirit/spiritual
Stoicism » Paul teaches » That the "law of the mind" is at war with the "law of the members,"
The bible » The law part of » Perfection of the divine
God's word » Perfection of the divine law

Romans 7:15 (show verse)

For I do not [really] understand what I am doing; I practice what I do not want to and I hate what I do. [Note: This highly controversial section (verses 14b-25) is here viewed as the struggles of the apostle Paul after his conversion, and by extension, of all Christians. See Bruce, pages 150ff; Murray, pages 255ff; Lard, pages 236ff].

Error » Definition of » Despised by saints
Evil » Where evil comes from
Good and evil » Subjective conflict between
Law » What the law is
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Rebellion against God » Man is prone to
Sin » Defined » Despised by saints
Stoicism » Paul teaches » That the "law of the mind" is at war with the "law of the members,"
Transgression » Sin, definition of » Despised by saints

Romans 7:16 (show verse)

But if I do what I do not want to, I agree with the law [which condemns such conduct] that it is good.

Evil » Where evil comes from
Good and evil » Subjective conflict between
Law » What the law is
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Rebellion against God » Man is prone to
Stoicism » Paul teaches » That the "law of the mind" is at war with the "law of the members,"

Romans 7:17 (show verse)

So, now I am not [really] the one doing this, but [it is] sin which is living in me.

Evil » Where evil comes from
Flesh » What dwells in the flesh
Good and evil » Subjective conflict between
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Rebellion against God » Man is prone to
Sin » Saints » Have yet the remains of, in them
Sin » Where sin dwells
Stoicism » Paul teaches » That the "law of the mind" is at war with the "law of the members,"

Romans 7:18 (show verse)

For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh, for the desire to do good is present in my heart, but the ability to carry it out [consistently] is not.

Evil » Where evil comes from
Fall of man » Man in consequence of » Totally depraved
Flesh » What dwells in the flesh
The flesh » General references to man's carnal nature
Good and evil » Subjective conflict between
Ignorance » Of self » It retains sin in the heart
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Man » Of Christ » Natural, the
Rebellion against God » Man is prone to
ignorance of Self » It retains sin in the heart
Sin » Where sin dwells
Stoicism » Paul teaches » That the "law of the mind" is at war with the "law of the members,"
human Weakness » Helplessness, physical and spiritual of man

Romans 7:19 (show verse)

For I do not do the good [things] I want to, but I practice the evil [things] I do not want to.

Evil » Where evil comes from
Flesh » What dwells in the flesh
Good and evil » Subjective conflict between
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Sin » Where sin dwells
Stoicism » Paul teaches » That the "law of the mind" is at war with the "law of the members,"

Romans 7:20 (show verse)

But if I do what I do not want to, [then] I am no longer the one doing it, but [instead], it is sin which lives in me [i.e., that motivates such conduct].

Romans 7:21 (show verse)

So, I find this principle [at work]: [Although] I want to do what is good, evil is [always] present [and often wins out].

Evil » Where evil comes from
Flesh » What dwells in the flesh
Good and evil » Subjective conflict between
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Mind » What wars against the mind
Sin » Where sin dwells
Stoicism » Paul teaches » That the "law of the mind" is at war with the "law of the members,"
War/weapons » What wars against the mind

Romans 7:22 (show verse)

For in my heart I am delighted with God's law,

Evil » Where evil comes from
Flesh » What dwells in the flesh
Good and evil » Subjective conflict between
Law » Bondage of » In the heart
Law » Christ being the end of the law
The law of God » Saints » Delight in
Mind » What wars against the mind
New Birth » Described as » The inward man
New Birth » Produces » Delight in God's law
Sin » Where sin dwells
Spirit » Called "the inner man,"
Stoicism » Paul teaches » That the "law of the mind" is at war with the "law of the members,"
The bible » The law part of » In the heart
War/weapons » What wars against the mind

Romans 7:23 (show verse)

but I see a different law [at work] in my body, waging [spiritual] warfare against the law in my mind. It brings me into captivity to the law of sin in my body.

Battle of Life » The spiritual conflict characteristics of » An inward battle
Bondage, spiritual » General references to the bondage of sin
Bondage, spiritual » Is to sin
Captivity » Figurative
spiritual Conflict » Characteristics of » An inward battle
Evil » Where evil comes from
Fall of man » Man in consequence of » In bondage to sin
Flesh » What dwells in the flesh
Good and evil » Subjective conflict between
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Mind » What wars against the mind
Sin » General references to the bondage of sin
Sin » Saints » Have yet the remains of, in them
Sin » Where sin dwells
Spiritual » Physical inflicted physical healed » Bondage
Spiritual » Conflict characteristics of » An inward battle
Spiritual » Warfare characteristics of » An inward battle
Stoicism » Paul teaches » That the "law of the mind" is at war with the "law of the members,"
Thankfulness » Should be offered » For deliverance from indwelling sin, through Christ
Thanksgiving » Should be offered » For deliverance through Christ from in-dwelling sin
War » Illustrative of » The contest of saints with the enemies of their salvation
War » Figurative » Is against » The flesh
War/weapons » What wars against the mind
Warfare of saints » Is against » The flesh
spiritual Warfare » An inward battle

Romans 7:24 (show verse)

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body doomed to [spiritual] death?

Good and evil » Subjective conflict between
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Mind » What wars against the mind
Stoicism » Paul teaches » That the "law of the mind" is at war with the "law of the members,"
Thankfulness » Should be offered » For deliverance from indwelling sin, through Christ
Thanksgiving » Should be offered » For deliverance through Christ from in-dwelling sin
War » Figurative » Armor for » Over the flesh
War/weapons » What wars against the mind
Warfare of saints » Victory in, is » Over the flesh

Romans 7:25 (show verse)

Thank God [that I can be rescued] through [the power of] Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, I personally [try to] serve God's law with my mind, but [all too often] I serve the law of sin with my flesh [i.e., submitting in weakness to my human desires].

Flesh » The flesh
The flesh » General references to man's carnal nature
Good and evil » Subjective conflict between
Law » Christ being the end of the law
Man » Of Christ » Natural, the
Mind » What wars against the mind
Thankfulness » Should be offered » For deliverance from indwelling sin, through Christ
Thanksgiving » Should be offered » For deliverance through Christ from in-dwelling sin
War » Figurative » Armor for » Through Christ
War » Figurative » Armor for » Over the flesh
War » Figurative » Thank God for victory in
War/weapons » What wars against the mind
Warfare of saints » Victory in, is » Through Christ
Warfare of saints » Saints » Thank God for victory in
Warfare of saints » Victory in, is » Over the flesh