Romans 7:15

For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. FOR THAT WHICH I DO I ALLOW NOT, [ ginooskoo (G1097)] - literally (as in margin), 'I know not;' I recognize it not, approve it not: cf. Psalms 1:6, "The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous." 'In obeying the impulses of my carnal nature I act rather as the slave of another will than my own as a renewed man.' FOR WHAT I WOULD, THAT DO I NOT - better, 'for not what I would ('what I wish' or 'desire') that I do' [the touto (G5124) here is omitted by Tischendorf on quite inferior evidence, but retained by Lachmann and Tregelles]....

15._For what I do I know not_, _etc. _He now comes to a more particular case, that of a man already regenerated; (221) in whom both the things which he had in view appear more clearly; and these were, — the great discord there is between the Law of God and the natural man, — and how the law does not of itself produce death. For since the carnal man rushes into sin with the whole propensity of his mind, he seems to sin with such a free choice, as though it were in his power to govern himself; so that a most pernicious opinion has prevailed almost among all men — that man, by his own natural strength, without the aid of Divine grace, can choose what he pleases. But though the will of a faithful man is led to good by the Spirit of God, yet in him the corruption of nature appears conspicuously; for it obstinately resists and leads to what is contrary. Hence the case of a regenerated man is t...

14-17 Compared with the holy rule of conduct in the law of God, the apostle found himself so very far short of perfection, that he seemed to be carnal; like a man who is sold against his will to a hated master, from whom he cannot set himself at liberty. A real Christian unwillingly serves this hated master, yet cannot shake off the galling chain, till his powerful and gracious Friend above, rescues him. The remaining evil of his heart is a real and humbling hinderance to his serving God as angels do and the spirits of just made perfect. This strong language was the result of St. Paul's great advance in holiness, and the depth of his self-abasement and hatred of sin. If we do not understand this language, it is because we are so far beneath him in holiness, knowledge of the spirituality of God's law, and the evil of our own hearts, and hatred of moral evil. And many believers have adopt...

Verse Romans 7:15. _FOR, THAT WHICH I DO, I ALLOW NOT_, c.] The first clause of this verse is a general assertion concerning the employment of the person in question in the state which the apostle calls _carnal, and sold under sin_. The Greek word κατεργαξομαι which is here translated _I do_, means a _work_ which the agent _continues_ to _perform_ till it is _finished_, and is used by the apostle, Philippians 2:12, to denote the _continued employment_ of God's saints in his service to the end of their lives. WORK OUT _your own salvation_ the word here denotes an employment of a _different_ kind; and therefore the man who now feels the galling dominion of sin says, What I am _continually labouring_ at _I allow not_, ου γινωσκω, I do not...

FOR THAT WHICH I DO - That is, the evil which I do, the sin of which I am conscious, and which troubles me. I ALLOW NOT - I do not approve; I do not wish it; the prevailing bent of my inclinations and purposes is against it. Greek, “I know not;” see the margin. The word “know,” however, is sometimes used in the sense of approving, Revelation 2:24, “Which have not known (approved) the depths of Satan;” compare Psalms 101:4, I will not know a wicked person.” Jeremiah 1:5. FOR WHAT I WOULD - That which I approve; and which is my prevailing and established desire. What I would wish always to do....

EXPOSITION ROMANS 7:1 Here comes in the third illustration of the moral obligation of the baptized. It rests on the recognized principle that _death _cancels the claims of human law on a person (cf. Romans 6:7); and this with especial reference to the law of marriage, as being peculiarly applicable to the subject to be illustrated, since the Church is elsewhere regarded as married to Christ. As has been observed above, it is from _the Law _that Christians are now said to be emancipated in the death of Christ; not from _sin, as _in the previous sections. Hence this section might at first sight seem to introduce a new line of thought. But it is really a continuation of the same, though differently viewed; for, in the sense intended by St. Paul, being under th

FOR THAT WHICH I DO, I ALLOW NOT,.... The apostle having cleared the law from the charge of being the cause either of sin or death, and taken the blame to himself, proceeds to give an account of the struggle and combat he found in himself between the flesh and spirit; "that which I do, I allow not". That which he did was evil, since he allowed not of it; but this is to be understood not of any notorious crime committed by him, and repeated again and again; nor of a sinful course of life, for before his conversion he was not a profane man, but externally moral; and after his conversion, had his conversation in the world by the grace of God in righteousness and holiness; a vicious course of life being contrary to the grace of God implanted in him, and the doctrines of grace professed by him; but of internal lusts, the workings of corruptions in his heart, and which are real actions of the...

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? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress, but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man._ He merely states this as an illustration. Romans 7:4. _Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God._...

I DO I ALLOW NOT The apostle personifies the strife of the two natures in the believer, the old or Adamic nature, and the divine nature received through the new birth (1 Peter 1:23); (2 Peter 1:4); (Galatians 2:20); (Colossians 1:27). The "I" which is Saul of Tarsus, and the "I" which is Paul the apostle are at strife, and "Paul" is in defeat. In Chapter 8, this strife is effectually taken up on the believer's behalf by the Holy Spirit; (Romans 8:2); (Gala

CHAPTER 7 _ 1. The Law and its Dominion. (Romans 7:1 .)_ 2. Dead to the Law and Married to Another. (Romans 7:4 .) 3. Concerning the Law; its Activities and Purpose. (Romans 7:7 .) 4. The Experience of a Believer in Bondage to the Law. (Romans 7:14 .) 5. The Triumphant note of Deliverance. (Romans 7:25 .) Romans 7:1 The law is now more fully taken up. We have learned before that by the works of the law no man can be justified before God. But