Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Romans: Chapter 7].
to\ and the infinitive. First mention of the saints as wedded to
Christ as their Husband occurs in 1Co 6:13; Ga 4:26. See
further Eph 5:22-33. {That we might bring forth fruit unto God}
(\hina karpophor•s•men t•i the•i\). He changes the metaphor to
that of the tree used in 6:22.
7:5 {In the flesh} (\en t•i sarki\). Same sense as in 6:19 and
7:18,25. The "flesh" is not inherently sinful, but is subject
to sin. It is what Paul means by being "under the law." He uses
\sarx\ in a good many senses. {Sinful passions} (\ta path•mata
t•n hamarti•n\). "Passions of sins" or marked by sins. {Wrought}
(\energeito\). Imperfect middle of \energe•\, "were active." {To
bring forth fruit unto death} (\eis to karpophor•sai t•i
thanat•i\). Purpose clause again. Vivid picture of the seeds of
sin working for death.
7:6 {But now} (\nuni de\). In the new condition. {Wherein we were
holden} (\en h•i kateichometha\). Imperfect passive of \katech•\,
picture of our former state (same verb in 1:18). {In newness of
spirit} (\en kainot•ti pneumatos\). The death to the letter of
the law (the old husband) has set us free to the new life in
Christ. So Paul has shown again the obligation on us to live for
Christ.
7:7 {Is the law sin?} (\ho nomos hamartia?\). A pertinent query
in view of what he had said. Some people today oppose all
inhibitions and prohibitions because they stimulate violations.
That is half-baked thinking. {I had not known sin} (\t•n
hamartian ouk egn•n\). Second aorist indicative of \gin•sk•\, to
know. It is a conclusion of a second class condition, determined
as unfulfilled. Usually \an\ is used in the conclusion to make it
plain that it is second class condition instead of first class,
but occasionally it is not employed when it is plain enough
without as here (Joh 16:22,24). See on ¯Ga 4:15. So as to {I
had not known coveting} (lust), \epithumian ouk •idein\. But all
the same the law is not itself sin nor the cause of sin. Men with
their sinful natures turn law into an occasion for sinful acts.
7:8 {Finding occasion} (\aphorm•n labousa\). See 2Co 5:12;
11:12; Ga 5:13 for \aphorm•n\, a starting place from which to
rush into acts of sin, excuses for doing what they want to do.
Just so drinking men use the prohibition laws as "occasions" for
violating them. {Wrought in me} (\kateirgasato en emoi\). First
aorist active middle indicative of the intensive verb
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