Romans Chapter 7

“Know ye not, brethren, etc..] The apostle having asserted, (<450614>Romans 6:14), that the believing Romans were “not under the law”; which he knew would be displeasing to many, and excepted to by them, especially the Jews that were among them, who though they believed in Christ, yet were zealous of the law, takes it up again, and explains and defends it. That they were the Jewish converts at Rome he here particularly addresses, appears partly from his calling them “brethren”, for they were so according to the flesh, as well as in a spiritual relation, and this he rather mentions to soften their resentments, and…”

“SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED. (Rom. 7:1-25) I speak to them that know the law--of Moses to whom, though not themselves Jews (see on Rom 1:13), the Old Testament was familiar.”

“Know ye not - This is an appeal to their own observation respecting the relation between husband and wife. The illustration Romans 7:2-3 is designed simply to show that as when a man dies, and the connection between him and his wife is dissolved, his Law ceases to be binding on her, so also a separation has taken place between Christians and the Law, in which they have become dead to it, and they are not now to attempt to draw their life and peace from it, but from that new source with which they are connected by the gospel, Romans 7:4. For I speak to them ... - Probably the apostle refers here more particularly…”

“The apostle continues the comparison between the former and the present state of a believer, and at the same time endeavours to wean the Jewish believers from their fondness for the Mosaic law. I speak to them that know the law - To the Jews chiefly here. As long - So long, and no longer. As it liveth - The law is here spoken of, by a common figure, as a person, to which, as to an husband, life and death are ascribed. But he speaks indifferently of the law being dead to us, or we to it, the sense being the same. Romans 7:2”

“7:1 Both Jewish Christians and many of the Gentile Christians were familiar with the law. Jews were taught the law of Moses from birth. Many of the Gentiles in the church at Rome had been God-fearers, Gentiles who were interested in Judaism and attended the synagogue regularly. • the law applies only while a person is living: Paul may be paraphrasing a rabbinic saying: “If a person is dead, he is free from the Torah and the fulfilling of the commandments” (Babylonian Shabbat 30a; baraita Shabbat 151).”

“Know: Rom 6:3 brethren: Rom 9:3, Rom 10:1 them that: Rom 2:17, Rom 2:18; Ezr 7:25; Pro 6:23; Co1 9:8; Gal 4:21 the law: Rom 7:6, Rom 6:14 a man: Or, person, either man or woman; ανθρωπος \[Strong's G444\] and homo having this extent of signification. Romans 7:2”