An American Commentary on the New Testament Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 Excerpt: ... is called 'old' because it perishes through the Spirit." For a like use of the word ' newness, ' see 6:4. That the new and hearty spiritual service was a service of God, and the old and literal service a service of sin, was so self-evident that no further definition was needed. When the life of a professed Christian contradicts this representation, it is no longer the Christian life. The effect of the law is to make sin known (-r. j) and to excite it to greater activity (ver. s-n), so that, while the law is good (ver. 12), it becomes the occasion of manifesting more fully the exceeding sinfulness of sin. (ver. 13.) 7. What shall we say then? Compare 4:1; 6:1. Is the law sin? A question suggested by ver. 5: "The motions of sins which were by the law." As the subject is abstract, an abstract predicate was suitable. He might have said: Is the law sinful? but that would have been less forcible. This question relates to the law as being itself sinful rather than as being simply causative of sin. God forbid. No; the law is not sin; that is not what I meant to say; but I did not know sin, etc.2 Except the law. I did not understand the essential nature and comprehensiveness of sin its power and enormity except by the law. Nay (for indeed, T- yip), I had not known lust--eoveteousness (as sin)--except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.3 Note the use of the prohibitory future, 'Thou shalt not covet, ' instead of the imperative. This legal (Old Testament) idiom "views the command as already obeyed in the future, and is, therefore, more commanding in tone than the imperative." (Philippi.) 1 The negative nv rather than ov is used in telic sentences, and with the infinitive after Wut. denoting consequence, though this consequence be ...