In common with én members, it is the instrument of feel- ing and willing rather than cdp€, because the object in such cases is to designate the body not definitely as earthly, but gen- erally as organic, Rom. vi. 12, 13,19; 2 Cor. v. 10. Hence, wherever it is viewed with reference to sin er sanctification, it
Cu. VI.] THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS. 69
is the outward organ for the execution of the good or bad re- solves of the will.
The phrase body of sin denotes the body belonging to, or ruled by, the power of sin, in which the members are instru- ments of unrighteousness (ver. 13). Not the body as containing the principle of evil in our humanity, since Paul does not re- gard sin as inherent in, and inseparable from, the body (see ver. 13; 2 Cor. iv. 10-12; vii. 1. Compare Matt. xv. 19), nor as precisely identical with the old man, an organism or system of evil dispositions, which does not harmonize with vv. 12, 13, where Paul uses body in the strict sense. ‘‘Sin is conceived as the master, to whom the body as slave belongs and is obedient to execute its will. As the slave must perform his definite functions, not because he 7m himself can perform no others, but because of his actwally subsistent relationship of service he may perform no others, while of himself he might belong as well to another master and render other services ; so the earthly capa body belongs not of itself to the auapria sin, but may just as well belong to the Lord (1 Cor. vi. 13), and doubtless it is de facto enslaved to sin, so long as a redemption from this state has not set in by virtue of the divine Spirit ” (Rom. vii. 24: Dickson).
Destroyed. See on iii. 3.
He that is dead (6 ao3avov). Rev., literally, he that hath died. In a physical sense. Death and its consequences are used as the general illustration of the spiritual truth. Itisa habit of Paul to throw in such general illustrations. See vii. 2.
7. Is freed (Seducalwrav). Lit., as Rev., is justefied ; i.e., acquitted, absolved ; just as the dead person sins no more, being released from sin as from a legal claim. “As a man that is dead is acquitted and released from bondage among men, 80 a man that has died to sin is acquitted from the guilt of sin and released from its bondage” (Alford).
8. We be dead (dzre9dvopuev). The aorist. Rev., correctly, we died. The death is viewed as an event, not as a state.
70 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Ca VL
We believe (aucrevouev). Dogmatic belief rather than trust, though the latter is not excluded.
Shall live with (cuvEjcouev). Participation of the be- liever’s sanctified life with the life of Christ rather than parti- cipation in future glory, which is not the point emphasized. Compare ver. 11.
10. In that He died (3 yap aré9avev). Lit., what he died ; the death which he died. Compare sin a sin, 1 John v. 16; the life which I live, literally, what I tive, Gal. ii. 20.
Once (éddma£). More literally, as Rev., in margin, once jor all. Compare Heb. vii. 27; ix. 12; x. 10.
12. Reign (Bacvnevérw). The antithesis implied is not be- tween reigning and existing, but between reigning and being deposed.
Body. Literal, thus according with members, ver. 138.
13. Yield (aapiordvere). Put at the service of; render. Rev., present. Compare Luke ii. 22; Acts ix. 41; Rom. xii. 1. See on Acts i. 3.
Members (uéAn). Physical; though some include mental faculties. Compare Col. iii. 5, where members is expounded by fornication, uncleanness, etc., the physical being a symbol of the moral, of which it is the instrument.
Instruments (d7Aa). The word is used from the earliest times of tools or instruments generally. In Homer of a ship’s tackle, smith’s tools, implements of war, and in the last sense more especially in later Greek. In the New Testament dis- tinctly of instruments of war (John xviii. 3; 2 Cor. vi. 7; x. 4), Here probably with the same meaning, the conception being that of sin and righteousness as respectively rulers of op- posing sovereignties (compare rezgn, ver. 12, and have dominion, ver. 14), and enlisting men in their armies. Hence the exhort- ation is, do not offer your members as weapons with which the rule of unrighteousness may be maintained, but offer them to God in the service of righteousness.