It is in sharp contrast with wvedua spirit (Gal. iii. 8, 19; v. 16, 17, 19-24; vi. 8; Rom. viii. 4). The flesh and the spirit are thus antagonistic. 2dp£ flesh, is the human nature without the divine Spirit ; the state of the creature before or in contrast with his reception of the divine element whereby he becomes a new creature in Christ: the whole being of man as it exists and acts apart from the influence of the Spirit. It properly characterizes, therefore, not merely the lower forms of sensual gratification, but all—the highest developments of the life estranged from God, whether physical, intellectual, or aesthetic.
It must be carefully noted :
1. That Paul does not identify flesh and sin. Compare flesh of sin, Rom. viii. 3. See Rom. vii. 17, 18; 2 Cor. vii. 1; Gal. ii. 20.
2. That Paul does not rdentify odpE with the material body
Cu. VIL] THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS. Tt
nor associate sin exclusively and predominantly with the body. The flesh is the flesh of the living man animated by the soul (yrvx7) as its principle of life, and is distinctly used as codérd- inate with a@vIpwmos man. As in the Old Testament, “it embraces in an emphatic manner the nature of man, mental and corporeal, with its internal distinctions.” The spirit as well as the flesh is capable of defilement (2 Cor. vii. 1; com- pare 1 Cor. vii. 84). Christian life is to be transformed by the renewing of the mind (Rom. xii. 2; compare Eph. iv. 28).
3. That Paul does not identify the material side of man with evil. The flesh is not the native seat and source of sin. It is only its organ, and the seat of sin’s manifestation. Matter is not essentially evil. The logical consequence of this would be that no service of God is possible while the material organ- ism remains. See Rom. xii. 1. The flesh is not necessarily sinful in itself; but as it has existed from the time of the in- troduction of sin through Adam, it is recognized by Paul as tainted with sin. Jesus appeared in the flesh, and yet was sin- less (2 Cor. v. 21).
The motions of sins (ta radSnjuata tov auaptiav). Motions was used in earlier English for emotions or impulses. Thus Bacon: ‘ He that standeth at a stay where others rise, can hardly avoid motions of envy” (‘‘ Essay” xiv.). The word is nearly synonymous with mdJos passion (ch. i., 26, note). From maSew to suffer; a feeling which the mind undergoes, a pass- ion, desire. Rev., sinful passions: which led to sins.
Did work (évypyeiro). Rev., wrought. See 2 Cor. i. 6; iv. 12; Eph. iii. 20; Gal. v. 6; Philip. ii. 13; Col. i. 29. Compare Mark vi. 14, and see on power, John i. 12.
6. We are delivered (xarnpyjInuev). Rev., have been dis- charged, as the woman, ver. 2. See on ch. iii. 3.
We were held. Lit., held down. See on ch. i. 18.
7. | had not known (ov« éyvov). Rev., correctly, J did not know. See on John ii. 24. The Jrefers to Paul himself. He speaks in the first person, declaring concerning himself what is meant to apply to every man placed under the Mosaic law, as
78 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. VII.
respects his relation to that law, before and after the revolu. tion in his inner life brought about through his connection with that law. His personal experience is not excluded, but represents the universal experience.*
Lust (éuduulav). Rev., coveting. See on Mark iy. 19. 8. Sin. Personified.
Occasion (agopyijv). Emphatic, expressing the relation of the law to sin. The law is not sin, but sin found occasion in the law. Used only by Paul. See 2 Cor. v. 12; Gal v. 1350 Tim. v.14. The verb ddopydw means to make a start Jrom a place. °*Adoppy is therefore primarily a starting-point, a base of operations. The Lacedaemonians agreed that Peloponnesus would be agoppny ixaviy a good base of operations (Thucydides, i, 90). Thus, the origin, cause, occasion, or pretext of a thing ; the means with which one begins. Generally, resources, as means of war, capital in business. Here the law is represented as furnishing sin with the material or ground of assault, “the fulcrum for the energy of the evil principle.” Sin took the law as a base of operations.