A Brighter Day Begins with His Word.

Bengel, Johann Albrecht, 1687-1752 • SECTION 89

Romans Vii. 8, 9.

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degree is denied, is expressive of increase.1 A/jjupria, sin , is as it were sinful matter, from which all manner of [The all taken from naffuv exiQvfita, v, ver. 8] disease and paroxysm of concupis- cence [ver. 8] originates. — oux syvuv, I had not known) Paul often sets forth his discourse indefinitely in the first person, not only for the sake of perspicuity, hut from the constant application of what is said to himself ; see 1 Cor. v. 12, vi. 12. And so also in this passage. — rqv re yap emduftfav, for even lust) 'H ufiapria, sin , is more deeply seated [inward] and recondite : r\ lusty

rather assails [rushes into] the sense, and at the same time betrays [the inwardly seated] sin, as smoke does fire. The particles re yap, for even indicate this diopur/Aog, this contra-dis- tinction ; and sin, that one indwelling evil, works out [pro- duces] a variety of lust [all manner of concupiscence] : see what follows ; and again lust brings forth sin consummated [finished'], James i. 15. [$m lies concealed in man , as heat in drink , which , if we were to judge by mere sensation , may possibly at the time be very cold , Y. g.] — obx fide tv, I had not known) lust to he an evil ; or rather, I had not known [even the existence of] lust itself ; its motion at length [when the law came, then and not till then] met the eye. — eXsysi/, said) Moreover it said so, [first] by itself ; then, [also] in my mind : comp, when the law came , ver. 9.

8. A id rrig evroArjg , by the commandment) The construction is with the following verb [xareipyutaro, wrought concupiscence by the commandment. Not as Engl. V., Taking occasion by the com- mandment, here and at ver. 11] ; as in ver. 11 twice. — xuP‘- — vexpd, without — dead) A self-evident principle. — vexpa, dead) viz. was : it did not so much rage through concupiscence : or the word to he supplied may be, is.

9. J,E I was alive) Zfiv here does not merely signify to pass one's life, but it is put in direct antithesis to death. This is the pharisaic tone, comp, the following verse. [I seemed to myself indeed to be extremely well, Y. g.] — yj*pk vofiov, without the law) the law being taken out of the way, being kept at a distance, as if it did not exist. — eXOoutfrig) The antithesis to yupig. — evroXfjg, the commandment) svroXfi, a commandment is part of the law^, with the addition of a more express idea in it of

1 The increase in force is this ; I had not full knowledge (syvav) of sin, nay I had not even been at all sensible (fidstv) of lust. — Ed.

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Public domain historical edition (1859); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.

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