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Rom. 5: 20 - 7: 25.
A1 | 5: 20, 21. STATEMENT.--Where sin abounded grace did much more abound.
B1 | 6: 1. QUESTION.--Shall we continue in sin that grace abound?
C1 | 6: 2. REPUDIATION.--God forbid (me genoito).
D1 | 6: 3-14. ANSWER.--
| The dominion of sin and death (6: 9, 14).
| The body of sin "destroyed" (katargeo) (6: 6).
| Newness of life (6: 4).
A2 | 6: 14. STATEMENT.--Ye are not under the law but under grace.
B2 | 6: 15. QUESTION.--Shall we sin because not under law but grace?
C2 | 6: 15. REPUDIATION.--God forbid (me genoito).
D2 | 6: 16 - 7: 6. ANSWER.--
| The dominion of law (7: 1).
| The law "delivered from" (katargeo) (7: 2-6).
| Newness of spirit (7: 6).
A3 | 7: 6. STATEMENT.--We were delivered from the law.
B3 | 7: 7. QUESTION.--Is the law sin?
C3 | 7: 7. REPUDIATION.--God forbid (me genoito).
D3 | 7: 7-12. ANSWER.--
| The law of God and the law of sin (7: 7, 12).
| The conflict (7: 8, 11).
| "I died"; "unto death"; "slew me" (7: 9-11).
A4 | 7: 12. STATEMENT.--The law is holy . . . . . just and good.
B4 | 7: 13. QUESTION.--Was that which is good made death unto me?
C4 | 7: 13. REPUDIATION.--God forbid (me genoito).
D4 | 7: 13-25. ANSWER.--
| The law of God and the law of (7: 13-23).
| The deliverance (vii.24, 25).
| The body of this death (7: 24).
We have retained the A.V. translation "God forbid", but would draw attention to the
fact that me genoito simply means: "Let it not become so." Looking at the four great
answers which constitutes the bulk of these chapters, we find that the first is occupied
with the dominion of sin and of death, the second with the dominion of law, the third and
fourth with the law of God and the law of sin, and the conflict and the deliverance
connected with them respectively. The intention of the writer in the use of the word
katargeo in 6: 6, where he speaks of the body of sin being "destroyed", is illuminated
by the sequel in Rom. 7: 2 and 6, where it is used of the "loosing" and "delivering"
from the law. "The body of this death" (7: 24) is prepared for by the statements:
"I died", "I found to be unto death" and "sin . . . . . by it slew me" (7: 7-12).
Quite a feature of these chapters is the appeal to knowledge, and the apostle has been
led to use a variety of words in his endeavour to make the matter clear. Let us observe
those used and their different shades of meaning:--