Paul personified sin as acting here. Sin plays the part of the tempter. It deceived Paul and slew him (cf. Genesis 3). Paul"s sinful nature urged him, typical of all people, to do the very thing the commandment forbade. [source][source][source]
"As the new Christian grows, he comes into contact with various philosophies of the Christian life. He can read books, attend seminars, listen to tapes, and get a great deal of information. If he is not careful, he will start following a human leader and accept his teachings as Law. This practice is a very subtle form of legalism, and it kills spiritual growth. No human teacher can take the place of Christ; no book can take the place of the Bible. Men can give us information, but only the Spirit can give us illumination and help us understand spiritual truths. The Spirit enlightens us and enables us; no human leader can do that." [1][source]
Context Summary
Romans 7:1-13 - The Law Makes Sin Known
To make his meaning clear the Apostle now enters upon a parable drawn from domestic life. He says that we are married to the Law as our first husband, and seek, through union with it, to bring forth fruit unto God. Every convert earnestly endeavors, in the first impulse of the new life, to be good and to form, by incessant effort, a life that is pleasing to God. Like Cain we bring the fruit of the ground, extorted from the soil by the sweat of the brow.
But we are soon disappointed in the result. Our laborious care ends in failure. Sinful desires are too masterful. As Luther said, "The old Adam is too strong for the young Melanchthon." Then we see that the Cross has put death between us and our painful effort. We learn that the marriage contract which bound us to our first husband, the Law, has been dissolved. We are set free to enter into marriage union with the blessed Lord, and He, by His indwelling Spirit, effects in us what our own energies have failed to produce. We are joined to Him that was raised up from the dead, and bring forth fruit unto God. [source]
Chapter Summary: Romans 7
1No law has power over a man longer than he lives 4But we are dead to the law 7Yet is not the law sin; 12but holy, just and good; 16as I acknowledge, who am grieved because I cannot keep it
Greek Commentary for Romans 7:11
Beguiled me [εχηπατησεν με] First aorist active indicative of εχαπαταω exapataō old verb, completely See note on 1 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 11:3. Only in Paul in N.T. [source]
Slew me [apekteinen)] First aorist active indicative of apokteinō old verb. “Killed me off,” made a clean job of it. Sin here is personified as the tempter (Genesis 3:13). [source]
John 8:44Murderer [ἀνθρωποκτόνος] Only here and 1 John 3:15. Literally, a manslayer; from ἄνθρωπος , man, and κτείνω , to kill. The epithet is applied to Satan, not with reference to the murder of Abel, but to the fact of his being the author of death to the race. Compare Romans 7:8,Romans 7:11; Hebrews 2:14. [source]
Romans 5:20Might abound [πλεονάσῃ] Not primarily of the greater consciousness and acknowledgment of sin, but of the increase of actual transgression. The other thought, however, may be included. See Romans 7:7,Romans 7:8,Romans 7:9,Romans 7:11. [source]
2 Timothy 1:5Having been reminded [υπομνησιν λαβων] “Having received (second aorist active participle of λαμβανω lambanō) a reminder” (old word from υπομιμνησκω hupomimnēskō to remind, in N.T. only here and 1 Peter 1:13). For the idiom see note on Romans 7:8,Romans 7:11. A reminder by another while αναμνησις anamnēsis remembrance (1 Corinthians 11:24.) is rather a recalling by oneself (Vincent). [source]
Hebrews 3:13So long as it is called today [αχρις ου το σημερον καλειται] The only instance in the N.T. of this conjunction Lest any one of you be hardened Negative purpose clause with ινα μη hina mē (that not) and the first aorist passive subjunctive of σκληρυνω sklērunō the vivid verb from Hebrews 3:8. By the deceitfulness of sin Instrumental case απατηι apatēi (trick, fraud) as is always the case with sin (Romans 7:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:10). Apostasy (Hebrews 12:4) is their peril and it is a trick of sin. [source]
What do the individual words in Romans 7:11 mean?
Theforsinan occasionhaving takenbythecommandmentdeceivedmeandbyitput [me] to death
Greek Commentary for Romans 7:11
First aorist active indicative of εχαπαταω exapataō old verb, completely See note on 1 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 11:3. Only in Paul in N.T. [source]
First aorist active indicative of apokteinō old verb. “Killed me off,” made a clean job of it. Sin here is personified as the tempter (Genesis 3:13). [source]
Rev., beguiled Only in Paul. Compare 2 Corinthians 11:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:3. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 7:11
Only here and 1 John 3:15. Literally, a manslayer; from ἄνθρωπος , man, and κτείνω , to kill. The epithet is applied to Satan, not with reference to the murder of Abel, but to the fact of his being the author of death to the race. Compare Romans 7:8, Romans 7:11; Hebrews 2:14. [source]
Not primarily of the greater consciousness and acknowledgment of sin, but of the increase of actual transgression. The other thought, however, may be included. See Romans 7:7, Romans 7:8, Romans 7:9, Romans 7:11. [source]
First aorist passive participle of εχαπατεω exapateō old compound verb, in N.T. only by Paul (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Romans 7:11; Romans 16:18; 1 Timothy 2:14). Not certain that εχ eẋ here means “completely deceived” in contrast to simplex (ουκ ηπατητη ouk ēpatēthē) used of Adam, though possible. [source]
“Having received (second aorist active participle of λαμβανω lambanō) a reminder” (old word from υπομιμνησκω hupomimnēskō to remind, in N.T. only here and 1 Peter 1:13). For the idiom see note on Romans 7:8, Romans 7:11. A reminder by another while αναμνησις anamnēsis remembrance (1 Corinthians 11:24.) is rather a recalling by oneself (Vincent). [source]
The only instance in the N.T. of this conjunction Lest any one of you be hardened Negative purpose clause with ινα μη hina mē (that not) and the first aorist passive subjunctive of σκληρυνω sklērunō the vivid verb from Hebrews 3:8. By the deceitfulness of sin Instrumental case απατηι apatēi (trick, fraud) as is always the case with sin (Romans 7:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:10). Apostasy (Hebrews 12:4) is their peril and it is a trick of sin. [source]