Paul's testimony in chapter 7 of Romans
In regards to the word fulfilled I would like to add a foot note. It is translated from the Greek word pleroo.
From Mickelson's enhanced Strong's Greek and Hebrew Dictionaries.
G4137 πληρόω pleroo (play-roh'-o) v.
1. to fully, completely fill
2. (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow)
3. (figuratively) to fully supply, satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.
Pleroo which is to fully fill; completely fill. This how much of the righteousness of the Law is in us or should be in us who walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. Remember what John says? He says, " He that is doing righteousness is righteous even as HE (Jesus) is righteous.
"Even as" is a direct comparison to how Jesus was righteous. So How was Jesus righteous?
By GOD's indwelling Spirit. He says in John 14:10, "...but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."
As Paul wrote, "GOD works in us both to will and do HIS good pleasure."
With man this is impossible; but with GOD all things are possible!
Let’s take a closer look at the word mindas seen in verses 7:23,25; 8:5,6,7
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind(intellect, understanding),and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind (intellect, understanding) I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Why Intellect and understanding parenthesis?
Because it states in Mickelson’s Strong’s enhanced:
G3563 νοῦς nous (nous`) n.
1. the intellect
From the BDAG lexicon….
So if one is entertaining the flesh with their mind. The have made the flesh their purpose. They are in the flesh and they cannot please GOD.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
In regards to chapter 7 in Romans. The Christian walk is a battle of the old man vs the new. The old man (the "flesh", the sin nature) still exists, as Paul wrote.
However the beginning of chapter eight should actually be in the same chapter as seven. It is a continuation of Paul's testimony. Paul states he hath been made free from the law of sin and death. He is no longer in captivity to the Law of which was in his members; he is in the Spirit in Christ because Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh and condemned sin in the flesh; His flesh. That the righteousness of the law can be fulfilled in him (us). For Jesus Christ his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. So be healed and go and sin no more.For if after we have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
(1Pe 2:24; 2Pe 2:20)
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me (Paul) free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do (in Paul's mind), in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.(Rom 8:1-4)
Please notice in that there in only no condemnation if we are walking in the Spirit and that Jesus condemned sin; taking it away; nailing it to the cross that the righteousness be fulfilled (completely filled ) in us.
However the beginning of chapter eight should actually be in the same chapter as seven. It is a continuation of Paul's testimony. Paul states he hath been made free from the law of sin and death. He is no longer in captivity to the Law of which was in his members; he is in the Spirit in Christ because Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh and condemned sin in the flesh; His flesh. That the righteousness of the law can be fulfilled in him (us). For Jesus Christ his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. So be healed and go and sin no more.For if after we have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
(1Pe 2:24; 2Pe 2:20)
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me (Paul) free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do (in Paul's mind), in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.(Rom 8:1-4)
Please notice in that there in only no condemnation if we are walking in the Spirit and that Jesus condemned sin; taking it away; nailing it to the cross that the righteousness be fulfilled (completely filled ) in us.
In regards to the word fulfilled I would like to add a foot note. It is translated from the Greek word pleroo.
From Mickelson's enhanced Strong's Greek and Hebrew Dictionaries.
G4137 πληρόω pleroo (play-roh'-o) v.
1. to fully, completely fill
2. (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow)
3. (figuratively) to fully supply, satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.
Pleroo which is to fully fill; completely fill. This how much of the righteousness of the Law is in us or should be in us who walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. Remember what John says? He says, " He that is doing righteousness is righteous even as HE (Jesus) is righteous.
"Even as" is a direct comparison to how Jesus was righteous. So How was Jesus righteous?
By GOD's indwelling Spirit. He says in John 14:10, "...but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."
As Paul wrote, "GOD works in us both to will and do HIS good pleasure."
With man this is impossible; but with GOD all things are possible!
Let’s take a closer look at the word mindas seen in verses 7:23,25; 8:5,6,7
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind(intellect, understanding),and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind (intellect, understanding) I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Why Intellect and understanding parenthesis?
Because it states in Mickelson’s Strong’s enhanced:
G3563 νοῦς nous (nous`) n.
1.
, i.e. the mind
2.
(by implication) meaning...2.
From the BDAG lexicon….
a) mind, intellect as the side of life contrasted w. physical existence,
the higher, mental part of a human being that initiates thoughts and plans (Apollonius of Tyana [I A.D.] in Eus., PE 4, 13; Orig., C. Cels. 8, 38, 21; 52, 24; Did., Gen. 57, 26): ὁ νόμος τοῦ νοός (μου) the law of (my) intellect Ro 7:22 v.l., 23. (Opp. σάρξ) τῷ ν. δουλεύειν νόμῳ θεοῦ serve the law of God w.
one’s intellect vs. 25.
b)
understanding, mind as faculty[SM1] of thinking...b)
Romans 7:23, 25 are referring to an acknowledgement to one’s understanding. Paul says he gets it. His intellect understands and his mind is a slave to it, but it does not help him gain victory over the sin in his flesh.
Now for Rom 8:5, “For they that are after the flesh do
mind (entertain, exercise )Now for Rom 8:5, “For they that are after the flesh do
the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”
Why entertain and exercise in parenthesis?
Because Mickelson’ Strong’s affirms:
G5426 φρονέω phroneo (fron-eh'-o) v.
1.
to exercise the mind,Why entertain and exercise in parenthesis?
Because Mickelson’ Strong’s affirms:
G5426 φρονέω phroneo (fron-eh'-o) v.
1.
i.e.
entertain or have a sentiment or opinion
2. (by implication) to be (mentally) disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction)
3. (intensively) to interest oneself in (with concern or obedience)
The BDAG states:
1) to have an opinion with regard to someth., think, form/hold an opinion, judge…
2)
to give careful consideration to someth., set one’s mind on, be intent on2. (by implication) to be (mentally) disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction)
3. (intensively) to interest oneself in (with concern or obedience)
The BDAG states:
1) to have an opinion with regard to someth., think, form/hold an opinion, judge…
2)
, foll. by the acc. (Brutus, Ep. 14 τὰ σὰ φρ.)….
3) to develop an attitude based on careful thought,
be minded3) to develop an attitude based on careful thought,
/disposed…
And finally Rom 8:6,7 “For to be carnally
minded (inclined, purposed)And finally Rom 8:6,7 “For to be carnally
is death; but to be spiritually
minded (inclined, purposed) is life and peace. Because the carnal
mind (inclined, purposed) is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. ”
Why inclined and purpose in parenthesis?
Because Mickelson's work confirms it.
G5427 φρόνημα phronema (fron'-ay-mah) n.
1.
(mental) inclination or purposeWhy inclined and purpose in parenthesis?
Because Mickelson's work confirms it.
G5427 φρόνημα phronema (fron'-ay-mah) n.
1.
…
BDAG:
φρόνημα, ατος, τό (fr. φρήν via φρονέω; Aeschyl., Hdt. et al.; Vett. Val. 109, 2; 2 Macc 7:21; 13:9; Philo, Joseph.; Hippol., Ref. 1, 2, 1 [philosophical: ‘point of view’])
the faculty of fixing one’s mind on someth., way of thinking, mindset...BDAG:
φρόνημα, ατος, τό (fr. φρήν via φρονέω; Aeschyl., Hdt. et al.; Vett. Val. 109, 2; 2 Macc 7:21; 13:9; Philo, Joseph.; Hippol., Ref. 1, 2, 1 [philosophical: ‘point of view’])
So if one is entertaining the flesh with their mind. The have made the flesh their purpose. They are in the flesh and they cannot please GOD.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.