“But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.”
But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from the law, sin is dead. — Here is Paul's paradox: sin is opportunistic, using the ἐντολή (entolē, "commandment") as a λαμβάνω (lambanō, "base/foothold") for amplification. Sin is not created by the law but awakened and intensified by it. The παράβασις (parábasis, "transgression") presupposes knowledge of law. Apart from law, sin lacks definition and, Paul claims, is "dead"—inactive or unrecognized.
Church Fathers on Romans 7:8
“But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence.” Do you see how he has cleared it of all blame? For “sin,” he says, “taking occasion by the commandment,” it was, and not the Law, that increased the concupiscence, and the reverse of the Law's intent was brought about. This came of weakness, and not of any badness. For when we desire a thing, and then are hindered of it, the flame of the desire is but increased. Now this came not of the…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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