Can I ask you something?
If I wanted understanding of the following for example, would concordances be needed or helpful? Or, would I need the Holy Spirit solely to inform/enlighten me when specifically in Paul's life he was referring to and how/why sin could take occasion of the commandment to arouse all manner of concupiscence in him, and the rest of the passage to?
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. rom7:7-11
Firstly I have no idea what concupiscence means
Maybe explain that to me.
If we are talking about Romans 7:7-11 I have read the verses through to
Romans 7:7-25
The History and Experience of Jews under the Law
7 Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.”
8 But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power.
9 At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life,
10 and I died. So I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead.
11 Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me.
12 But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.
13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.
14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.
15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.
16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.
17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.
19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
22 I love God’s law with all my heart.
23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.
24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?
25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
So in all honesty I've read many explanations concerning this. Mainly verses 15-25.
Two sides of the coin here with regards to this.
Paul pre believer and Paul as a believer.
Not looked at concordances on this.
But as said read a lot about it. To me no Greek nuances needed here.
But this whole chapter does my head in.
I have prayed and begged God for understanding.
You see when I sin to me it is me doing it.
Some translations use "Sinful Nature" like the above. But the word nature is actually "Sarx" which is flesh.
As follows
Romans 7:18-20
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
So I can't answer your question.
Because I don't get this chapter.
Yet I know I sin and I have no idea why. Because I hate my sin with a passion.
I do not walk after the flesh but I fail.
But is my nature sinful or my flesh?
Either way we know that Paul goes on to Romans 8.
Still does not help me though.
Because I still sin.
Sorry I can't answer the question asked.