Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Romans 7:13

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

That is, that it might be shown what great evil sin is, namely, a listless will, an inclinableness to the worse side, the actual doing, and the perverted judgment. For this is the cause of all the evils; but he amplifies it by pointing out the exceeding grace of Christ, and teaching them what an evil He freed the human race from, which, by the medicines used to cure it, had become worse, and was increased by the preventives. …

Homily on Romans 12 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

The Law, he says, did not become death for me, but sin put me to death, so that it would become clear what an evil sin is, and that despite the healing provided by the Law, it became worse. And by sin, as we said above, understand both the will inclined toward pleasure, and the inclination toward sin, and therefore the devil, and the very activity driven by pleasure. Thanks be to Christ, who freed us from such evil! What a ruin sin is, this was revealed through the commandment; for sin took advantage of the commandment unto death. …

Commentary on Romans ↗

Methodius of Olympus

What thou? "Was then that which is good made death unto me? " namely, that which was given as a law, that it might be the cause of the greatest good? "God forbid." For it was not the law of God that became the cause of my being brought into subjection to corruption, but the devil; that he might be made manifested who, through that which is good, wrought evil; that the inventor of evil might become and be proved the greatest of all sinners.

From the Discourse on the Resurrection ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Then, when he says, did that then which is good, he raises a question in regard to the effect of the law. First, the question, saying, did that then which is good, namely, in itself, bring death unto me, i.e., act as a per se cause of death? For someone could falsely gather this from what he stated above, namely, that the commandment that was ordained to life . . . was found to be unto death to me. Second, he answers negatively, saying, God forbid. …

Commentary on Romans ↗