Romans 7:4 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Wherefore, my brethren Hence it follows, or by this comparison it appears; ye also Believing Jews, and much more believing Gentiles; are become dead to the law Taken off from all hopes of justification by it, and confidence in your obedience to it: and so likewise it has become dead to you, and has no life or efficacy in these respects; by the body of Christ By the offering up of Christ's body on the cross; that is, by the merit of his death, by which it evidently appears, that there is no other way of making reconciliation for sin, or of obtaining deliverance from wrath but by that; his death and sufferings having now accomplished the design of the law, and abrogated its authority; and it, therefore, expiring with him. That ye should be married to another (2 Corinthians 11:2;) so that you must now give up yourselves to Christ, as your second husband, that you may be justified by faith in him. The apostle speaks of Christ as the husband of the believing Jews, because he was now become their Lord and head; and he calls him another husband, because they had been formerly, as it were, married to the Mosaic law, and relied on that alone for salvation. And the crucifixion of their old man, or corrupt nature, and their obtaining a new nature, through the death of Christ, was a fit preparation of them for being espoused to Christ. Who is raised from the dead Who is alive himself, and will bestow spiritual life on those that believe on him, and give up themselves to him; that we should bring forth fruit Namely, of holiness and good works, Galatians 5:22; unto God To his glory, Matthew 5:16; John 15:8; Philippians 1:11. In this passage the union of Christ with his people is represented as a marriage, as it is also Ephesians 5:31-32; Revelation 21:9; Revelation 22:17. The apostles probably took that idea from the ancient phraseology concerning the Jews. See on Romans 7:2. But from whatever source it was derived, it is a strong representation of the friendship and endearment which subsists, and to all eternity will subsist, between Christ and believers, and of the happiness which they will derive from his love to them, and from their entire subjection to him.