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NASB | Romans 7:23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 7:23 but I see a different law and rule of action in the members of my body [in its appetites and desires], waging war against the law of my mind and subduing me and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is within my members. |
Bible Question:
I just finished reading the very short work entitled "The Enemy Within" by Kris Lundgaard. (It is a very good read, and reads quite easily. (Well, easily in the sense of the language... difficult in the sense of how it made me look squarely into the face of my Adamic nature.) I recommend it to anyone.) Lundgaard argues that Paul is using the word "law" (translated as "principle" in verse 21) in this verse and following as a metaphor. This gave me pause. Checking various commentators, I find general -- though not explicit -- agreement. I'm interested in the various opinions of my fellow forum members regarding how Paul uses this word in this context. Thank you. In Him, Doc |
Bible Answer: Doc, Rom 7:21-24 "I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" "7:22 the law of sin: Traditionally called concupiscence, which is the inclination of fallen man to missues his free will in sinful and selfish ways. It manifests itself as an unremitting desire for pleasure, power and possessions. Even the baptised have to wrestle with thisinner force, although Paul insists that the Spirit can give victory over its unmanageable urges (8:2,13). So concupiscence reamins in the believer, but it need not rule us like a tyrant. (6:12-14)(CCC 405, 1426, 2520) footnote from the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible "405 Although it is proper to each individual, original sin does not have the character of a personal fault in any of Adam's descendants. It is a deprivation of original holiness and justice, but human nature has not been totally corrupted: it is wounded in the natural powers proper to it, subject to ignorance, suffering and the dominion of death, and inclined to sin - an inclination to evil that is called concupiscence". Baptism, by imparting the life of Christ's grace, erases original sin and turns a man back towards God, but the consequences for nature, weakened and inclined to evil, persist in man and summon him to spiritual battle." http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s2c1p7.htm#III "1426 Conversion to Christ, the new birth of Baptism, the gift of the Holy Spirit and the Body and Blood of Christ received as food have made us "holy and without blemish," just as the Church herself, the Bride of Christ, is "holy and without blemish."(Eph 1:4; 5:27) Nevertheless the new life received in Christian initiation has not abolished the frailty and weakness of human nature, nor the inclination to sin that tradition calls concupiscence, which remains in the baptized such that with the help of the grace of Christ they may prove themselves in the struggle of Christian life. This is the struggle of conversion directed toward holiness and eternal life to which the Lord never ceases to call us." http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#V "2520 Baptism confers on its recipient the grace of purification from all sins. But the baptized must continue to struggle against concupiscence of the flesh and disordered desires. With God's grace he will prevail - by the virtue and gift of chastity, for chastity lets us love with upright and undivided heart; - by purity of intention which consists in seeking the true end of man: with simplicity of vision, the baptized person seeks to find and to fulfill God's will in everything;(Cf. Rom 12:2; Col 1:10) - by purity of vision, external and internal; by discipline of feelings and imagination; by refusing all complicity in impure thoughts that incline us to turn aside from the path of God's commandments: "Appearance arouses yearning in fools";(Wis 15:5) - by prayer: I thought that continence arose from one's own powers, which I did not recognize in myself. I was foolish enough not to know . . . that no one can be continent unless you grant it. For you would surely have granted it if my inner groaning had reached your ears and I with firm faith had cast my cares on you.(St. Augustine, Conf. 6,11,20:PL 32,729-730) " http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a9.htm#II Emmaus |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Rom 7:23 | Author | ||
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DocTrinsograce | ||
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Ray | ||
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Emmaus |