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NASB | Romans 7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 7:24 Wretched and miserable man that I am! Who will [rescue me and] set me free from this body of death [this corrupt, mortal existence]? |
Subject: Who is the Wretched Man? |
Bible Note: Greetings Steve! Just so that you know I am not alone in seeing Paul as describing himself as a Pharisee before coming to Christ, here is a repost of a quote from Anthony Hoekema. :-) _________________ Greetings All! Here is a quote from Anthony A. Hoekema, late professor emeritus of systematic theology at Calvin Theological Seminary. He is a reformed theologian, and these are his comments about Rom. 7:14-25: ****************************** Another basic point of difference I have is the interpretation of Romans 7:14-25. Walvoord thinks this passage describes the regenerate person's struggle with sin. he quotes from a 1962 article of mine, in which I supported this view. But I have since changed my mind. I now see this passage as a description, seen through the eyes of a regenerate person, of an unregenerate person (e.g., an unconverted Pharisaic Jew) struggling to fight sin through the law alone, apart from the strength of the Spirit I admit that this position is not the usual Reformed interpretation. I should add that the view of the Christian as a new person does not stand or fall with the exegesis of Romans 7:14-25 here defended. What is the Scriptural basis for this interpretation? First, Romans 7:14-25 reflects and elaborates on the condition pictured in verse 5: "When we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death." This verse obviously describes unregenerate persons, in contrast to the regenerate persons described in verses 4 and 6. Verse 13 reads, "In order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good." This passage describes the same type of person pictured in verse 5 (namely, an unregenerate person); not the parallels: sinful passions aroused by the law produced fruit for death (v. 5), and sin, through what was good (i.e., the law), produced death (v. 13). Verses 14 and 15, which begin the controversial passage, have three ‘fors’ in them (see the Greek text, ASV, NASB). By means of these ‘fors’ Paul ties in what follows with what he has just finished saying. The rest of chapter 7, therefore, elaborates on the condition of the unregenerate person described in verses 5 and 13. Second, there is no mention of the Holy Spirit or of his strength for overcoming sin in Romans 7:14-25, but chapter 8 has a least sixteen references to the Spirit. Third, the mood of frustration and defeat that permeates this section does not comport with the mood of victory in terms of which Paul usually describes the Christian life. The person pictured is still a captive of the law of sin (7:23), whereas the believer described in 6:17-18 is no longer a slave to sin. Finally, Romans 7:25 reads: “I of myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin” (RSV). The words “I of myself” are emphatic in the Greek. Paul is here describing a person who tries to “go it alone,” to keep God’s law in his or her own strength, rather than in the strength of the Spirit. I believe, therefore, that the biblical description of the normal Christian life is found, not in Romans 7:14-25, but in Romans 6 and 8. Source: Gundry, Stanley N. (Series Editor), “Five Views on Sanctification”, Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, MI, 1987, pp. 231-232. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |