Romans 7:13-252. Is Paul talking about his present experience? Does this passage describe

the normal Christian life?A. Yes.B. No, he’s talking about himself before he became a Christian.C. No, he’s giving a hypothetical example of what it would be like to

live a Christian life under the law to show the inadequacy of the law and the adequacy of the Spirit.

3. No textual problems4. 2 translation problems

A. In v. 14 he switches from the past tense to the present.

B. In vv. 9, 10, 14, 17, 20, 24, 25 he uses the emphatic pronoun egwbut he does not in the most personal verses (15-16) and the egw

in v. 9 is probably hypothetical (Phil 3:5).5. Genre: Didactic6. Purpose: see question 2. 7. Context: Paul is talking about the relationship between faith and the law.8. Parallels: None9. Other related passages:

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

~Xn attitude toward God

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

~Xn attitude toward God

Hates God and his law

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

~Xn attitude toward God

Hates God and his law

Loves God’s law

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

~Xn attitude toward God

Hates God and his law

Loves God’s law

~~Xn

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

~Xn attitude toward God

Hates God and his law

Loves God’s law

~~Xn

Rom 6:14

1 Cor 10:13

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

~Xn attitude toward God

Hates God and his law

Loves God’s law

~~Xn

Rom 6:14

1 Cor 10:13

Sin

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

~Xn attitude toward God

Hates God and his law

Loves God’s law

~~Xn

Rom 6:14

1 Cor 10:13

Sin Beats sin

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

~Xn attitude toward God

Hates God and his law

Loves God’s law

~~Xn

Rom 6:14

1 Cor 10:13

Sin Beats sin Sin wins

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

~Xn attitude toward God

Hates God and his law

Loves God’s law

~~Xn

Rom 6:14

1 Cor 10:13

Sin Beats sin Sin wins ~Xn

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

~Xn attitude toward God

Hates God and his law

Loves God’s law

~~Xn

Rom 6:14

1 Cor 10:13

Sin Beats sin Sin wins ~Xn

Rom 8:1-39

Phil 4:13

Gal 4:6

Gal 5:24

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

~Xn attitude toward God

Hates God and his law

Loves God’s law

~~Xn

Rom 6:14

1 Cor 10:13

Sin Beats sin Sin wins ~Xn

Rom 8:1-39

Phil 4:13

Gal 4:6

Gal 5:24

Xn life

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

~Xn attitude toward God

Hates God and his law

Loves God’s law

~~Xn

Rom 6:14

1 Cor 10:13

Sin Beats sin Sin wins ~Xn

Rom 8:1-39

Phil 4:13

Gal 4:6

Gal 5:24

Xn life Joyous victory

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

~Xn attitude toward God

Hates God and his law

Loves God’s law

~~Xn

Rom 6:14

1 Cor 10:13

Sin Beats sin Sin wins ~Xn

Rom 8:1-39

Phil 4:13

Gal 4:6

Gal 5:24

Xn life Joyous victory Miserable struggle

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

~Xn attitude toward God

Hates God and his law

Loves God’s law

~~Xn

Rom 6:14

1 Cor 10:13

Sin Beats sin Sin wins ~Xn

Rom 8:1-39

Phil 4:13

Gal 4:6

Gal 5:24

Xn life Joyous victory Miserable struggle

~Xn

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

~Xn attitude toward God

Hates God and his law

Loves God’s law

~~Xn

Rom 6:14

1 Cor 10:13

Sin Beats sin Sin wins ~Xn

Rom 8:1-39

Phil 4:13

Gal 4:6

Gal 5:24

Xn life Joyous victory Miserable struggle

~Xn

Various Holy Spirit

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

~Xn attitude toward God

Hates God and his law

Loves God’s law

~~Xn

Rom 6:14

1 Cor 10:13

Sin Beats sin Sin wins ~Xn

Rom 8:1-39

Phil 4:13

Gal 4:6

Gal 5:24

Xn life Joyous victory Miserable struggle

~Xn

Various Holy Spirit Very present

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

~Xn attitude toward God

Hates God and his law

Loves God’s law

~~Xn

Rom 6:14

1 Cor 10:13

Sin Beats sin Sin wins ~Xn

Rom 8:1-39

Phil 4:13

Gal 4:6

Gal 5:24

Xn life Joyous victory Miserable struggle

~Xn

Various Holy Spirit Very present Very absent

5. Other related passages:

Text Topic Other Rom 7 Conclusion

Gal 1:13-14

Phil 3:5-6

Pre Xn state Proud & satisfied

Miserable ~pre Xn

Rom 8:23

1 Cor 9:27

Struggle Much Much Xn

Rom 1:18-20

2 Tim 3:2-13

~Xn attitude toward God

Hates God and his law

Loves God’s law

~~Xn

Rom 6:14

1 Cor 10:13

Sin Beats sin Sin wins ~Xn

Rom 8:1-39

Phil 4:13

Gal 4:6

Gal 5:24

Xn life Joyous victory Miserable struggle

~Xn

Gal 5:16

Romans 8:4

Holy Spirit Very present Very absent ~Xn

The absence of any mention of the Holy Spirit in this passage shows that Paul is not describing his present Christian life, but is giving a vivid, imaginary example of a person trying to please God by living according to the law. His point is the same as in chapter 3, that the law cannot justify anyone (3:20), as in chapter 4, that Abraham was saved by faith, not by works of the law (4:13), as in chapter 5, that the law only magnifies sin (5:20), and as in 6, that when people are under the law, sin is their master.

Paul’s argument in chapter 7 culminates in chapter 8 where he says,“For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.” (8:3-4)