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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Romans 7
Verse Commentaries:
Chapter Level Commentary:
from Slavery to the Law
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary ,which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph
4. Etc.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS ON Rom_7:1-6
A. Romans 7 must be interpreted
1. in light of Romans 6, especially Rom_7:12-14 (also Rom_3:20-31; Rom_4:13-16; Rom_5:20)
2. it must also be related to the tension in the church of Rome between believing Gentiles and believing Jews, which is seen in Romans 9-11
The exact nature of the problem is uncertain; it may have been
a. legalism based on The Mosaic Law,
b. Judaizers' emphasis on Moses first, then Christ,
c. misunderstanding of how the gospel applies to Jews,
d. misunderstanding of the relationship between the Old and New Covenants.
e. jealousy of believing Jewish leadership in the church having been replaced by believing Gentile leadership during the emperor's edict, which stopped all Jewish rituals in Rome. Many believing Jews may have left also
B. Rom_7:1-6 continues the figurative language of Romans 6 about the Christian's relationship to his old life. The metaphors used are
1. death and release from slavery to another master (Romans 6)
2. death and release from marriage obligations (Romans 7)
C. Romans 6, 7 are in literary parallel; Romans 6 deals with the believer's relationship to "sin" and Romans 7 with the believer's relationship to "law." The analogy of death freeing a slave (Rom_6:12-23) is paralleled by death freeing the marriage bond (Rom_7:1-6).
Romans 6
D. The Law with its decrees was a death sentence. All humans stand condemned under the Law (cf. Rom_6:14; Rom_7:4; Gal_3:13; Eph_2:15; Col_2:14). The Mosaic Law became a curse!
E. There have been four major theories about how to interpret Romans 7
1. Paul is speaking of himself (autobiographical)
2. Paul is speaking as a representative of all mankind (representative, Chysostom)
3. Paul is speaking of Adam's experience (Theodore of Mopsuetia)
4. Paul is speaking of Israel's experience
F. In many ways Romans 7 functions like Genesis 3. It shows the downward pull of rebellion even to those who are acquainted with God. Knowledge cannot free fallen humanity; only God's grace, only a new heart, a new mind, and a new spirit can do that (the New Covenant, cf. Jer_31:31-34; Eze_36:26-27). And even then, there is an ongoing struggle (cf. Rom_6:12; Rom_6:19; 1Co_6:10-19; Eph_6:10-18)!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
1. How is Romans 6 related to Romans 7?
2. What is the relationship of the Old Testament law to New Testament believers? (cf. 2Co_3:1-11; Heb_8:7; Heb_8:13)
3. What two illustrations does Paul use in Romans 6, 7 to describe our relationship to our old life?
4. How is the Christian related to the Mosaic Law?
5. Explain in your own words the difference between the autobiographical and representative theories of interpreting Rom_7:7-25.
6. Is Romans 7 a description of a lost person, an immature believer or all believers?