Who Is the "I" in Romans 7

Who Is The “I” In Romans 7?

Tammi Dixson

NBST 652-B05

Dr. Jintae Kim

October 6, 2012

Thesis Statement

Romans 7 is understood as a definitive case for Christians ensnared in the continuous battle against sin and the flesh, with no hope of true escape in this life. This does a huge disservice to what the apostle has written up to this point, and all of Romans, to label this person a Christian. The “I” being used is not an example of a Christian and our everyday struggle, but a literary device to show the law by its very nature cannot transform a man/woman. Paul immediately follows with what true freedom in Christ is and how it is attained through the Holy Spirit.

Table of Contents

Page No.

I. Introduction…………………………………………………………………………........1

II. The Various Interpretations of Romans 7:7-25……………………………………......2

A. Historic Perspective

B. The Christian Man View………………………………………………………..2

1. Mature Christian

2. Immature Christian

3. The Carnal Christian

C. The Non-Christian Man View…………………………………………………..4

1. Paul before conversion

2. Unregenerate person

3. Unregenerate person under conviction

4. Neither regenerate or unregenerate

III. Exegesis of Romans 7……………………………………………………………………6

IV. Conclusion

V. Bibliography

1

Introduction

When Peter was recounting the teachings of Paul in his second letter, he recognizes that some are "hard to understand" and often distorted by the “untaught and unstable” (2 Peter 3:15-16). One passage in particular that causes much interpretive angst is the seventh chapter in Romans. A summary of these interpretive issues in dispute is given to us by John A. T. Robinson:

“Quite apart from the details of exegesis, . . two questions have agitated interpreters: (a) Does the use of the first person singular indicate genuine autobiography? -- or is it simply cast in the first person for vividness? and (b) Does it refer to the Christian or to the pre-Christian state -- is the use of the...