Paul As Weak In Faith In Romans 7:7-25 -- By: John F. Hart

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 170:679 (Jul 2013)
Article: Paul As Weak In Faith In Romans 7:7-25
Author: John F. Hart


Paul As Weak In Faith In Romans 7:7-25

John F. Hart

John F. Hart is Professor of Bible, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois.

Romans 7:14-25 is infamous for the divergent interpretations it has engendered.1 Some see here a description of a non-Christian (who perhaps is seeking God), while others see ongoing struggle that characterizes a mature Christian.

The theological and practical issues of one’s interpretation of Romans 72 are not inconsequential. Dunn remarks, “Rom 7 is . . . one of the really pivotal passages in Paul’s theology; by which I mean that our understanding of it will in large measure determine our understanding of Paul’s theology as a whole, particularly his anthropology and soteriology.”3 One could add sanctification (if not subsumed under soteriology), the role of Mosaic law in the present economy,4 and grace. It may also be true that one’s understanding

of anthropology, soteriology, sanctification, grace, and the role of the law dictates one’s interpretation of Romans 7.5

In 1929 W. G. Kümmel argued for a fictive use of “I” in Romans 7.6 And since then liberal and some evangelical scholars deny or minimize autobiographical remarks in verses 7-25. This seems to be the current consensus of Pauline studies.7 A rhetorical “I” has resulted primarily from Kümmel’s proposal that verse 9 cannot be seen as part of Paul’s life.8 Since verses 7-13 must have the same referent for “I” as verses 14-25, then, according to Kümmel, verses 14-25 cannot refer to Paul’s experience either. But several details in verse 9 have been overlooked and will be considered later.

The various interpretations ...

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