Romans 7

Romans 7
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The Greek text of Romans 7:4–7 in Codex Claromontanus, from ca. AD 550.
Book	Epistle to the Romans
Category	Pauline epistles
Christian Bible part	New Testament
Order in the Christian part	6

Romans 7 is the seventh chapter of the Epistle to the Romans in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle, while he was in Corinth in the mid-50s AD,^[1] with the help of an amanuensis (secretary), Tertius, who adds his own greeting in Romans 16:22.^[2]

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Transcription

Text

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 25 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

Codex Vaticanus (AD 325–350)
Codex Sinaiticus (330–360)
Codex Alexandrinus (400–440)
Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (~450; complete)

Old Testament references

Romans 7:7 references Exodus 20:17 and Deuteronomy 5:21^[3]

Lifelong authority of the Law (7:1–4)

The concluding discussion in chapter 6 on slavery and freedom leads to the reintroduction of the topic of "the law and sin", that a believer has died not only to sin (6:3) but also to the law (verses 1–4).^[4]

Verse 1

Do you not know, brothers (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?
— Romans 7:1, Modern English Version^[5]

"Has dominion" or "rules";^[6] writing to "those who know the [Jewish] Law, Paul says that the Law has authority over a man (only)^[a] "as long as he lives" (verse 1).

Jewish Christians in Rome would have been familiar with the Hebrew Bible but many commentators recognise that "the whole Roman Church, whether Jewish or Gentile, would be familiar with it; many of them having been disciples of the synagogue, and all being directed constantly to the use of the Old Testament by apostolic precept and example".^[7] William Robertson Nicoll, however, argues that "neither Roman nor Mosaic law is specially referred to: the argument rests on the nature of law in general".^[8]

Marriage provides an example as stated in verse 2.

Verse 2

For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.
— Romans 7:2, New King James Version^[9]

Verse 3

So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.
— Romans 7:3, New King James Version^[10]

The one who dies is the "law", metaphorically "the husband", so from that time, the wife (the believer) is no longer subject to his authority, that is "may not be judged a sinner" ('an adulterer') when remarrying.^[4] On the other hand, when the law has not died, one who disregards it (like a person who has an affair) may be judged as a sinner.^[4]

Verse 4

Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another – to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
— Romans 7:4, New King James Version^[11]

The conclusion "you [therefore] have died to the law through the body of Christ" aligns with the statement in verse 1 that "the law is binding on a person only during a person's lifetime".^[4]

The law provides knowledge of sin (7:5–25)

A connection between 'law' and 'sin' was stated in the earlier parts of the epistle (Romans 3:20, 4:15, 5:13, and 5:20), but because this is regarded "surprising and controversial" for most readers, Paul elaborates more in chapter 6 and 7, especially in verses 5–12 where the law itself is said to be a cause of sin.^[4]

Verse 7

Paul asks a rhetorical question in verse 7:

Is the law sin? Certainly not! [μη γενοιτο, mē genoito]^[b] But if it had not been for the Law, I would not have known [i.e. recognised] sin
— Romans 7:7, Contemporary English Version^[12]

Verse 8

But the commandment gave sin an opportunity. Sin caused me to want all kinds of things that belong to others. A person can’t sin by breaking a law if that law doesn’t exist.
— Romans 7:8, New International Reader’s Version^[13]

Verse 9

Once I was alive without the law. But when this commandment came, sin came to life and I died
— Romans 7:9^[14]

Verse 25

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
— Romans 7:25, King James Version^[15]

The second part of verse 25 may be paraphrased as "Thus, left to myself, I serve...", which may better capture Paul's meaning.^[16] It should take account of Romans 8:1–7, as the person "with [the] flesh", "a slave to the law of sin" in this verse will be the believer "not in the flesh" in chapter 8 (Romans 8:9) and is "set free from the law of sin" (Romans 8:2). Therefore, the final sentence of this verse seems to state the "best claim to be a description of believers" as it apparently comes with Paul's Christian thanksgiving (after verse 24).^[17] But since Paul did not know Christ's name at verse 24, then prior to and including verse 25 he was not speaking as a Christian, but as one still in bondage to sin, only exclaiming that, yes, there IS an answer, but then continuing with his explanation of death under the old covenant by stating that the MIND of natural man under law is subject to two laws, the one being the law of God but the other which dominates him as the law of sin. Only in 8:2 is he depicted to be set free from the law of sin as a Christian.