Romans 7 is the seventh chapter of the

Epistle to the Romans The Epistle to the Romans is the sixth book in the New Testament, and the longest of the thirteen Pauline epistles. Biblical scholars agree that it was composed by Paul the Apostle to explain that Salvation (Christianity), salvation is offered ...

in the

New Testament The New Testament (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus, as well as events relating to Christianity in the 1st century, first-century Christianit ...

of the

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

Bible The Bible is a collection of religious texts that are central to Christianity and Judaism, and esteemed in other Abrahamic religions such as Islam. The Bible is an anthology (a compilation of texts of a variety of forms) originally writt ...

. It is authored by

Paul the Apostle Paul, also named Saul of Tarsus, commonly known as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul, was a Apostles in the New Testament, Christian apostle ( AD) who spread the Ministry of Jesus, teachings of Jesus in the Christianity in the 1st century, first ...

, while he was in

Corinth Corinth ( ; , ) is a municipality in Corinthia in Greece. The successor to the ancient Corinth, ancient city of Corinth, it is a former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese (region), Peloponnese, which is located in south-central Greece. Sin ...

in the mid-50s AD, with the help of an

amanuensis An amanuensis ( ) ( ) or scribe is a person employed to write or type what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. It may also be a person who signs a document on behalf of another under the latter's authority. In some aca ...

(secretary), Tertius, who adds his own greeting in Romans 16:22.

Text

The original text was written in

Koine Greek Koine Greek (, ), also variously known as Hellenistic Greek, common Attic, the Alexandrian dialect, Biblical Greek, Septuagint Greek or New Testament Greek, was the koiné language, common supra-regional form of Greek language, Greek spoken and ...

. This chapter is divided into 25 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are: *

Codex Vaticanus The Codex Vaticanus ( The Vatican, Bibl. Vat., Vat. gr. 1209), is a manuscript of the Greek Bible, containing the majority of the Old Testament and the majority of the New Testament. It is designated by siglum B or 03 in the Gregory-Aland numb ...

(AD 325–350) *

Codex Sinaiticus The Codex Sinaiticus (; Shelfmark: London, British Library, Add MS 43725), also called the Sinai Bible, is a fourth-century Christian manuscript of a Greek Bible, containing the majority of the Greek Old Testament, including the deuterocanonica ...

(330–360) *

Codex Alexandrinus The Codex Alexandrinus (London, British Library, Royal MS 1. D. V-VIII) is a manuscript of the Greek Bible,The Greek Bible in this context refers to the Bible used by Greek-speaking Christians who lived in Egypt and elsewhere during the early ...

(400–440) *

Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus The Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (Paris, National Library of France, Greek 9) is a manuscript of the Greek Bible, written on parchment. It is designated by the siglum C or 04 in the Biblical manuscript#Gregory-Aland, Gregory-Aland numbering of New ...

(~450; complete)

Old Testament references

* Romans 7:7 references Exodus 20:17 and Deuteronomy 5:21

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).

Verse 1

*"Has dominion" or "rules"; writing to "those who know the ewishLaw, Paul says that the Law has authority over a man (only) "as long as he lives". Jewish Christians in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

would have been familiar with the

Hebrew Bible The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (;"Tanach"
. '' commentators recognise that "the whole Roman Church, whether Jewish or

Gentile ''Gentile'' () is a word that today usually means someone who is not Jewish. Other groups that claim Israelite heritage, notably Mormons, have historically used the term ''gentile'' to describe outsiders. More rarely, the term is used as a synony ...

, would be familiar with it; many of them having been disciples of the

synagogue A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It is a place for prayer (the main sanctuary and sometimes smaller chapels) where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as wed ...

, and all being directed constantly to the use of the Old Testament by apostolic precept and example".

William Robertson Nicoll Sir William Robertson Nicoll (10 October 18514 May 1923) was a Scottish Free Church of Scotland (1843-1900), Free Church minister (religion), minister, journalist, editor in chief, editor, and man of letters. Biography Nicoll was born in Lums ...

, however, argues that "neither

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...

nor Mosaic law is specially referred to: the argument rests on the nature of law in general".

Verse 2

Marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

provides an example of Paul's point in verse 1. Hill considers the example to be "somewhat forced".

Verse 3

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. 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.

Verse 4

The conclusion "you hereforehave 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".

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.

Verse 5

Verse 6

Verse 7

Paul asks a

rhetorical question A rhetorical question is a question asked for a purpose other than to obtain information. In many cases it may be intended to start a discourse, as a means of displaying or emphasizing the speaker's or author's opinion on a topic. A simple example ...

in verse 7:

Verse 25

The second part of verse 25 may be paraphrased as "Thus, left to myself, I serve...", which may better capture Paul's meaning.Suggested by Moffat. ''apud'' Hill 2007, p. 1097 It should take account of Romans 8:1–7, as the person "with heflesh", "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). 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.

Notes

References

Sources

* * *

External links

* King James Bible - Wikisource
English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate''Online Bible'' at GospelHall.org
(ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
Multiple bible versions at ''Bible Gateway''
(NKJV, NIV, NRSV etc.) {{Epistle to the Romans 07