Romans 7: Fixing the Yoke of Carnality Upon Paul's Neck
By Nick LiguoriFootnotes available on mouseover [*]
Heaven Without Holiness | Eternal Security | False Doctrine
"It is difficult to conceive how the opinion could have crept into the Church, or prevailed there, that the apostle speaks here of his regenerate state ... This opinion has, most pitifully and most shamefully, not only lowered the standard of Christianity, but destroyed its influence and disgraced its character. It requires but little knowledge of the spirit of the Gospel, and of the scope of this epistle, to see that the apostle is, here, either personating a Jew under the law and without the Gospel, or showing what his own state was."[*]
Many professing Christians have lustfully embraced a certain passage in Romans 7 which, when distorted a certain way, says what they want to hear. The notion is that in Romans 7:14-25, Paul confesses he is a pathetic and shameful sinner, and that in his present state. Not that Paul was but that he is, a wretched sinner. And if Paul, the great evangelist, thus describes himself as "sold into bondage to sin" and a "wretched man," then who are we to think we can overcome sin and "live holy" in this present life? Sin is inevitable and therefore excusable.
It is hard to imagine why any sincere Christian would want the meaning of this passage to be that the Christian life is one of defeat and bondage to sin--that Paul continued after salvation to be a wicked sinner. But to those professing Christians who are without any hunger for inward holiness, wanting to live like the devil today and make their escape to heaven tomorrow, this comes as a pleasant surprise to their itching ears. Indeed, this is a favorite preaching text among mainstream Bible teachers and pastors, who seek to please men rather than God, soothing to sleep their congregations full of wicked sinners. But the Bible is not silent concerning these things:
"So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil." (1 Kings 22:8)
"They continually say to those who despise Me, 'The LORD has said, "You shall have peace"'; And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, 'No evil shall come upon you.'" (Jer. 23:17)
"...as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures." (2 Pet. 3:15-16)
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;" (2 Tim. 4:3)
"Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2 Tim. 2:19)
"...They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality..." (Jude 4 NIV)
"...let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, ..." (1 John 3:7-8)
"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Gal. 5:19-21)
So we ask the question: does this passage describe the Christian life or is Paul depicting something else--the life of an unconverted Jew? As you might guess, this is not merely an academic question. The difference could be life or death, salvation or damnation.
" 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 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 7:14-25)
Admittedly this passage appears a little confusing, as Paul is using the first person present tense, saying "I am carnal" and "I do not do the good which I want to do, but I do evil" and "wretched man that I am!" Many believers have concluded that Paul was not capable of living a godly life. And if Paul couldn't live godly, neither can we!
We believe, instead, that Paul is depicting the Jew living under the Law. That is, Paul is not writing about his present walk, but about the pre-Christ Saul or the unregenerated Jew in general. Many commentators have reached this same conclusion, including the Ante-Nicene Christians and the most astute biblical teachers of modern times.
Now there are at least three reasons why we can reject the "Christian experience" interpretation of Calvinists:
Linguistically. Bernie Koerselmann[*] has pointed out an important historical and linguistic principle, as stated in the preface to Young's Literal Translation:
That the Hebrews, in referring to events which might be either past or future were accustomed to act on the principle of transferring themselves mentally to the period and place of the events themselves, and were not content with coldly viewing them as those of a bygone or still coming time; hence the very frequent use of the present tense.
A Hebrew of Hebrews, this is what Paul did! Coffman gives a good analogy. A history teacher could very easily tell his or her students, when discussing the American Revolution,
"We are now with Washington's army west of the great swamp in New Jersey. Cold and hunger are our enemies. Disease stalks us; desertion is increasing; and there is even mutiny."[*]
But is this unrealistic? Not at all. Paul uses this device frequently throughout his epistles, and it is easy enough to detect. Consider, for example, Romans 3:5. The New American Standard Bible renders this verse accurately:
"But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?" (Rom. 3:5 NASB)
Let us be clear: this is not a confession to any crime on Paul's part. It is obvious from context that Paul is here impersonating a Jewish objector. Apparently, the New International Version's translators understood Paul's meaning, taking liberty to make this even more clear:
"Someone might argue, "If my falsehood enhances God's truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?" (Rom. 3:5 NIV)
And in 1 Corinthians 4:6, Paul says that he has applied figurative language to himself to demonstrate his earlier point to his readers in Corinth. Why should we be surprised if Paul should in Romans 7, for heightened interest, mentally transport himself to the scene to more graphically depict the struggle of the unregenerated pre-Christ Saul or the generic Jew living under the Law?
Contextually. This passage is sandwiched in the context of statements which require the conclusion that Paul is talking about the unregenerate Jew.
(1) Romans 7:1 "Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), ...
After thus identifying the subject of his address as Jews ("those who know the law"), Paul launches into a practical comparison of the weakness of life under the Law (ch. 7) to the empowering of the Spirit through Christ (ch. 8). Romans 7:14-24 is not the "Christian experience," but rather the "Jewish experience."
(2) Romans 8:1, from the phrase "Therefore there is NOW..." We should see Romans 7 as the "then" and Romans 8 as our "now." As Coffman aptly states:
"Paul's reverberating "now" in that place imposes its antithesis "then" upon this whole passage. What Paul was speaking of here was a past condition. He was speaking of the fruitless struggle of noble souls under the law of Moses who, despite their efforts, found no justification thereunder. "THEN" is the word that flies like a banner over this part of Romans. True, it is not spoken here. but it is more than implied; it is demanded by the antithetical "now" that opens the eighth chapter.
(3) Romans 7:2-6 and 8:2 also require us to conclude that Paul is not referring to the regenerated Christian life.
(4) Consider also that the Holy Spirit is mentioned only once in the seventh chapter (v. 6), but 20 times in chapter eight. Likewise, the word "law" is used 20 times in chapter seven, but only five times in chapter eight -- and each of these five come in the early verses.
Biblically, is this the Paul we know from the New Testament? Was the Apostle Paul a wretched sinner in need of rescue? Certainly not! Some two dozen passages testify of Paul's life of righteousness and Christ-likeness. Consider, for example:
"And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 "And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God." (Acts 20:18-27)
"I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:33-35)
"Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." (Acts 23:1)
"while he answered for himself, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all." (Acts 25:8)
"For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you." (Romans 1:9-10)
"Therefore I urge you, imitate me." (1 Cor. 4:16)
"Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved." (1 Cor. 10:32-33)
"Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." (1 Cor. 11:1)
"For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you." (2 Cor. 1:12)
"Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God." (2 Cor. 4:1-2)
"We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love," (2 Cor. 6:3-6)
"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one." (2 Cor. 7:1-2)
"Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern." (Php. 3:17)
"The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." (Php. 4:9)
"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Php. 4:11-13)
"To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily." (Col. 1:29)
"For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit," (1 Thes. 5:5-6)
"For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. 4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory." (1 Thes. 1:3-12)
"For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us." (1 Thes. 3:7-9)
"I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day," (2 Tim. 1:3)
"But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." (2 Tim. 3:10-12)
Contrast these with the Calvinist view of Romans 7. Is this the same Paul? The "wretched man" of Romans 7 is certainly not a man to be imitated. How could Paul recommend his own example, if his example were "but I am carnal"? How could Paul say "Ye are witnesses how holy and righteously and unblameably we behaved toward you" if Paul served the flesh and admitted he was a wretched sinner, doing the opposite of the good he wanted to do? What kind of a hypocrite would he be? We obviously have two different Pauls. The answer to this dilemma is simply that there was an "old Paul" and a "new Paul," the shift occurring at conversion.
If the Calvinist view is correct, then Paul condemns himself and is found to be unsaved. Consider the following comparison:
| Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 |
| "...For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do." (7:15) | "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (8:13) |
| "For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice." (7:19) | "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." (8:14) |
| "... So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin." (7:25) | "and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." (8:17) |
We see a flat contradiction between the life of Paul and the commands of Paul, unless we embrace the alternative view of Romans 7.
Conclusion: If the Calvinist view is correct, then Paul condemns himself and is found to be unsaved. What, then, are we to conclude? Simply that Paul impersonates the legal Jew who has good intentions, but needs to be cleansed and transformed by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8). He uses this throughout his epistles. By no means is Paul depicting his present life or that of Christians. We have shown that there is an alternative view which is well established contextually, biblically, and linguistically. On the other hand, the Calvinist view is totally incompatible with other scriptures about Paul. Let no one say that Romans 7 tells us it's impossible to go without sinning. We know that victory over sin in the present life is not only possible through the power of Christ, but it is a condition of future salvation. And as John Fletcher wrote, let us no longer insult St. Paul by trying to place the yoke of carnality upon his neck!
The words of Charles Finney are very heavy:You see the state of those who are encouraged by the seventh chapter of Romans, supposing that to be a Christian's experience. If they have gone no further than that, they are still under the law. I have been amazed how pertinaciously professors of religion will cling to a legal experience, and justify themselves in it by a reference to this chapter. I am fully convinced that... interpreting [verses 14 to 24] as a Christian experience, has done incalculable evil and has led thousands of souls there to rest and go no further, imagining that they are already as deeply versed in Christian experience as Paul was when he wrote that epistle. And there they have stayed, and hugged their delusion till they have found themselves in the depths of hell. [*]