What in the Word? Is Paul Describing a Believer or Non-Believer? | Joseph Dodson on Romans 7
16 snips
Apr 16, 2025 Joseph Dodson, the Craig L. Blomberg Endowed Chair of New Testament at Denver Seminary, delves into the intricacies of Romans 7, probing whether Paul illustrates a believer's struggle with sin or a non-believer's experience. The discussion highlights the tension between desires and actions, explores different interpretations of Paul's 'I', and emphasizes the transformative journey through the Spirit. Dodson critiques personal psychological applications of the text while underscoring the importance of contextual understanding and the implications for community accountability in the Christian faith.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Romans 7 'I' Is Debated
- Romans 7 is debated because it's unclear if "I" refers to a believer or someone pre-conversion.
- Early church and many scholars argue Paul impersonates a person living under the law, not describing his own post-conversion struggle.
Adam Symbolizes Pre-Law Struggle
- Paul likely uses Adam as a symbolic figure representing being alive before the law, connecting the struggle with sin to the original sin in Genesis.
- Romans 7 links Adam, Israel, and the Mosaic law, showing that sin's power began with Adam and was revealed more fully through the law.
Christian Experience in Romans 7
- Advocates of the Christian struggle view highlight Paul's switch to present tense, interpreting it as describing ongoing internal conflict.
- They also emphasize the believer's delight in the law and inability to perfectly obey it as evidence the "I" is a redeemed but struggling Christian.