What does Romans 7:2 mean?

Explanation

Romans 7:2 speaks to the nature of marriage as an institution with legal and moral bindings as understood in the context of Roman and Jewish law prevalent at the time. Apostle Paul uses the marriage analogy to illustrate a point about the believer's relationship with the Law and with Christ.

The verse suggests that a woman is legally obligated to her husband while he lives, but if he dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him.

This "law" is generally understood to mean the marital vows and responsibilities which are in place until one partner dies.

The deeper implication here is not strictly about marriage, but about how one is bound to the old law (the Law of Moses, in a broader spiritual sense) and how one is released from it through the death of Christ, thus enabling a new union with Him.

Historical Context

The Book of Romans was authored by the Apostle Paul approximately in A.D. 57.

It was addressed to the Christian community in Rome, which consisted of both Jewish and Gentile believers. At that time, the model of marriage was heavily influenced by Roman law, which held strict legal bindings upon the individuals involved.

Additionally, the Jewish customs also emphasized the legal and sacred nature of marriage contracts. Paul used these familiar societal norms to convey spiritual truths to his audience, who would readily understand the implications of legal obligations and the release from them.

Theological Insights

Romans 7:2 has been interpreted variously by theologians.

Some see it as a clear explication of the doctrine of the believer's relationship to the Law – that believers are no longer under the Law's condemnation because they are united with Christ, who fulfilled the Law.

Others perceive in the verse an analogy for the transition from the old covenant of the Law to the new covenant of grace in Christ.

The law of the husband can be compared to the Mosaic Law which binds people, but through Christ's death and resurrection, believers are freed from the law's constraints to serve in the new way of the Spirit.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse reminds believers of the importance of understanding the freedom from the old law's legalistic requirements and the new spiritual life in Christ.

It exhorts believers to embrace the new life that being in Christ brings and to let go of past bindings, living in a manner that reflects this freedom.

It can also be a source of comfort and support for those who have lost spouses, understanding that death brings a change in circumstances that can lead to a new chapter in life.

Cross-References

• Romans 7:4: "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God."
• 1 Corinthians 7:39: "The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord."
• Galatians 2:19: "For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God."
• Colossians 2:14: "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"

Language Study

The key words in this verse are "bound" (Greek: "deo") and "loosed" (Greek: "katargeo").

"Deo" includes meanings such as to bind, tie, fasten, or to be under obligation.

"Katargeo" has the sense of render idle, to abolish, or to free from. The language conveys a shift from being bound (obligated) to the law, to becoming idly free or released from it.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of being bound to law is not unique to Christianity or Judaism.

Ancient civilizations had various customs that dictated the obligations of individuals to both religious and societal laws.

In many of these cultures, death would typically release a person from their legal obligations.

The Christian viewpoint as expressed in Romans is distinctive in the sense that it uses this common understanding to illustrate how individuals are spiritually freed from the constraints of religious law through the death-and-resurrection motif found in Jesus Christ.

Scientific Perspectives

The intersection of this verse with scientific understanding is mostly in the realm of psychology and sociology, where the impacts of law and freedom on human behavior are studied.

While this verse is not about empirical science, understanding the effects of perceived obligations and the release from them can contribute to a better comprehension of human relationships and personal well-being.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer varied explanations of this verse.

Some, like John Stott and Douglas Moo, emphasize the indicative nature of the Christian's union with Christ and therefore their release from the law's demands.

Others, like N.T.

Wright, might highlight the continuity and discontinuity between the covenant marked by the law and the new arrangement in Jesus.

Commentaries often focus on the larger argument Paul is making in Romans 7 about the role of the law, the struggle with sin, and the transformative power of grace through Christ.