What does Romans 7:23 mean?

Explanation

Romans 7:23 captures apostle Paul's inner conflict between his sinful nature and his desire to obey God's law.

Paul personifies the struggle as a "war" taking place within his body ("members"), highlighting the intense struggle between two operative laws: the "law of his mind," which is aligned with God's law and his moral intention to do good, and the "law of sin," which resides in his members, leading him toward sinful actions.

This verse illustrates the constant battle between the redeemed self, which seeks to serve God, and the sinful nature that exists within the same individual, underlining the struggle for spiritual integrity.

Historical Context

Romans is an epistle written by the apostle Paul to the believers in Rome.

Composed circa 57 AD, this letter addresses both Jewish and Gentile Christians.

Paul's discussion about the law and sin in Romans 7 has its roots firmly planted in the Jewish understanding of the Torah and the reality of the human condition post-the Fall.

The period was marked by an awareness of the inability to fully keep the law, leading to a sense of despair for those striving for religious righteousness.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives view this passage through various lenses:

• Reformed Theology sees this verse highlighting the doctrine of "simultaneous saint and sinner" (simul justus et peccator), meaning that Christians are justified and right with God through Jesus Christ, yet still battle with sin.
• Wesleyan Holiness traditions interpret this struggle as the state of someone who has not yet attained entire sanctification or Christian perfection, a subsequent work of grace that follows conversion.
• Dispensationalism might see this as indicative of the difference between the age of Law and the age of Grace, with Paul elucidating the struggle of those under the law before the grace through Christ was fully revealed.

Practical Applications

This passage offers several practical applications:

• Recognizing the universal struggle with sin can be comforting to believers who might otherwise feel isolated or defeated in their spiritual walk.
• It encourages believers to be vigilant and to continually rely on the Holy Spirit for strength in overcoming sinful inclinations.
• This verse can serve as a motivation for Christians to practice confession and accountability within their communities as a means of dealing with the internal conflict described by Paul.

Cross-References

• Galatians 5:17 - "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
• Romans 7:15 - "For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I."
• Romans 8:7 - "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words include:

• "Law" (νόμος, nomos): Often refers to the Mosaic Law but also used metaphorically for a principle or force.
• "Members" (μέλη, melē): Refers to parts of the body but also metaphorically for the various faculties or aspects of personhood.
• "Warring" (ἀντιστρατεύομαι, antistrateuomai): A military term, implying active combat or struggle.
• "Captivity" (αἰχμαλωτίζω, aichmalotizo): To capture or take prisoner, indicating a loss of freedom to the opposing force.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In Greco-Roman culture, there was often discussion of virtue and vice, with philosophers like Plato describing an inner struggle between reason and desire.

Similarly, in Judaism, there was the concept of the yetzer hara (evil inclination) and yetzer hatov (good inclination), which aligns with Paul's struggle between the desire to do good and the tendency toward sin.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, discussions about human behavior often turn to psychology, where concepts such as the id, ego, and superego resonate with the conflict described by Paul.

Although not directly correlated, the tension between conscious values and unconscious desires has parallels in psychological struggles observed today.

Commentaries

Commentators offer various insights on this verse:

• Matthew Henry's Commentary suggests that the law of sin is felt by believers at all times and it's something they often complain about.
• The Expositor's Greek Testament implies that Paul is describing his own experiences prior to his Christian conversion or the experience of a person under conviction and enlightenment but not yet fully liberated from the power of sin.
• John Calvin's Commentaries take it as an explanation of the Christian struggle, where even after conversion, the remnants of our old self wage war against our new nature in Christ.