Romans 7:13

But sin] Understand 'became death unto me.' Working] RV 'by working.'

14-25. St. Paul, taking his own case as typical, shows that spiritual death (Romans 7:11) is due, not to the Law, nor to the free choice of his true self, which approves the Law (vv.

14-16, 22), but to the power of sin within (Romans 7:17; Romans 7:20.). In doing so, he draws a picture of conflict, in which he does evil unwillingly, and is unable to do the good he wishes (Romans 7:15). His personality includes two parts—'flesh' (the lower animal nature) and 'mind' or 'inward man' (i.e. the part which thinks and reasons). The 'mind' reverences God's Law, but is conquered by the 'flesh,' which sin controls. He needs a deliverer (Romans 7:21).

The state described is that of one who has been awakened to the claim of God's Law and to hate sin, but is not under the power of the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8). It probably describes St. Paul's experience for some length of time before his conversion.

Paraphrase. '(14) The Law appeals to man's spiritual nature, and that is why I cannot keep it, for the fleshly nature, over which sin rules, predominates in me. (15) I am like a slave, who works out his master's thoughts without sharing them. I do not what I wish, but what I hate, (16) thus acknowledging the moral excellence of the Law even while I break it. (17) It follows that the sin which dwells within me is the real agent of my wrong-doing. (18) For I know that no good dwells in my fleshly nature, because my good wishes are ineffectual, (19) and I do the evil I wish to avoid. (20) But if I do it against my will, the sin which dwells within me is the real agent. (21) Thus I am not free. Although I wish to do the good, sin says, “Thou shalt not do good, thou shalt do evil,” and I am obliged to obey. (22) My reason and conscience delight in the Law of God, (23) but the law of sin (Romans 7:21), which rules my body, wars against the dictates of my reason and conscience and robs me of my liberty. (24) I need a deliverer from this reign of sin in my body' (cp. Romans 6:6; 'body of sin'), '(25) whom I find in Christ. The sum of the matter is that, left to myself, I am divided, serving a law of God with my reason and conscience, but a law of sin with my fleshly nature.'