ἐγὼ δὲ σάρκινός εἰμι … εὑρίσκω ἄρα τὸν νόμον … ἕτερον νόμον (7:14–25)
Says ὁ νόμος πνευματικός ἐστιν (7:14). From 7:14 the main verbs are present (εἰμι, κατεργάζομαι, θέλω, συνήδομαι, βλέπω, δουλεύω), after the past tenses of 7:7–13 (ἔζων, ἀνέζησεν, ἀπέθανον, ἐξηπάτησεν).
Uncertain Whether these presents describe the speaker's state as he writes or portray another state vividly is part of who the "I" is. This note takes no lean.
Uncertain σάρκινος (sarkinos) … πεπραμένος (pepramenos, perfect passive participle, "sold") ὑπὸ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν. This note leans to σάρκινος as "made of flesh," frail beside the spiritual law: the -ινος ending marks material (Abbott-Smith; 2 Cor 3:3). The alternative is ethical, "carnal" (BSB "unspiritual"), like σαρκικός (text: var.Rom.7.14.sarkinos). πεπραμένος uses the slave-sale picture (Abbott-Smith); how far it reaches belongs to the "I" question.
Uncertain τὸν νόμον (ton nomon, 7:21). This note leans to "principle" (BSB): the ὅτι clause states a rule of experience. The alternative is the Mosaic law, as in 7:22.
Uncertain ἕτερον νόμον (heteron nomon, "another law," 7:23). This note leans to a different power, named in the same verse τῷ νόμῳ τῆς ἁμαρτίας in the members (compare 8:2). The alternative is the Mosaic law as sin uses it (7:5, 8, 11).
Uncertain 7:25b after the thanksgiving. This note leans to ἄρα οὖν ("so then") summing up 7:14–24, the thanksgiving answering 7:24 ahead of 8:1–4. The alternative takes the order as displaced, a conjectural rearrangement with no manuscript support (for 7:25a see var.Rom.7.25.charis).
Implies On any view, nothing here makes the law sinful or excuses sin (7:12, 14; 8:1–4).
Claims
- SaysThe law is spiritual, and from 7:14 the main verbs are present, after the past tenses of 7:7–13 (7:14–25).
- UncertainWhether the present tenses of 7:14–25 describe the speaker's state as he writes or portray another state vividly; part of who the 'I' is; no lean.
- UncertainWhether σάρκινος (7:14) means 'made of flesh,' frail (lean; the -ινος ending of material; 2 Cor 3:3) or 'carnal' in an ethical sense like σαρκικός (alternative; BSB 'unspiritual').
- UncertainWhether τὸν νόμον in 7:21 is a principle or rule (lean; the ὅτι clause states a rule of experience) or the Mosaic law (alternative; 7:22).
- UncertainWhether 'another law' (7:23) is a different power, the law of sin in the members (lean; same verse; 8:2), or the Mosaic law as sin uses it (alternative; 7:5, 8, 11).
- UncertainWhether 7:25b, after the thanksgiving, sums up 7:14–24 (lean; ἄρα οὖν) or stands displaced (alternative; conjectural rearrangement).
- ImpliesOn any view of the 'I', nothing in 7:14–25 makes the law sinful or excuses sin (7:12, 14; 8:1–4).
Citations
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. σάρκινος (Ro 7:14; II Co 3:3) —
the termination -ινος denoting the substance or material of a thing
- Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. πιπράσκω (c. acc. pers., of slavery; metaph., Ro 7:14)
- BSB public domain Rom 7:14, 21, 25
2026-10-31
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