Who is Paul's "Wretched Man" of Romans 7:14-25?
Considering the context of Romans 7.
There are two main views about the “wretched man” of Romans 7:14-25.
He is a Christian who is still struggling with sin.
He is a non-Christian struggling to fulfill the demands of the Law.
I believe the context of Romans 7 shows that Paul is referring to the non-Christian frustrated by his realization that he cannot live up to the demands of the holy Law and finds himself a slave to sin.
The “wretched man” cannot be a person “in Christ.”
Observe a few statements Paul makes here in Romans 7 about the “wretched man.”
Romans 7:14 - this is a person who is “sold under sin.”
Romans 7:19, 25 - this is a person who practices and serves “the law of sin.”
Romans 7:23 - this is a person who is captive “to the law of sin.”
Romans 7:23 - this is a person who has the “law of sin” in his members.
Romans 7:24 - this is a person who lives in a “body of death” and longs to be delivered.
How Paul describes the “wretched man” does not match up with what he writes about the ones in Christ Jesus.
The Christian has been set free from sin (Romans 6:7).
The Christian presents his members as “instruments as righteousness to God” (Romans 6:13).
The Christian is no longer under the reign or dominion of sin (Romans 6:12-14).
The Christian has been set “free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).
In Romans 7, Paul discusses the importance of being released from the Law of Moses (Romans 7:1-6). He has also emphasized that the Law is not Sin, but that the Law exposes Sin for what it truly is (Romans 7:7-13).
I think the “wretched man” that we will study further - Lord willing - in Romans 7:14-25 is referring to the man living under the Law of Moses, who realizes that he cannot live a sinless life.
The Law has taught him about Sin and all of its horrors, and he realizes he has become Sin’s slave. How could he be set free?
This is where Paul is going in the rest of Romans 7.
Thank you for your thoughts and perspective on the "wretched man" because often I have heard it implied that the "wretched man" is a Christian. Yet as I read the context the verses say otherwise. And if Christians think they are still wretched, then where is the power of Christ in our lives?
I'm going to have to think about that one. I'm seeing some interesting things about the passage in my Greek commentary, but it's the middle of the night and not the best time to dive in.