{"id":1471,"date":"2012-10-18T22:48:25","date_gmt":"2012-10-18T16:48:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligent-torvalds.74-208-171-134.plesk.page\/?p=1471"},"modified":"2026-04-15T18:15:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T23:15:18","slug":"romans-part-28","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/?p=1471","title":{"rendered":"Romans, Part 28"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>Did that which is good, then, become<\/a> death <\/em>(\u03b8\u03ac\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>) to me?<\/em>1<\/sup><\/a> Paul continued.\u00a0 It is a reasonable question considering that the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good<\/em>,2<\/sup><\/a> and that Paul found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life brought death <\/em>(\u03b8\u03ac\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd<\/a>, a form of \u03b8\u03ac\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>)!<\/em>3<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0Absolutely not!<\/em> Paul continued.\u00a0 But sin, so that it would be shown to be sin, produced death <\/em>(\u03b8\u03ac\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd<\/a>, a form of\u00a0\u03b8\u03ac\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>) in me through what is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful<\/em>.4<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>Again<\/a>, I think sin<\/em> personified here is Paul\u2019s way of referring to the old man crucified with Christ<\/a>.\u00a0 But finally I have come to the place where Paul, by expressing the inner confusion of this house divided, one born of the flesh and of the Spirit<\/a>, actually clarified the situation.<\/p>\n

For we know that the law is spiritual \u2013 but I <\/em>(\u1f10\u03b3\u1f7c<\/a>) am unspiritual<\/a> <\/em>(\u03c3\u03ac\u03c1\u03ba\u03b9\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>), sold into slavery to sin<\/em>.5<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 It is difficult to hear Paul call himself unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin<\/em>.\u00a0 After all, what does that mean for someone like me?\u00a0 But Paul was describing himself as a man deceived<\/em><\/a> and seized by a fit of coveting, sin <\/em>[old man], seizing the opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of wrong desires<\/em>.6<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 In the beginning this old man (sin personified) was perceived by Paul as I<\/em> (\u1f10\u03b3\u1f7c<\/a>), I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin<\/em>. [Addendum<\/strong> 4\/27\/2024: Now I suspect this was the wishful thinking of my religious mind<\/a>.]<\/p>\n

For I don\u2019t understand <\/em>(\u03b3\u03b9\u03bd\u03ce\u03c3\u03ba\u03c9<\/a>) what I am doing.\u00a0 For I do not do what I want <\/em>(\u03b8\u03ad\u03bb\u03c9<\/a>)\u2013 instead, I do what I hate. \u00a0But if I do what I don\u2019t want (\u03b8\u03ad\u03bb\u03c9<\/a>), I agree that the law is good<\/em>.7<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 If Paul\u00a0had not been\u00a0a house divided<\/a>, born only of the flesh of Adam, there would have been none of this confusion.\u00a0 And I think the resolution goes something like this: For I <\/em>[new man or woman] don\u2019t understand what I <\/em>[old man] am doing.\u00a0 For I <\/em>[old man] do not do what I <\/em>[new man or woman] want \u2013 instead, I <\/em>[old man] do what I <\/em>[new man or woman] hate.\u00a0 But if I <\/em>[old man] do what I <\/em>[new man or woman] don\u2019t want, I <\/em>[new man or woman] agree that the law is good<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Here is the first recognition, if you will, of the new I<\/em> wanting, desiring, willing, something different than the old I<\/em>.\u00a0 With that, and beyond that, came the recognition of a possible new identity.\u00a0 But now it is no longer me<\/em> [new man or woman] doing it, but<\/a> sin<\/em> [old man] that lives in me.<\/em>8<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0And just in case I missed it, Paul went on to elaborate this distinction.<\/p>\n

For I<\/em> [new man or woman] know <\/em>(\u039f\u1f36\u03b4\u03b1<\/a>, a form of \u03b5\u1f34\u03b4\u03c9<\/a>; i.e.<\/em>, know by seeing) that nothing good lives in me<\/em> [old man], that is, in my flesh <\/em>(\u03c3\u03b1\u03c1\u03ba\u03af<\/a>, a form of \u03c3\u03ac\u03c1\u03be<\/a>). For I<\/em> [new man or woman] want <\/em>(\u03b8\u03ad\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd<\/a>, a form of \u03b8\u03ad\u03bb\u03c9<\/a>) to do the good, but I <\/em>[new man or woman] cannot<\/a> do it. \u00a0For I <\/em>[old man] do not do the good I<\/em> [new man or woman] want <\/em>(\u03b8\u03ad\u03bb\u03c9<\/a>), but<\/a> I<\/em> [old man] do the very evil I<\/em> [new man or woman] do not want <\/em>(\u03b8\u03ad\u03bb\u03c9<\/a>)! \u00a0Now if I<\/em> [old man] do what I<\/em> [new man or woman] do not want <\/em>(\u03b8\u03ad\u03bb\u03c9<\/a>), it is no longer me<\/em> [new man or woman] doing it but<\/a> sin<\/em> [old man] that lives in me<\/em>.9<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

And so the law is the measure by which to distinguish one I<\/em> from the other, the old from the new.\u00a0 The law excites the old I<\/em> to rebellion and sin, while it is the earnest hope, desire and plea of the new I<\/em>, though the power to fulfill that desire may seem overwhelmingly lacking.<\/p>\n

So, I<\/em> [new man or woman] find the law that when I<\/em> [new man or woman] want <\/em>(\u03b8\u03ad\u03bb\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9<\/a>, another form of \u03b8\u03ad\u03bb\u03c9<\/a>) to do good, evil<\/em> [old man] is present with me<\/em> [new man or woman]. \u00a0For I<\/em> [new man or woman] delight in the law of God in my<\/em> [new man or woman] inner being. \u00a0But I<\/em> [new man or woman] see a different law in my<\/em> [new man or woman] members waging war against the law of my<\/em> [new man or woman] mind and making me<\/em> [old man] captive to<\/a> the law of sin that<\/em> is in my<\/em> [new man or woman] members <\/em>[Table<\/a>]. \u00a0Wretched man that I<\/em> [old man] am! \u00a0Who will rescue me<\/em> [new man or woman] from this body <\/em>(\u03c3\u03ce\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>, a form of \u03c3\u1ff6\u03bc\u03b1<\/a>) of death<\/em> (\u03b8\u03b1\u03bd\u03ac\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5<\/a>, another form of \u03b8\u03ac\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2<\/a>) [old man]?10<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

I admit that some of my designations in the preceding passage of the \u201cnew man or woman\u201d may be arguable.\u00a0 I believe, however, that through faith I<\/em>, the new man or woman, lay claim to more and more of my<\/em> mind and my<\/em> members.\u00a0 And I think that is the insight behind Paul\u2019s gratitude, Thanks be<\/a> to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!<\/em>11<\/sup><\/a> as he self-identified as the new man, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh <\/em>(\u03c3\u03b1\u03c1\u03ba\u1f76<\/a>, a form of \u03c3\u03ac\u03c1\u03be<\/a>) I serve the law of sin<\/em>.12<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

The NET translators acknowledged that they added the second \u201cI serve\u201d for \u201cclarity\u201d (note 28<\/a>). \u00a0But this is not like verse 17, in my flesh\u00a0<\/em>(\u1f10\u03bd<\/a>\u00a0\u03c4\u1fc7<\/a>\u00a0\u03c3\u03b1\u03c1\u03ba\u03af<\/a>\u00a0\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5<\/a>, literally “in this flesh of mine”). \u00a0It is simply “but this flesh” (\u03c4\u1fc7<\/a>\u00a0\u03b4\u1f72<\/a>\u00a0\u03c3\u03b1\u03c1\u03ba\u1f76<\/a>). \u00a0I think Paul\u2019s point is better served by the NKJV translation, So then, with the mind I myself <\/em>(\u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1f78\u03c2<\/a>\u00a0\u1f10\u03b3\u1f7c<\/a>)\u00a0serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin<\/em>,13<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0where the double emphasis of I myself<\/em> is clearly distinguished from the flesh<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\n
Romans, Part 29<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Everyone Fathered by God Does Not Sin<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
You Must Be Gentle, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 26<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 27<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Young, Virginal or Single<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 31<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Introduction<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to The Life<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 32<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 35<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 38<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Antichrist, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Antichrist, Part 2<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Saving Demons, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 46<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Torture, Part 2<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Paul’s Religious Mind Revisited, Part 4<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 8<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to 3 John, Part 6<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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1<\/sup><\/a> Romans 7:13a (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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2<\/sup><\/a> Romans 7:12 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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3<\/sup><\/a> Romans 7:10 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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4<\/sup><\/a> Romans 7:13b (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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5<\/sup><\/a> Romans 7:14 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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6<\/sup><\/a> Romans 7:8 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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7<\/sup><\/a> Romans 7:15, 16 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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8<\/sup><\/a> Romans 7:17 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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9<\/sup><\/a> Romans 7:18-20 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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10<\/sup><\/a> Romans 7:21-24 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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11<\/sup><\/a> Romans 7:25a (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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12<\/sup><\/a> Romans 7:25b (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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13<\/sup><\/a> Romans 7:25b (NKJV) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Did that which is good, then, become death (\u03b8\u03ac\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2) to me?1 Paul continued.\u00a0 It is a reasonable question considering that the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good,2 and that Paul found that the very commandment … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[813,20,6],"tags":[837,812,836,838,839,840,841,842,775,807],"class_list":["post-1471","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-7","category-romans","category-section-two","tag-romans-710","tag-romans-712","tag-romans-713","tag-romans-714","tag-romans-715-16","tag-romans-717","tag-romans-718-20","tag-romans-721-24","tag-romans-725","tag-romans-78"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1471","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1471"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1471\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29575,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1471\/revisions\/29575"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1471"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1471"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}