ROMAS 7 COMMETARY Written and edited by Glenn Pease PREFACE ITRODUCTIO 1. This passage of Scripture would be one of the first to come under the category, "somethings hard to be understood," which Peter mentions in II Pet. 3:16 in reference to the Epistles of Paul. There have been few other passages that have been the subject of such a long historical controversy. The Greek fathers held a view that the passage described an unregenerate man and the Latin fathers in general held a view that it described the experience of a regenerate man. St. Augustine first held the former view, but changed his mind after reading some of the church fathers who held the latter view. Speaking of this change of mind he said, "Hence it was that I came to understand these things, as Hilary, Gregory, Ambrose, and other holy an known doctors of the church understood them, who thought that the Apostle himself strenuously struggled against carnal lusts, which he was unwilling to have, and yet had..." There are many great names connected with both views, and so it is hard to prove your position by appealing to authority. For example, some who hold the unregenerate view are, Theodoret, Julius Muller, eander, Ewarld, Tholuck, Bengal, Hahn, DeWette, Stier, Godet, Turner, Schaff. Some of those who hold the regenerate view are, Jerome, Augustine, Calvin, Beza, Krumacher, Delitzsch, Luther, Chalmers, Brown, Haldane, Forbes, Alford, Hodge, Shedd, Barnes, Boise. There are also other commentators who take a middle position between these two extremes. This being the situation, all one can do is to examine the different views and make his own choice. The purpose of this commentary, therefore, is to present the several views, and come to some conclusion as to the spiritual status of the person described in this passage. The unregenerate view will be presented first, then the regenerate view followed by the middle position view when there is one. This procedure will be carried out verse by verse, skipping over those who are repetitious, or which contain no new evidence to support a view. All must be fully aware that being dogmatic about a text that has great minds all through history divided is not a way of wisdom. We need to be aware that there is some aspect of the truth in each view, and when we choose one it ought not to be so we can look down our nose in pride at those who see it differently. Great men of God see it differently, and many of them were far greater than any of us, so do not let pride go before your