Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 7:14

"For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin." — Romans 7:14 (ASV)

Verses 14-25: The remainder of this chapter has been the subject of no small degree of controversy. The question has been whether it describes the state of Paul before his conversion, or afterwards. It is not the purpose of these Notes to enter into controversy or into extended discussion. But after all the attention I have been able to give to this passage, I regard it as describing the state of a man under the gospel, as descriptive of the operations of the mind of Paul after his conversion. This interpretation is adopted for the following reasons:

1. Because it seems to me to be the most obvious. It is that which will strike ordinary people as being the natural meaning—people who do not have a theory to support, and who understand language in its usual sense.

2. Because it agrees with the apostle's design, which is to show that the law is not suited to produce sanctification and peace. This he had done concerning a man before he was converted. If this relates to the same period, then it is a useless discussion of a point already discussed. If it relates to that period also, then there is a large field of action, including the whole period after a man's conversion to Christianity, in which the question might still be unsettled, whether the law there might not be suited to sanctify. The apostle therefore thoroughly addresses the argument, and shows that the operation of the law is everywhere the same.

3. Because the expressions that occur are such as cannot be understood of an impenitent sinner. (See the notes on Romans 7:15 and Romans 7:22.)

4. Because it accords with parallel expressions regarding the state of the conflict in a Christian's mind.

5. Because there is a change made here from the past tense to the present. In Romans 7:7 and following, he had used the past tense, evidently describing some former state. In Romans 7:14 there is a change to the present, a change inexplicable, unless one assumes that he meant to describe some state different from that before described. That could be no other than to carry his illustration forward in showing the ineffectiveness of the law on a man in his renewed state, or to show that such was the remaining depravity of the man, that it produced substantially the same effects as in the former condition.

6. Because it accords with the experience of Christians, and not with sinners. It is just such language as ordinary Christians, who are acquainted with their own hearts, use to express their feelings. I admit that this last consideration is not by itself conclusive; but if the language did not accord with the experience of the Christian world, it would be a strong circumstance against any proposed interpretation. The view expressed here of this chapter, supposing that the previous part (Romans 7:7–13) refers to a man in his unregenerate state, and that the remainder describes the effect of the law on the mind of a renewed man, was adopted by studying the chapter itself, without help from any writer. I am happy, however, to find that the views thus expressed are in accordance with those of the late Rev. Dr. J.P. Wilson, than whom, perhaps, no one was ever better qualified to interpret the Scriptures. He says,

"In the fourth verse, he (Paul) changes to the first person plural, because he intended to speak of the former experience of Christians, who had been Jews. In the seventh verse he uses the first person singular, but speaks in the past tense, because he describes his own experience when he was an unconverted Pharisee. In the fourteenth verse, and to the end of the chapter, he uses the first person singular, and the present tense, because he exhibits his own experience since he became a Christian and an apostle."

We know. We admit. It is a conceded, well-understood point.

That the law is spiritual. This does not mean that the law is designed to control the spirit, in contrast to the body. Instead, it is a declaration showing that the evils of which he was speaking were not the fault of the law. That was not, in its nature, sensual, corrupt, earthly, or carnal, but was pure and spiritual.

The effect described was not the fault of the law, but of the man, who was sold under sin. The word spiritual is often used this way to denote that which is pure and holy, in opposition to that which is fleshly or carnal (Romans 8:5–6; Galatians 5:16–23). The flesh is described as the source of evil passions and desires, while the spirit is the source of purity, or that which is consistent with the proper influences of the Holy Spirit.

But I am. The present tense shows that he is describing himself as he was at the time of writing. This is the natural and obvious construction; and if this is not the meaning, it is impossible to explain why he changed the past tense (Romans 7:7) to the present.

Carnal. Fleshly; sensual; opposed to spiritual. This word is used because in the Scriptures the flesh is spoken of as the source of sensual passions and propensities (Galatians 5:19–21). The sense is that these corrupt passions still retain a strong, withering, and distressing influence over the mind. The renewed man is exposed to temptations from his strong native appetites; and the power of these passions, strengthened by long habit before he was converted, has carried over into his Christian life, and they still continue to influence and distress him. It does not mean that he is wholly under their influence, but that the tendency of his natural inclinations is to indulgence.

Sold under sin. This expression is often cited to show that the apostle cannot be speaking of a renewed man. The argument is that it cannot be said of a Christian that he is sold under sin. A sufficient answer to this might be that, IN FACT, this is the very language that Christians often now adopt to express the strength of that native depravity against which they struggle, and that no language would better express it.

It does not mean that they choose or prefer sins. It strongly implies that the prevailing bent of their mind is against it, but that such is its strength that it brings them into slavery to it. The expression used here, "sold under sin," is "borrowed from the practice of selling captives taken in war, as slaves" (Stuart). Therefore, it means to deliver someone into the power of another, so that the one delivered is dependent on the other's will and control.

(Schleusner.) The emphasis is not on the word sold, as if any act of selling had taken place, but the effect was as if he had been sold; that is, he was subject to it and under its control. It means that sin, contrary to the prevailing inclination of his mind (Romans 7:15–17), had such an influence over him as to lead him to commit it, thus producing a state of conflict and grief (Romans 7:19–24). The verses that follow this are an explanation of the meaning and of the manner in which he was "sold under sin."