Jan Lambrecht, «The Line of Thought in Romans 7,15-20», Vol. 85 (2004) 393-398
The parallelism between Romans 7,14-17 and 18-20 as it has recently been put forward by O. Hofius is critically examined. It would seem that within this text Paul’s reasoning progresses from vv. 14b-16 to 17-20. The thesis of v. 14b ("I am fleshly, sold into the slavery under sin") gives way to the more sophisticated pronouncement of v. 17 ("as a matter of fact it is not I that do the evil, but the indwelling sin"). Each time motivations follow, vv. 15 and 18-19; finally a conclusion is drawn, vv. 16 and 20.
398 Jan Lambrecht
The line of thought within 7,14b-20 provides us with two rounds of
reasoning. Each consist of a thesis, two or three motivations and an inference.
Waversebaan 220 Jan LAMBRECHT, S.J.
3003 Heverlee (Belgium)
SUMMARY
The parallelism between Romans 7,14-17 and 18-20 as it has recently been put
forward by O. Hofius is critically examined. It would seem that within this text
Paul’s reasoning progresses from vv. 14b-16 to 17-20. The thesis of v. 14b (“I am
fleshly, sold into the slavery under sinâ€) gives way to the more sophisticated
pronouncement of v. 17 (“as a matter of fact it is not I that do the evil, but the
indwelling sinâ€). Each time motivations follow, vv. 15 and 18-19; finally
a conclusion is drawn, vv. 16 and 20.