ACC ~ Romans 7 v22

THE COMMON LOT OF HUMANITY, EXCEPTING THE FAITHFUL. DIODORE: Here Paul is describing the common lot of man. For the ordinary person can see in his mind what ought to be done but cannot achieve it. But the man who has believed in Christ with his mind can achieve it with the help of the Holy Spirit. Such a person is therefore called “spiritual.” PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

I DELIGHT IN THE LAW. AMBROSIASTER: Paul says that the mind delights in the things which are taught by the law. This is “our inmost self,” because sin does not dwell in the mind but in the flesh. … It is prevented from dwelling in the mind by free will. Therefore sin dwells in the flesh, at the door of the soul as it were, so as to prevent the soul from doing what it wants to do. If it dwelt in the mind it would derange it, so that man would not know himself. As it is, he does know himself and takes delight in the law of God. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

AUGUSTINE: See wherein we are free, wherein we are delighted with the law of God. Freedom delights. For as long as you do what is just out of fear, God does not delight you. As long as you do it still a slave, he does not delight you. Let him delight you and you are free. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 41.10.3.

MY INMOST SELF. PELAGIUS: Paul’s “inmost self” is the rational and intelligent soul which agrees with the law of God, for its law is to live rationally and not to be led about by the passions of irrational animals.

The outer self, on the other hand, is the body. Its law is the wisdom of the flesh, which instructs one to eat and drink and enjoy the other sensual pleasures. These war against reason, and if they gain the upper hand, subject it to the law of sin. For if it is true that we do what we do not want to do, Paul would not have said that he sees another law in his members, fighting against the law of his mind. He agrees to the law with his mind. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

THEODORET OF CYR: The “inmost self” is the mind. INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

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