ISB ~ Romans 7 v9

I was once alive:Paul speaks often in Romans 7 in the first person (“I” or “me”). Scholars ancient and modern have wrestled over the rhetorical implications of this. (1) Paul may be reflecting on his personal history, either as a Jew, confronted with the challenging demands of the Torah, or as a Christian, still fighting the inclination to sin in order to follow the Law. (2) Paul may be looking back on biblical history as sin was first experienced by Adam, who lived in innocence until he transgressed the commandment threatening death (Gen 2:17), or by Israel, who no sooner received the Law of the covenant than broke it (Ex 32:1-28). For the insertion of divine commandments into history at these two junctures, see 5:13-14. (3) Paul may be thinking of human history in general, so that his words describe the universal plight of all men apart from the saving grace of Christ. In the end, the third view is most likely Paul’s intended meaning, although allusions at the level of personal and biblical history should not be ruled out.