“For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not
practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate.” —Romans 7:15,
HCSB
Perspectives on Our Struggle with Sin presents in
point-counterpoint form three differing views of a Christian’s
relationship with the law, flesh, and spirit as illustrated through
Paul’s often-debated words in Romans 7.
Stephen Chester (North Park Theological Seminary) writes
“The Retrospective View of Romans 7: Paul’s Past in Present
Perspective,” suggesting the apostle’s description of his struggle
speaks more to his pre-Christian self.
Grant Osborne (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) offers
“The Flesh Without the Spirit: Romans 7 and Christian Experience,”
perceiving Romans 7 as an accurate representation of what believers
go through even after their conversion.
Mark Seifrid (The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary), in
“The Voice of the Law, the Cry of Lament, and the Shout of
Thanksgiving,” asserts that Paul is not speaking of his past or his
present Christian experience in Romans 7, but more fundamentally
and simply about “the human being confronted with the Law.”
Chad Owen Brand (The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)
writes a conclusion on the theological and pastoral implications of
Romans 7.
Acclaim for Perspectives on Our Struggle with Sin:
"One difficult and disputed text, three fine scholars,
and three views of the passage. How is one to read Romans 7? This
book takes you through all the options and rationale with detail,
charity, and clarity. This is how to have a discussion over a
disputed text. Read and learn about Romans 7. Decide who is right
and why. And, above all, learn about how to discuss a difficult
text."
Darrell L. Bock
Research professor of New Testament
Studies
Dallas Theological Seminary
"The meaning of Romans 7 continues to bedevil and puzzle readers.
This volume does not simply rehearse arguments and positions from
the past. The authors approach the text from fresh and illuminating
perspectives, and hence this work represents a significant
contribution to scholarship."
Thomas R. Schreiner
James Buchanan Harrison professor
of New Testament Interpretation
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Christians have long debated how Paul’s moving depiction of a
struggle with sin in “Romans 7 should influence our theology and
practice of the Christian life. Now, in one book, Christians are
given a wonderful opportunity to engage the different views, see
how they differ, and come to their own conclusions. Chester,
Osborne, and Seifrid clearly and capably defend their positions;
and they do so with enough of a difference in method that the
reader is given a good sense of the scope of the issues and their
significance.”
Douglas J. Moo
Kenneth T. Wessner Chair of Biblical
Studies
Wheaton College
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