Who is the Wretched Man?

Articles

Micah Webb
02/13/23 - Sin

In Romans 7 Paul is writing about the old law and sin. In verse 24 of this text who says, “O Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” The question that many people ask is “Who is the wretched man?” Some say Paul before becoming a Christian and others say Paul as a Christian. Let us look at the context and see what it shows us about the wretched man.

The Context

The entire context of Romans 7 is dealing with the old law. The text divides up this way:

We Are Dead to the Law (vv.1-6)
The Law is Not Sinful (vv.7-13)
Futility Under the Law (vv.14-23, 25b)
Desire For Deliverance (vv.24-25a)

While the last two points if that outline are the immediate text we want to focus on in a moment, understanding the content of the previous two points will help us answer our question. In the first 6 versus Paul is using the illustration of the marriage relationship to show how they have died to the law. Beginning at verse 7, we know what law is being discussed. The law of chapter 7 is the old law, as it is the law which says, “Thou shalt not covet.” That is the law which is holy and not sinful. As Paul transitions to describe himself leading up to verse 24, he is still dealing with the old law. Verse 14 reads, “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.” Again, the law under discussion in this text is still the law which reads, “Thou shalt not covet.” That is the old law, as this is the tenth commandment (Exodus 20:17). Therefore, the context is still dealing with the old law when he discusses the wretched man. This shows it cannot be Paul as a Christian.

The Contradiction

Aside from the old law being under discussion, Paul in chapter 7 is the exact opposite of the man in chapter 6. In chapter 6 Paul has made the point that the Christian cannot continue in sin. Consider the following list describing the man of chapter 6: 1) Died to sin (v.2), 2) crucified old man of sin (v.6), 3) sin is not to reign in mortal body (v.12), 4) not to be members of unrighteousness (v.13) and 5) slaves of righteousness and not sin (vv.16-17). Now consider what is said of the wretched man: 1) sold under sin (v.14) and 2) sin dwells in him, (v.20). If the wretched man is Paul in his present condition, then he is living the complete and total opposite of how he just told the Romans they are to live. That would be hypocritical! This cannot be the same man!

The Confusion Answered

Some take several passages from these selections of verses to teach that we have an inherit sinful nature. With the context and the contrast already seen, let us answer these confusions. So here is what Paul says, “17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” So, the question is, if this is not about the inherit sinful nature of man, what is it?

Here is what Paul is saying, there is a fight within man between what is right and what is wrong, between the spiritual and the fleshly. This is summed up well in what Jesus told the apostles in Matthew 26:41 where he says, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” The point is, we have the fleshy side of us that wants to do the things of the flesh and of our own selfish desires. Paul, when under the old law, knew what he had to do and what he could not do. However, he would give in to the fleshy desires instead of following the spiritual side. For example, he knew not to covet for the law said so (v.7) but when he coveted, he did what he willed not. We too can be guilty of this! We know what we must do and may desire to do it, but our fleshy desire is contrary to our spiritual desire. When we give in to our fleshly desire, we do what we will not, and know we ought not to do.

Conclusion

“Who is the wretched man?” is the question we explored. It is not Paul as a Christian as the context is talking about the old law and sin, and it cannot be Paul as a Christian as this is the opposite of the Christian of chapter 6. With that in mind, we explored verses 17-20 and answered the confusion about those verses. It is not dealing with man’s inherit sinful nature but the battle between your fleshy desires and spiritual desires. May this help our understanding of this text and how we answer critics of Paul and Romans 7.