Rhetoric, Law, and the Mystery of Salvation in Romans 7:1-6

Many have come to conclusion that Romans 7: 1-6 indicated a deficiency in Paul's ability to construct a coherent argument. This study suggests that interpretive problems should be eliminated if the pericope is approached with the right methods. Romans 7: 1-6, examined as a rhetorical treatise, is a paradigmatic argument which is both structurally and logically coherent. A full understanding also demands a re-evaluation of the meaning and reference of law in Romans. Utilizing semantic analyses, the author suggests that law often refers to the Decalogue. In this pericope, Paul demonstrates how a sinful individual who is condemned by law is transformed into a spiritual individual who is commended by law.