The book of Romans, particularly Romans 7, contains one of the most debated sections of Scripture. Is Paul speaking of his current struggle as a believer or his past struggle under the law before his conversion?

This is one of those hotly debated verses where people scratch their heads, wondering if a guy like Paul is grappling with sin, what hope do the rest of us have? It’s like saying, “If the apostle couldn’t keep it together, I might as well sin all I want!”

Why is it confusing? In Rom 7:1-13 its straightforward, as Paul is talking about the law, and that we are freed from the law, and all of a sudden in verse 14, he says

“For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.”

This is very confusing, as Paul goes into lengths saying in Romans 6 that we are dead to sin, and that our body of sin has been crucified, and then all of a sudden out of nowhere he says I AM OF THE FLESH, SOLD TO SIN. It would have been okay if he had used past tense, but we cannot deny the fact that he uses present tense. It’s almost as if he is schizophrenic.

However, a careful look at the grammar, context, and understanding of historical present tense in Greek literature and also in Paul’s writings reveal a clear narrative: that Romans 7:1-13 and Romans 7:14-25 describe Paul’s experience before his conversion, under the dominion of sin and the law.

Not convinced? Let’s dive into it.

What Is the Historical Present?

The historical present tense is a rhetorical tool commonly used in Greek to narrate past events as though they are happening in the present. It creates immediacy, draws the reader into the narrative, and emphasizes the drama of the moment.

Definition: The historical present uses present tense verbs to vividly recount past events. It is not about a literal present state but serves to bring past experiences to life for the audience.

Example in English:

• Past tense: “Yesterday, I went to the store and saw a man arguing.”
• Historical present: “Yesterday, I go to the store, and I see a man arguing.”
• The historical present adds drama, making the scene feel immediate.

You see this a lot in the Bible. In the Pauline epistles, Paul occasionally employs the historical present to make past events more vivid and engaging. For example, in Galatians 2:11, Paul recounts his confrontation with Peter, stating, “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I oppose him to his face because he stood condemned.” The Greek verb ἀντέστην (I oppose) is written in the present tense, a stylistic choice that emphasizes the immediacy and intensity of the confrontation. By using the historical present, Paul draws the reader into the narrative, making the event feel more direct and impactful.

Now let’s look at Romans 7.

Transition from Past Tense to Historical Present in Romans 7

In Romans 7:14, Paul writes: “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am (Greek: eimi) of the flesh, sold under sin.”

The verb εἰμί (eimi, “I am”) is in the present tense, but Paul is using the historical present to describe his pre-conversion condition under the law.

This is because in Romans 7:7-13, Paul uses past tense verbs to describe his relationship with the law:

“I was once alive apart from the law” (Romans 7:9).

“Sin came alive and I died” (Romans 7:9).

“The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me” (Romans 7:10).

This establishes a past framework for Paul’s discussion of life under the law. This is Paul is describing his past condition of slavery to sin, which aligns with his pre-conversion state.

Dramatic Shift for Emphasis:

But then, in Romans 7:14-25, Paul shifts to the historical present to vividly recount his experience of being enslaved to sin, even as he desired to obey the law.

As mentioned earlier, this literary technique heightens the emotional tension and helps readers empathize with the futility of trying to achieve righteousness apart from Christ.

Additional Proofs

The Language of Enslavement

In Romans 7:14, Paul writes that he is “sold under sin” (πεπραμένος ὑπὸ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν). Being “sold under sin” refers to being under sin’s dominion, a condition explicitly broken at conversion (Romans 6:6):

“We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.”

Since believers are no longer enslaved to sin, Romans 7:14-25 cannot describe Paul’s post-conversion experience.

Parallel to Romans 6 and Romans 8

Romans 7:14-25 highlights the tension and futility of trying to obey the law in one’s own strength. This contrasts sharply with the freedom described in Romans 6 and Romans 8:

Romans 6:14: “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

Romans 8:1-2: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”

The victory and freedom in Romans 8 resolve the struggle described in Romans 7, indicating that the latter refers to Paul’s pre-conversion state.

Romans 7:5 as a Summary of Romans 7:1-13

Moreover, In Romans 7:5, Paul writes:

“For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.”

This verse explicitly refers to a past condition: “while we were living in the flesh.”

Why This Matters

Recognizing the historical present helps avoid misinterpreting Romans 7:14-25 as Paul’s post-conversion state, which could lead to confusion about the power of sin in a believer’s life. A lot of people take this as an excuse to live under the bondage of sin. You do not have two natures. You have only one nature which is that of Christ. You are freed from the bondage of sin.