Romans 7 and Christian Identity: A Study of the ‘I' in its Literary Context

In this book, Will N. Timmins provides a close rereading of Romans 7 within its literary-argumentative context and offers a fresh and compelling solution to the identity of the 'I' in this text. Challenging existing paradigms, which fail to provide both literary coherence and theological plausibility, he develops his own positive theory about the device. Along the way he also re-examines a number of key texts within the letter, which have hitherto not been given due weight within the scholarly discussion. This study offers a fresh and satisfying solution to one of the Bible's most notorious cruxes, and contributes to our understanding of the apostle Paul's thought. It will be of interest to all scholars and students within the fields of biblical studies and Christian theology.

• Provides a new reading of the difficult crux of Romans 7, the identity of the speaking 'I', satisfies with a literary coherence and theological plausibility lacking in other readings
• Reflects on the character of Christian existence in the mortal body, appealing to all readers interested in Pauline anthropology and eschatology
• Offers close readings, with fresh exegetical insight, of a number of key passages in Paul's Epistle to the Romans

• Table of Contents
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Speech-in-character: a critical assessment
• 3. Romans 3:7: the singularity and solidarity of 'I'
• 4. Romans 6:12-19: life in the mortal body
• 5. Romans 7.7-13: 'I' and Adamic solidarity
• 6. Romans 7:14-25: 'I' and Christian identity
• 7. Conclusion
• Appendix 1: the first personal singular in Romans.