Texts in Conversation
Paul in Romans and Rabbinic tradition describe two inner impulses, described as the good and evil inclinations, or “yetzers”. While some Rabbinic traditions portray the Torah as a remedy that strengthens the good inclination, Romans is similar to Rabbinic traditions that think the Torah ironically tempts the evil inclination.
Share:
Romans 7:5
New Testament
4 So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you could be joined to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful desires, aroused by the law, were active in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the law, because we have died to what controlled us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit and not under the old written code. 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! Certainly, I would not have known sin except through the law. For indeed I would not have known what it means to desire something belonging to someone else if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of wrong desires. For apart from the law, sin is dead.
Date: 55-58 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Ruth Rabbah 3
Aggadah
Rabbinic
This is what the scripture says: 'Small and great alike are there, and the slave is free of his master'. Rabbi Simon said: 'this is one of four verses which are like to one another. 'Small and great alike are there': this is the world, who is small is able to be made great and who is great is able to be made small, but in the one that is going to come, who is small will not be able to be made great and who is great will not be able to be made small. 'And the slave is free of his master': this is the one who does the will of his creator (yotzer) but displeases his yetzer (inclination); death becomes his freedom, as it is said 'And the slave is free of his master'. Rabbi Meyasha son of Bereh of Rabbi Joshua was insensate for three days because he was sick, and after the three days his sense revived itself, and his father said to him 'where were you?'.
Date: 700-950 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Tags:
Search:
Notes and References
"... The apostle desires obedience to God and a dedication to righteousness. Piety characterizes Paul's own life. The Holy Spirit enables the apostle to live a life of service to God. In Romans 7:1-6, he employs an analogy based upon Jewish law. It stands to reason that Jewish sources can throw additional light upon Paul's message and the conclusion he desires to draw from the evidence he cites. The rabbis also discussed the problem of fleshly desires, which they commonly referred to as the evil inclination." They were aware that the power of the evil inclination can place a person into bondage. Each person, however, should seek to serve the true Master who created him or her rather than the inclination to disobey God. In his teachings, the sage Rabbi Simeon ben Pazzi uses many of the same images as are found in Paul's writings. Here Rabbi Simeon ben Pazzi teaches about being "a slave to sin or God" ..."
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.