Is the Holy Spirit mentioned in Romans 7?
Romans chapter 7 contains no reference to the Holy Spirit whatsoever. The Spirit is absent from that chapter, while Romans chapter 8 mentions Him nineteen times. Before chapter 8, the Holy Spirit appears only once, in Romans chapter 5. This contrast is significant.
Les teaches that if he were to teach Romans verse by verse, he would point out that Romans chapter 7 has no mention of the Holy Spirit at all. Paul is almost bereft with thoughts, asking why the thing he does not want to do is what he does, and why the things he wants to do he does not do. Yet the Holy Spirit is never mentioned in chapter 7. Then chapter 8 is filled with the Holy Spirit, referred to nineteen times, whereas before that He is mentioned only once in the previous seven chapters, in Romans chapter 5. Since there were no breaks in Paul's letters, this sudden shift should make us sit up and take attention.
More Questions
Is Paul's struggle in Romans 7 unique to him or common to everyone?
Paul's turmoil in Romans 7 is what all of us experience at one time or another, making it a universal human experience.