Conquerors Not Captives: An Interview with Joseph Dodson

Joseph Dodson is the author of Conquerors Not Captives: Reframing Romans 7 for the Christian Life. In his new book, he challenges the popular view that Romans 7:14–25 describes the typical Christian battle against sin.

In our interview below, Dodson shares the inspiration behind the book.

Joseph R. Dodson is Dr. Craig L. Blomberg Endowed Chair of New Testament at Denver Seminary and associate pastor at New Denver Church.

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Lexham Press: What is the story behind your book and what is your book’s basic thesis?
Joseph Dodson: When I was growing up, my pastors and teachers taught that as the wretch in Romans 7, Paul demonstrates how even he, the great apostle, remains powerlessly captive to sin. It was not until my last year of seminary that I discovered that most New Testament scholars reject that interpretation. Rather, the wretch is either Paul impersonating an unbeliever (such as Adam, Israel, or the apostle’s interlocutor from Romans 2) who lives under the Mosaic Law rather than the Spirit or that Paul is describing his life *before Christ set him from the plight of Romans 7 (see Rom 8:1-3). Throughout the decades since, I’ve seen this passage taken out of context and used to say something that contradicts what Paul, Jesus, and the rest of the NT authors write. Sure, sin remains with us after we are saved, but it no longer reigns in us. The Spirit of Christ is us not only rescues us from the penalty of sin but also from its power. Yes, we struggle to overcome sin, but we are not powerless before it as the “I” in Romans 7 who makes no mention of the Holy Spirit.

LP: Can you tell us what contribution you hope to make with your book?
Dodson:

1. To bring pastors, students, and people in the pews the interpretation common among scholars in the academy–Romans 7 is not meant to depict Paul as a believer or by extension the typical Christian life.
2. To encourage the readers and instill hope within them that this is good news. If Romans 7 represents their life with sin, it no longer has to. Greater is He that is in us!
3. To help the students see and understand new insights in Romans and the New Testament altogether from the vantage point of Romans 7.
4. To entertain the reader even while getting deep into the weeds.

LP: Describe for us a particularly surprising or enjoyable aspect of writing your book.
Dodson: Well, writing this book with my daughter obviously stands out as the most enjoyable aspect of writing this book. I’d say my favorite chapter was the final one where I was able to take off my scholar cap and put on my preacher one.

LP: Share with us something surprising about yourself that only your friends would know?
Dodson: My dream is to sell everything I have and live in an Airstream.