Wright gets there by assuming that the reader is on the exact same ground as Romans 2:17-24. He states that Romans 7 is merely a longer version of Romans 2:17-24. He also states Romans 8 is an expanded version of Romans 2:28-29, etc.

With that understood, he says the point of 2:17-24 is that Israel though claiming to be better off before God than the rest of the world, not least because of possessing the law, was in fact reduced to the same state as the rest of the world (1:18-2:16). Then he jumps to the "I" in Romans 7 being the "Israel" of Romans 2.

Thus, one of his problems is that he narrows the theology of Paul to the community of Israel "only" in his interpretation of Rom 2, 7, etc and misses the individual aspect of salvation Paul is expressing in Rom 7 and 1, and 3, and 5, etc. Moreover, IMO he misses the point that it takes "individuals" to make "Israel."

Reformed and Always Reforming,