The Problem of Sin in Us

13 Therefore, did what is good cause my death?[a] Absolutely not!(A) On the contrary, sin, in order to be recognized as sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment, sin might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual,(B) but I am made out of flesh,[b] sold(C) into sin’s power.(D) 15 For I do not understand what I am doing,(E) because I do not practice what I want to do,(F) but I do what I hate. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh.(G) For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. 19 For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but it is the sin that lives in me. 21 So I discover this principle:[c](H) When I want to do what is good, evil is with me. 22 For in my inner self[d] I joyfully agree with God’s law.(I) 23 But I see a different law in the parts of my body,[e](J) waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.[f] 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this dying body?(K) 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord![g](L) So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh, to the law of sin.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 7:13 Lit good become death to me?
  2. Romans 7:14 Other mss read I am carnal
  3. Romans 7:21 Or law
  4. Romans 7:22 Lit inner man
  5. Romans 7:23 Lit my members
  6. Romans 7:23 Lit my members
  7. Romans 7:25 Or Thanks be to God—(it is done) through Jesus Christ our Lord!

13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, (A)sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For (B)I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with (C)the law, that it is good. 17 So now (D)it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells (E)in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 (F)For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, (G)it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For (H)I delight in the law of God, (I)in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members (J)another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from (K)this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

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