Romans 7:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.

NIV: And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.

NASB: However, if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, that the Law is good.

CSB: Now if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good.

NLT: But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.

KJV: If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

NKJV: If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.

Bible scholars disagree about Paul's exact perspective in Romans 7:15–25. Is he describing himself before he became a Christian or after? Paul's choice of Greek words here strongly suggests that this is a personal, literal description of his current experience. His phrasing in this section contrasts with other parts of Romans in the use of first-person, singular, present-tense construction. In either case, he seems to be saying that his desire to do good, even if he doesn't actually do it, shows that he agrees that God's law is good.

In other words, the fact that any person—Christian or not—wants to "do right," instead of "do wrong," is itself evidence that God's law is "beautiful, noble, upright," which is what the Greek word for "good" means here. Put another way, wanting to do good shows that we humans know that God is right in the commands He has given to us in His law, even if we do not keep them.

Romans 7:7–25 explores the relationship between the law of Moses and human sin. Paul insists that the law is how he came to know and understand sin, in general, and his own sin specifically. He also explains how knowing the law does not make a person holier; it can actually tempt us to sin even more! Paul changes his perspective in this passage, speaking in a first-person-here-and-now manner, as a Christian, wanting to do what is right and finding himself doing what is sinful instead. Paul recognized his natural inability to do right and realized his need to be delivered from sin by God through Jesus.

In Romans 7, Paul describes the relationship between Christians and law of Moses and between the law and human sinfulness. Because we died spiritually when we came to faith in Christ, Christians have been freed from our obligation to follow the law. Paul insists, though, that the law is holy and good in the sense that it reveals to all who try to follow it just how very sinful we are. The law shows us that no matter how good our intentions, we still end up in sin and in need of the deliverance available only through faith in Jesus.

Romans 6 revealed that those in Christ have died to sin and are no longer slaves to it. Romans 7 begins by showing that, in Christ, we have also died to our obligation to follow the law of Moses. Paul makes clear, though, that the law is holy and good because it reveals to us just how sinful we are. Paul describes how his failed attempts to follow the law convinced him more fully of his need to be delivered from his sinfulness by God through faith in Christ. Romans 8 will explore many of the benefits of being in Christ.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.

Accessed 11/21/2024 11:50:56 AM