Romans 7:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For I know that nothing good dwells 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.

NIV: For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

NASB: For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.

CSB: For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.

NLT: And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.

KJV: For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

NKJV: For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.

Is Paul presenting himself as he was before he came to Christ, back when he was trying to follow the law of Moses as a good Jewish person? Or is Paul describing his experience as Christian who has been freed from sin (Romans 6:2, 18, 22)? Bible scholars disagree about Paul's intent. The specific Greek tenses and words Paul uses here, however, strongly suggests that this is a personal, present, and literal struggle.

In either case, Paul's struggle with sin has brought him to make a blunt declaration: He has learned that nothing good lives in his flesh, his unspiritual mind and body. As a physical human being, good does not come out of him, no matter his best effort.

Why would Paul say such a thing? He has observed the pattern in himself over and over again. He wants to do the right thing. He is sincere. Still, he ends up doing the sinful thing he hates. He has accepted the fact that he, on his own, is not source of what he calls "good." He has the desire, but not the ability, to do what is right.

This fits with what Paul has said about those who are under the law. Their attempt to follow the law reveals to them that they are unable to keep the law, that they are truly slaves to sin.

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.