Romans 7:16 kjv
If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Romans 7:16 nkjv
If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
Romans 7:16 niv
And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.
Romans 7:16 esv
Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.
Romans 7:16 nlt
But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.
Romans 7 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 7:17 | "Now then it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me." | Clarifies the source of action |
| Gal 5:17 | "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish." | Shows internal struggle |
| Gen 6:5 | "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." | Depicts innate sinfulness |
| Psa 14:1-3 | "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of men to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one." | Confirms universal sin |
| Eccl 7:20 | "For there is not a just man on earth who does good And never sins." | Universal sinfulness |
| 1 John 1:8 | "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." | Self-deception regarding sin |
| Rom 3:23 | "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," | Universal sin |
| Isa 53:6 | "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—each one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." | Individual straying from God |
| John 8:34 | "Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin." | Bondage to sin |
| Rom 6:12 | "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its sinful desires." | Warning against submitting to sin |
| Rom 6:16 | "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" | Slavery to obedience |
| Gal 3:22 | "But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that of faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." | Scripture's testimony to sin |
| 1 Cor 10:13 | "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." | God's provision for temptation |
| Eph 2:3 | "among whom also we all conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as others." | Fleshly desires |
| Col 1:21 | "And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, He is now reconciling" | Alienation by wicked works |
| 1 Peter 4:2 | "that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God." | Living for God's will |
| Rom 8:1 | "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." | Freedom from condemnation |
| Phil 2:13 | "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." | God's work within believers |
| 2 Cor 5:17 | "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." | New creation in Christ |
| James 1:14-15 | "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires, lured away. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death." | The process of temptation and sin |
Romans 7 verses
Romans 7 16 Meaning
The verse signifies a moral dilemma. When we agree with and endorse an action that is not good, we admit our internal conflict. It highlights that our intentions and actions are not always aligned with God's will, leading to a recognition of our sinful nature. This agreement with evil demonstrates that sin is actively present within us, not just an external influence.
Romans 7 16 Context
Romans 7 describes the apostle Paul's wrestling with indwelling sin. He uses the analogy of marriage to illustrate the believer's release from the law through Christ's death, becoming united to a new 'husband,' the resurrected Christ. This union is characterized by a new spiritual life. However, within this new life, the residual power of sin, formerly tied to the law, still operates, causing the believer to experience inner conflict. Verse 16 specifically addresses this internal struggle where one's own consenting mind aligns with sinful impulses. This reflects a deeper exploration of the believer's experience of ongoing spiritual warfare while being justified by faith in Christ. It follows the exposition of being "bought with a price" and becoming slaves of righteousness.
Romans 7 16 Word Analysis
- εἰ (ei) - "if". Conditional particle. Introduces the hypothetical situation.
- οὖν (oun) - "therefore", "then". Conjunctive particle. Draws a conclusion from what precedes.
- ἐγώ (egō) - "I". First-person singular pronoun. Refers to Paul himself.
- συμφωνέω (symphoneō) - "to agree with", "to consent to", "to harmonize with". Used here to denote mental assent or agreement with an action. It implies a recognition and approval of the sinful act, rather than mere involuntary occurrence.
- τῷ (tō) - Dative case of the definite article "the".
- καλῷ (kalō) - Dative case of the adjective "good". In this context, it refers to the "good" that is perceived or intended, but the action taken is not good. This creates the paradox: agreeing with a "good" but performing something not good.
- οὐκ (ouk) - "not". Negative particle.
- ἐργάζομαι (ergazomai) - "to work", "to do", "to practice". The verb signifies actively bringing something about or performing an action.
- ὁ νόμος (ho nomos) - "the law". The Mosaic Law is primarily in view, but the principle extends to any divinely given standard of righteousness.
Group of words analysis:
- "εἰ οὖν συμφωνέω τῷ καλῷ" - "if then I agree with the good". This phrase highlights the paradox. Paul recognizes what is good, yet his inward man, through the persistent influence of sin, finds himself in agreement with the evil act. It is a profound confession of internal moral compromise. The believer’s mind can become aligned with what is objectively bad, even while acknowledging its goodness.
- "οὐκ ἐργάζομαι" - "I do not do (it)". This asserts the inability to perform the good that the conscience assents to. It’s not that the believer intends not to do the good, but the power of indwelling sin prevents it. This is a statement of defeat in the pursuit of personal righteousness.
Romans 7 16 Bonus Section
This verse powerfully illustrates the doctrine of the flesh and its continued influence even after regeneration. While believers are declared righteous through faith in Christ, their fleshly nature, inherited from Adam, remains operative. This residual sin nature (often called "original corruption") creates internal division. Paul is not describing the unregenerate person who actively desires evil. Instead, he is describing the renewed person whose inner spirit cries out for God's righteousness, but whose fleshly impulses and mind still participate in sin through agreement, thereby hindering them from doing the good they intend. This experiential truth prepares the ground for Paul's triumphant declaration of victory in Christ in Romans 8.
Romans 7 16 Commentary
Paul articulates the deep inner conflict experienced by a person who knows God's will and agrees that it is good, yet finds themselves compelled to do that which is contrary to that good. This is not a statement of someone choosing evil, but of someone's own corrupted will becoming complicit in sin. The agreement ("symphoneō") signifies that the mind, even the renewed mind, can rationalize or consent to actions that are inherently wrong. This demonstrates that sin, as a corrupting force, continues to operate within, making obedience a battle. The verse emphasizes that sin is not just an external temptation but an internal agreement that leads to the failure to perform righteousness. The resolution to this struggle, Paul will later explain, lies in the power of the Holy Spirit and the new life in Christ (Romans 8).
- Practical implication: Recognizing the inner assent to wrong is the first step toward seeking deliverance. It moves beyond just the act of sin to the mindset behind it.
- Example: A person knows that gossip is wrong (the good) but finds their mind agreeing with and even enjoying the juicy details of a rumored scandal (not the good). Though they might not initially initiate the gossip, their mental agreement allows sin to gain traction.