Romans 7:19 kjv
For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Romans 7:19 nkjv
For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
Romans 7:19 niv
For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do?this I keep on doing.
Romans 7:19 esv
For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
Romans 7:19 nlt
I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
Romans 7 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Internal Conflict / Desire vs. Action | ||
| Gal 5:17 | For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh... | Describes the believer's constant spiritual battle. |
| Matt 26:41 | Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. | Acknowledges the weakness of human will in action. |
| Rom 7:18 | 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. | Immediately precedes, showing desire but lack of power. |
| Rom 7:22-23 | For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind... | Elucidates the two opposing principles within. |
| Ps 119:1-8 | Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD! ... Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes! | A heartfelt cry for obedience despite personal failings. |
| 1 Pet 2:11 | Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. | Exhorts believers to fight against internal sinful desires. |
| Jas 1:14-15 | But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin... | Explains the progression from internal desire to sin. |
| Power of Sin / Indwelling Sin | ||
| Rom 7:17 | But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. | Attributes sinful acts to the power of indwelling sin. |
| Rom 7:20 | If then I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. | Reinforces the concept of sin as an indwelling power. |
| Rom 6:12-13 | Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body... do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin... | Commands against surrendering to sin's power. |
| Jer 17:9 | The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? | Describes the deep-seated corruption of the human heart. |
| Eph 4:22 | that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts... | Calls for shedding the sin-prone old self. |
| Col 3:5 | Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness... | Exhorts active mortification of sinful parts. |
| Law's Limitations / Need for Grace | ||
| Rom 8:3 | For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh... | Shows the Law's inability to save or empower due to human flesh. |
| Gal 3:21 | Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. | Confirms the Law's inability to give life or righteousness. |
| Heb 10:1-4 | For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. | Describes the Old Testament law's insufficiency. |
| Deliverance / Hope in Christ | ||
| Rom 7:24-25 | O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! | Expresses the desperate cry for deliverance and its answer in Christ. |
| Rom 8:1-2 | 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. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. | Highlights the believer's liberation from sin's dominion through the Spirit. |
| Phil 3:20-21 | For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body... | Points to future glorification and complete deliverance from sin's presence. |
| 1 Cor 15:56-57 | The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. | Affirms victory over sin through Christ. |
Romans 7 verses
Romans 7 19 Meaning
Romans 7:19 encapsulates the profound internal struggle experienced by a regenerated individual, stating that the moral good which one genuinely desires and purposes to do, is not performed. Conversely, the evil that one hates and consciously rejects is, nevertheless, consistently done. This verse describes the persistent tension between the renewed will of a believer and the indwelling power of sin within their fallen nature.
Romans 7 19 Context
Romans 7:19 is central to Paul's argument regarding the role of the Law and the nature of the Christian's struggle with sin. The preceding verses (7:7-13) establish that the Law, though good, cannot provide life but instead reveals sin and even stimulates it, bringing death. From verse 7:14 onwards, Paul shifts to a deeply personal account using "I," demonstrating that even someone who delights in God's Law "according to the inward man" (v. 22) still finds themselves enslaved by sin in their "members." Verse 19 specifically articulates this paradox: the will (rooted in the renewed mind or spirit) desires to do good but fails, while the despised evil is still carried out due to indwelling sin (referred to as "flesh" or "body of death"). This agonizing confession leads directly to the cry for deliverance in verse 24 and the triumph of God's grace in Romans 8 through the Holy Spirit. Historically, Paul addressed an audience grappling with how justification by faith in Christ related to the Jewish Law and ongoing moral living.
Romans 7 19 Word analysis
- For (γάρ - gar): This Greek conjunction introduces an explanation or justification for the preceding statement (v. 18), confirming why the "will to do good is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find."
- the good (τὸ ἀγαθὸν - to agathon): Refers to what is morally upright, beneficial, and in accordance with God's perfect law. It signifies righteous actions and conduct.
- that I would (ὃ θέλω - ho thelō): The Greek thelō indicates a strong desire, intention, or will. It speaks of a conscious decision and earnest longing from the inner being.
- I do not (οὐ ποιῶ - ou poiō): The negation ou with poiō (to do, perform, accomplish) starkly emphasizes the lack of execution. The action falls short of the deep desire and will.
- but (ἀλλὰ - alla): A strong adversative conjunction, introducing a direct contrast and a pivot to the opposite experience.
- the evil (τὸ κακὸν - to kakon): Denotes what is morally wrong, wicked, harmful, and contrary to God's nature and command.
- which I would not (ὃ οὐ θέλω - ho ou thelō): Expresses profound disapproval and opposition. This is something the person genuinely does not want to do; it is detestable to their renewed moral sense.
- that I do (τοῦτο πράσσω - touto prassō): The demonstrative touto ("this") refers directly back to "the evil." Prassō (to do, practice, perform) often implies a habitual or ingrained course of conduct, in contrast to poiō which can signify a singular act. This suggests a pattern of behavior despite the inner revulsion.
Words-group analysis
- "For the good that I would, I do not": This phrase expresses a heartbreaking disconnect. The regenerated mind wills the good, genuinely desires and aims to conform to God's standard, yet the performance of that good is hindered. It signifies a profound lack of spiritual power when relying on self.
- "but the evil which I would not, that I do": This contrasting clause intensifies the internal anguish. It's not just a failure to do good; it's the active engagement in what is personally detested. This reveals the compelling, active force of indwelling sin within the believer, which can still override the sincere will to obey. The "I" in this section, keenly feeling this dichotomy, indicates an "I" that is clearly distinguished from "sin dwelling in me" (v. 17, 20), yet still impacted by it.
Romans 7 19 Bonus section
- The "I" in Romans 7, including verse 19, is widely interpreted as the struggling, yet genuine, Christian believer. This perspective provides the most direct and impactful lead-in to the triumphant victory found in Romans 8 through the Holy Spirit, which specifically liberates believers from the "law of sin and death."
- The emphasis on the desire ("I would") versus the action ("I do not" / "that I do") highlights the moral schizophrenia caused by sin's indwelling power. It underscores that spiritual transformation is not merely about a change of intellectual assent or desire, but requires supernatural empowerment to consistently bring actions into alignment with the renewed will.
- This verse effectively counters any notion of 'sinless perfection' in this life, while simultaneously validating the authenticity of a believer's renewed desire for holiness. The struggle itself is evidence of a spiritual battle that is only possible for someone who has the Spirit.
Romans 7 19 Commentary
Romans 7:19 articulates the Christian's deep, lifelong paradox: a regenerated will genuinely desires God's righteousness, yet struggles against a tenacious indwelling sin nature. It highlights the believer's continued brokenness and the reality that simply knowing and willing the good is not enough to perform it consistently. The verse clarifies that our inner person, made new in Christ, abhors evil and approves of God's Law, but the "flesh" (unredeemed human nature under sin's influence) remains a formidable force. This is not an excuse for sin but an honest portrayal of the believer's need for the empowering grace of the Holy Spirit (as unveiled in Rom 8). It underscores that salvation involves not only a change in standing (justification) but an ongoing battle for spiritual transformation (sanctification), wherein the Christian remains entirely dependent on Christ for deliverance from this "body of death." This ongoing internal warfare points us consistently away from self-reliance and towards divine strength.