Romans 7:20 kjv
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Romans 7:20 nkjv
Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
Romans 7:20 niv
Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Romans 7:20 esv
Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
Romans 7:20 nlt
But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
Romans 7 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 7:17 | For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. | Explicitly states the ongoing struggle with sin. |
| Rom 7:18 | For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. | Highlights the indwelling sin affecting good intentions. |
| Rom 7:21 | I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. | Parallel statement of the pervasive nature of sin. |
| Gal 5:17 | For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. | Describes the internal conflict between flesh and Spirit. |
| Phil 3:20-21 | For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. | Points to the ultimate deliverance from the power of sin. |
| 1 Cor 15:56 | The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. | Identifies sin's power and its relation to the law. |
| 1 John 1:8 | If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. | Confirms the continued presence of sin even for believers. |
| John 8:34 | Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. | Defines the enslavement to sin. |
| Eph 4:22 | That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; | Advises to shed the old sinful nature. |
| Col 2:11 | In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; | Speaks of spiritual circumcision as removing the body of sin. |
| Rom 6:6 | Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. | Explains the crucifixion of the old self with Christ. |
| Rom 8:2 | For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. | Declares freedom from sin's law through Christ. |
| Ps 51:5 | Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. | Old Testament expression of inherent sinfulness. |
| Isa 64:6 | But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. | Describes the pervasiveness of sin and impurity. |
| Acts 5:3-4 | But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. | Shows Satan influencing human actions, though not excusing them. |
| Eph 2:2-3 | Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. | Describes the influence of the "prince of the power of the air" (Satan). |
| Gal 2:20 | I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. | Highlights the new life in Christ that supersedes the old self. |
| 2 Cor 12:7-9 | And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. | Illustrates a surrendered life where weakness is overcome by Christ's power. |
| 1 Pet 4:12 | Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: | Suggests external trials, which Paul might allude to with "sin that dwells within" in a broader sense of spiritual warfare. |
| 1 John 3:8 | He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil doth sin from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. | Directly links practicing sin to being "of the devil." |
Romans 7 verses
Romans 7 20 Meaning
Therefore it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.
Romans 7 20 Context
Romans chapter 7 portrays the apostle Paul wrestling with the internal conflict between the Law of God and the fallen human nature. Paul, as a believer striving for righteousness, experiences a deep awareness of his sinfulness. In verses 14-25, he uses a first-person singular ("I") to describe this persistent struggle, a struggle that was prominent for a Jew under the Old Covenant's explicit law, but which also continues for believers under the New Covenant as they live in a fallen world. This verse is part of a larger discourse explaining that the very law meant to bring life instead reveals sin and exposes the inability of human will alone to overcome it. The passage builds towards the ultimate freedom found in Christ described in Romans 8. The historical context involves understanding the perspective of a religiously observant Jew under the Mosaic Law, and how even with sincere commitment, the inward reality of sin was a profound struggle, amplified by the Law's requirements.
Romans 7 20 Word Analysis
Ὥστε (hoste): "So that," "therefore." It functions as a consequential conjunction, linking the preceding statements about the internal struggle to this conclusion.
οὐκέτι (ouketi): "No longer," "not anymore." Emphasizes a definitive shift from a previous state, even though the struggle continues in a nuanced way.
ἐγώ (egō): "I." The personal pronoun, referring to Paul himself.
ἐνεργῶν (energōn): Present active participle of energeō, meaning "working," "doing," "energizing." It highlights the active nature of the sin.
ἀλλά (alla): "But." A strong adversative conjunction, contrasting the personal will ("I") with the source of the action ("sin").
ὁ ἐνοικῶν (ho enoikōn): "The one dwelling," "the indweller." The article "ho" points to a specific, distinct entity. En oikō means "in a house" or "inwardly."
ἁμαρτία (hamartia): "Sin." The standard Greek word for sin, meaning an "error," "missing the mark," or a state of rebellion against God.
Groups of words:
- "οὐκέτι ἐγώ... ἀλλά... ὁ ἐνοικῶν ἁμαρτία" (ouketi egō... alla... ho enoikōn hamartia): This is the core of the verse. It is a profound distinction Paul makes. It's not that "I" am not responsible, but that the source and power behind the actions that oppose God's will are attributed to the pervasive, indwelling sin nature, often personified. This is not an excuse for sin but an identification of the enemy within the believer. It represents the duality of the Christian life – the "I" in Christ versus the remaining "flesh" or indwelling sin.
Romans 7 20 Bonus Section
This verse is a pivotal point in Paul's argument. He's not saying that the believer no longer sins. Rather, he's distinguishing between the believer's new identity in Christ and the remaining power of the sin nature within. The old self, with its willing servitude to sin, has been crucified with Christ (Rom 6:6). However, sin remains an indwelling, active force until glorification. Scholars note the psychological and spiritual intensity of Paul’s struggle here, echoing Old Testament lamentations (e.g., Psalm 51) and the teachings of Jesus about the spirit and the flesh (John 3:6, Gal 5:17). The ultimate liberation Paul speaks of in Romans 8 contrasts sharply with the current struggle described here, providing a hopeful resolution to the dilemma presented in chapter 7.
Romans 7 20 Commentary
Paul clarifies the source of his involuntary sin. While the "I" still wills good and hates evil, the actions contrary to good are not the pure desire of the true self (now regenerated in Christ) but the manifestation of the power of sin that still resides within his earthly nature. This indwelling sin is a powerful, active force that corrupts his intentions and leads him to do what he dislikes. It highlights that the believer’s true identity is no longer enslaved to sin, but the residual effects of sin's dominion are still experienced in this life, creating internal conflict. Paul's statement is not an abrogation of personal responsibility, but an accurate diagnosis of the ongoing spiritual battle in the life of a saint, a battle that will only be fully won in glorification.