15
ForγὰρwhatὃI doκατεργάζομαιI do notοὐunderstand;γινώσκωforγὰρwhatὃI want,θέλωthisτοῦτοI do notοὐpractice,πράσσωbutἀλλ’whatὃI hate,μισῶthisτοῦτοI do.ποιῶ
Romans 7:15
Study it in the app“For what I do I do not understand; for what I want, this I do not practice, but what I hate, this I do.”
Paul describes the inner war: he wants the good and does what he hatesTemptation
With the Greek beneath
Romans 7:15, word by word
- I doκατεργάζομαιkatergazomai
commit
To carry out something, often evil.
Where else “katergazomai” appears- understandγινώσκωginōskō
know
To be truly acquainted with someone, or grasp something fully.
Where else “ginōskō” appears- I wantθέλωthelō
want
To have the desire or the resolve for something.
Where else “thelō” appears- practiceπράσσωprassō
do
To carry out something, often evil.
Where else “prassō” appears- I hateμισῶmisō
hate
To feel deep aversion toward someone or something and want it away.
Where else “misō” appears- I doποιῶpoiō
do
To carry out an action or cause an effect.
Where else “poiō” appears
The context
14For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold under sin.
15 · This verse (above)
16But if what I do not want, this I do, I agree with the law that it is good.
To study Romans 7 in a group
1. What it says
What does Paul say he does and does not do, and how does he feel about it? (vv. 15-19, 24)
2. What it means
Why do you think Paul describes his inner struggle so frankly? What answer does he give at the end? (vv. 21-25)
3. How I live it
Paul admits his inner struggle without hiding it. To whom could you confidently tell a struggle of your own?