21
SoἄραI findΕὑρίσκωthisτὸνlaw:νόμονthat,ὅτιwhen I wantτῷ θέλοντι ἐμοὶto doποιεῖνthe good,τὸ καλὸνevilτὸ κακὸνis presentπαράκειταιwith me.ἐμοὶ
Romans 7:21
Study it in the app“So I find this law: that, when I want to do the good, evil is present with me.”
Paul describes the inner war: he wants the good and does what he hatesTemptation
With the Greek beneath
Romans 7:21, word by word
- Soἄραara
then, so
So then, therefore.
Where else “ara” appears- I findΕὑρίσκωHeuriskō
find
To come upon something or someone, after searching or by surprise.
Where else “Heuriskō” appears- lawνόμονnomon
law
The instructions God gave Israel through Moses; also, the whole of Scripture.
Where else “nomon” appears- when I wantθέλοντιthelonti
want
To have the desire or the resolve for something.
Where else “thelonti” appears- to doποιεῖνpoiein
bear fruit
To produce fruit, like a tree; in life, deeds that can be seen.
Where else “poiein” appears- the goodκαλὸνkalon
beautiful
Lovely to look at.
Where else “kalon” appears- evilκακὸνkakon
evil
What goes against God's will and harms others.
Where else “kakon” appears- is presentπαράκειταιparakeitai
be present
Be present, be at hand, lie close by.
Where else “parakeitai” appears
The context
20But if what I do not want, this I do, it is no longer I who do it, but the sin that dwells in me.
21 · This verse (above)
22For I delight in the law of God according to the inner man,
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?