Focused Passage

Romans 7:14-25

Released from the Law, Exposed by the Law, and Crying Out for Deliverance

Paul moves from release from the law through death with Christ, to service in the new way of the Spirit, to the law's role in revealing sin, to sin's exploitation of the commandment, to the inner conflict that cries out for deliverance through Jesus Christ.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.

15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do.

16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I admit that the law is good.

17 In that case, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

19 For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.

20 And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21 So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law.

23 But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me.

24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

25 Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 14

Original words

- γὰρ G1063 Conjunction We know Οἴδαμεν G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular [the] law νόμος G3551 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular spiritual πνευματικός G4152 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular but δὲ G1161 Conjunction I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular am εἰμι G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular unspiritual σάρκινός G4560 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular sold as a slave πεπραμένος G4097 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular to ὑπὸ G5259 Preposition - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular sin ἁμαρτίαν G266 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 15

Original words

- γὰρ G1063 Conjunction vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb I do not understand γινώσκω G1097 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular what G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular I do κατεργάζομαι G2716 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction - τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular what G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular I want [to do] θέλω G2309 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb I do not do πράσσω G4238 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular But ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction what G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular I hate μισῶ G3404 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular - τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular I do ποιῶ G4160 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Verse 16

Original words

And δὲ G1161 Conjunction if εἰ G1487 Conjunction - τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular I do ποιῶ G4160 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular what G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb I do not want [to do] θέλω G2309 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular I admit σύμφημι G4852 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular law νόμῳ G3551 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular [is] good καλός G2570 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 17

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction In that case νυνὶ G3570 Adverb {it is} no longer οὐκέτι G3765 Adverb I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular who do κατεργάζομαι G2716 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular it αὐτὸ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular but [it is] ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular sin ἁμαρτία G266 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular living οἰκοῦσα* G3611 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition me [ that does it ] ἐμοὶ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Verse 18

Original words

- γὰρ G1063 Conjunction I know Οἶδα G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction nothing οὐκ G3756 Adverb good ἀγαθόν G18 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular lives οἰκεῖ G3611 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition me ἐμοί G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular that τοῦτ’ G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular is ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular flesh σαρκί G4561 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular for γὰρ G1063 Conjunction I μοι G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular have παράκειταί G3873 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular desire θέλειν G2309 Verb - Present Infinitive Active to do κατεργάζεσθαι G2716 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive what is τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular good καλὸν G2570 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular but δὲ G1161 Conjunction - τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular [I] cannot [carry it out] οὔ G3756 Adverb
Verse 19

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb I do not do ποιῶ G4160 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular [the] good ἀγαθόν G18 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular I want [to do] θέλω G2309 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Instead ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction - τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular I keep on doing πράσσω G4238 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular [the] evil κακὸν G2556 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb I do not want [to do] θέλω G2309 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Verse 20

Original words

And δὲ G1161 Conjunction if εἰ G1487 Conjunction I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular do ποιῶ G4160 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular - τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular what G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb I do not want θέλω G2309 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular [it is] no longer οὐκέτι G3765 Adverb I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular who do κατεργάζομαι G2716 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular it αὐτὸ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular but [it is] ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular sin ἁμαρτία G266 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular living οἰκοῦσα G3611 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition me [ that does it ] ἐμοὶ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Verse 21

Original words

So ἄρα G686 Conjunction [this is] the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular principle νόμον G3551 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular I have discovered Εὑρίσκω G2147 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular When I ἐμοὶ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular want θέλοντι G2309 Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular to do ποιεῖν G4160 Verb - Present Infinitive Active - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular good καλὸν G2570 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction - τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular evil κακὸν G2556 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular is right there with παράκειται G3873 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular me ἐμοὶ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Verse 22

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction in [my] τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular inner ἔσω G2080 Adverb being ἄνθρωπον G444 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular I delight συνήδομαι G4913 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular in τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular God’s Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - κατὰ G2596 Preposition law νόμῳ G3551 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Verse 23

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction I see βλέπω G991 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular another ἕτερον G2087 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular law [ at work ] νόμον G3551 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Plural body μέλεσίν G3196 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural warring against ἀντιστρατευόμενον G497 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Singular the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular law νόμῳ G3551 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular of my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular mind νοός G3563 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction vvv με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular holding me captive αἰχμαλωτίζοντά G163 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular to ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular law νόμῳ G3551 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular of sin ἁμαρτίας G266 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular that dwells ὄντι G1510 Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular within ἐν G1722 Preposition vvv μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular vvv τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Plural [me] μέλεσίν G3196 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural

BSB notes

  • Literally captive to the law of sin being in my members.
Verse 24

Original words

[What a] wretched Ταλαίπωρος G5005 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular man ἄνθρωπος G444 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular I am ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular Who τίς G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular will rescue ῥύσεται G4506 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular from ἐκ G1537 Preposition this τούτου G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular body σώματος G4983 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of death θανάτου G2288 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 25

Original words

Thanks [be] χάρις G5485 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction to τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular God Θεῷ G2316 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular through διὰ G1223 Preposition Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Christ Χριστοῦ G5547 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Lord Κυρίου G2962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular So οὖν G3767 Conjunction then Ἄρα G686 Conjunction with [my] τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular mind νοῒ G3563 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular - αὐτὸς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular serve δουλεύω G1398 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular [the] law νόμῳ G3551 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - μὲν G3303 Conjunction but δὲ G1161 Conjunction [with my] τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular flesh σαρκὶ G4561 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular [I serve the] law νόμῳ G3551 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular of sin ἁμαρτίας G266 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.