Romans 7:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 7:18

For I know - This is designed as an illustration of what he had just said, that sin dwelt in him.That is, in my flesh - In my unrenewed nature; in my propensities and inclinations before conversion. Does not this qualifying expression show that in this discussion he was speaking of himself as a renewed man? Hence, he is careful to imply that there was at that time in him something that was right or acceptable with God, but that that did not pertain to him by nature.Dwelleth - His soul was... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Romans 7:18-20

Romans 7:18-20. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh The corrupt and degenerate self, my animal appetites and passions, debased and enslaved as they are by sin through the fall; or in me, while I was in the flesh, chap. Romans 8:8, and not in the spirit, Romans 7:9; dwelleth no good thing Ουκ οικει αγαθον , good dwelleth not. Hence he asserts, in the place just referred to, that they who are in the flesh, whose reason and conscience are under the government of passion and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Romans 7:1-25

The law cannot help (7:1-25)Through Christ, believers have not only died to sin, they have died to the law also, which means that their lives are now different. Paul gives an example. If a husband dies, the wife is no longer bound to him and is free to marry again. Likewise believers have died to the law so that the bond between them and the law is broken. However, they have been raised to new life and are now united to another, the living Christ (7:1-4). Formerly, they found that the more the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Romans 7:18

flesh , i.e. old nature. no = not. App-105 . to will . Same as "would", verses: Romans 7:15 , Romans 7:16 , Romans 7:19 , Romans 15:20 , Romans 15:21 . is present . Greek. parakeimai , to be at hand. Only here and Romans 7:21 . perform . Same as "work", Romans 7:13 , and "do-", Romans 7:15 . I find . The texts read (is) "not" (present). read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Romans 7:18

For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me, but to do that which is good is not.Paul in this verse did not deny to man under the law of Moses any intention of doing right, for the power "to will" is allowed; only the ability to deliver on the good intention is denied. Here it is well to note some of the distinctions which theologians like to make when discussing such a thing as the will. Paul did not always use such terms in the sense of... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Romans 7:18

18. For, c.—better, "For I know that there dwelleth not in me, that is in my flesh, any good." for to will—"desire." is present with me but how to perform that which is good—the supplement "how," in our version, weakens the statement. I find not—Here, again, we have the double self of the renewed man; "In me dwelleth no good; but this corrupt self is not my true self; it is but sin dwelling in my real self, as a renewed man." read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Romans 7:13-25

3. The law’s inability 7:13-25In Romans 7:13-25 Paul continued to describe his personal struggle with sin but with mounting intensity. The forces of external law and internal sin (i.e., his sinful nature) conflicted. He found no deliverance from this conflict except through the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 7:25). Many students of this passage, including myself, believe what Paul was describing here was his own personal struggle as a Christian to obey the law and so overcome the promptings of his... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Romans 7:18

"In general, we may say that in Romans 7:14-17, the emphasis is upon the practicing what is hated,-that is, the inability to overcome evil in the flesh; while in Romans 7:18-21, the emphasis is upon the failure to do the desired good,-the inability, on account of the flesh, to do right."Thus the double failure of a quickened man either to overcome evil or to accomplish good-is set forth. There must come in help from outside, beyond himself!" [Note: Newell, p. 270.] Paul meant that sin had... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Romans 7:18

7:18 do (a-25) See Note, ver. 15. know (b-3) Oida . as ch. 6.16. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 7:1-25

The Inadequacy of the Law to save1-6. St. Paul had spoken of the Law in a way which would offend an earnest Jew: cp. Romans 3:20-21; Romans 4:15; Romans 5:20. In this chapter (Romans 7:7-25) he shows that the Law is divine in its character and beneficent in its work, but unable to free a man from the power of sin. Indeed, though not the cause, it is the occasion of sin. But first, in Romans 5:1-6, the statement in Romans 6:14, that Christians are not under law, is enforced and explained. Law... read more

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