the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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King James Version
Romans 7:21
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So I have learned this rule: When I want to do good, evil is there with me.
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
I fynde then by the lawe that when I wolde do good evyll is present with me.
I find then the law, that, to me, while I desire to do good, evil is present.
So I find this to be a law: when I want to do what is good, evil is right there with me.
I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
So I have learned this rule: When I want to do good, evil is there with me.
I find then the law, that, to me who would do good, evil is present.
I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me.
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
I find then the law, that, to me, while I desire to do good, evil is present.
I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me.
I find therefore the law of my nature to be that when I desire to do what is right, evil is lying in ambush for me.
Therfor Y fynde the lawe to me willynge to do good thing, for yuel thing lieth to me.
I find then the law, that, to me who would do good, evil is present.
So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
The Law has shown me that something in me keeps me from doing what I know is right.
So I find it to be the law [of my inner self], that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
I find then the law, that, to me who would do good, evil is present.
So I see a law that, though I have a mind to do good, evil is present in me.
So I find it to be the rule, a kind of perverse "torah," that although I want to do what is good, evil is right there with me!
I find then the law upon *me* who will to practise what is right, that with *me* evil is there.
I find then a law which accordeth with my mind, that willeth to do good, because evil is near to me.
I find therefore a law coinciding with my conscience, which assenteth to my doing good, whereas evil is near to me.
I find then a Law, that when I would do good, euil is present with me.
I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
This has become my way of life: When I want to do what is right, I always do what is wrong.
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand.
I finde then yt when I would doe good, I am thus yoked, that euill is present with me.
I find therefore, that the law agrees with my conscience when I wish to do good, but evil is always near, distracting me.
Hence, I find the law, to me who wish to be doing the right, that, unto me, the wrong lieth near:
I find then a law, that when I have a will to do good, evil is present with me.
I fynde then by the lawe, that when I woulde do good, euyll is present with me.
So I find that this law is at work: when I want to do what is good, what is evil is the only choice I have.
So I discover this law: When I want to do what is good, evil is present with me.
Consequently, I find the principle with me, the one who wants to do good, that evil is present with me.
I find then the law, when I desire to do the right, that evil is present with me.
I find, then, the law, that when I desire to do what is right, with me the evil is present,
Thus fynde I now by the lawe, yt whan I wyl do good, euell is present with me.
I find then a settled custom, that evil is objected in my way whenever I have a mind to act well:
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
So, I find the law that when I want to do good, evil is present with me.
I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.
Unfortunately, I have found this true of my life—when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
I find then the principle that in me evil is present—in me who wants to do good.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
a law: Romans 7:23, Romans 6:12, Romans 6:14, Romans 8:2, Psalms 19:13, Psalms 119:133, John 8:34, Ephesians 6:11-13, 2 Peter 2:19
evil: 2 Chronicles 30:18, 2 Chronicles 30:19, Psalms 19:12, Psalms 40:12, Psalms 65:3, Psalms 119:37, Isaiah 6:5-7, Zechariah 3:1-4, Luke 4:1, Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 4:15
Reciprocal: Romans 3:27 - but by Romans 7:9 - sin Galatians 5:17 - the flesh James 3:2 - in 1 Peter 3:11 - do
Cross-References
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.
For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.
And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.
And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.
And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.
Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.
All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
I find then a law,.... This is to be understood either of the corruption of nature, which he found by experience to be in him; and which, because of its force, power, and prevalence it sometimes had in him, he calls "a law"; it forcibly demanding compliance with its lusts; and is the same with what he calls "evil", and which the Jews so frequently style יצר הרע "the evil imagination", by which they mean the corruption of nature; and one of the seven names, and the first of them, by which it is called, they tell us k, is, רע, "evil"; the very name it goes by here, and which they say God calls it, Genesis 6:5; and well may it be so called, since it is originally, naturally, and continually evil; it is evil in its nature and consequences; it is the source and spring of all evil:
that when I would do good; says the apostle, as soon as any good thought arises in me, any good resolution is entered into by me, or I am about to do anything that is good,
evil, the vitiosity of nature,
is present with me, and hinders me; it came into the world with me, and it has continued with me ever since; it cleaves close unto me, it lies very nigh me, and whenever there is any motion to that which is good, it starts up, which seemed to lie asleep before, and exerts itself, so that I cannot do the good I would. The Jews say l, there are שתי לבבות, "two hearts" in man, the good imagination, and the evil imagination. The apostle here speaks as of two wills in regenerate men, one to good, and another to evil: or this may be understood of the law of God, which he found agreed with his mind, willing that which is good, though sin lay so near to him; or he found that willing that which was good was the law of God, very agreeable to it; and that the law was on his side, favouring him, encouraging him to that which is good, though sin kept so close to him; to which sense agree the following words.
k T. Bab. Succa, fol. 52. 1. & Kiddushin, fol. 30. 2. l Tzeror Hammor, fol. 135. 4.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
I find then a law - There is a law whose operation I experience whenever I attempt to do good. There have been various opinions about the meaning of the word “law” in this place. It is evident that it is used here in a sense somewhat unusual. But it retains the notion which commonly attaches to it of what binds, or controls. And though this to which he refers differs from a law, inasmuch as it is not imposed by a superior, which is the usual idea of a law, yet it has so far the sense of law that it binds, controls, influences, or is that to which he was subject. There can be no doubt that he refers here to his carnal and corrupt nature; to the evil propensities and dispositions which were leading him astray. His representing this as a law is in accordance with all that he says of it, that it is servitude, that he is in bondage to it, and that it impedes his efforts to be holy and pure. The meaning is this, “I find a habit, a propensity, an influence of corrupt passions and desires, which, when I would do right, impedes my progress, and prevents my accomplishing what I would.” Compare Galatians 5:17. Every Christian is as much acquainted with this as was the apostle Paul.
Do good - Do right. Be perfect.
Evil - Some corrupt desire, or improper feeling, or evil propensity.
Is present with me - Is near; is at hand. It starts up unbidden, and undesired. It is in the path, and never leaves us, but is always ready to impede our going, and to turn us from our good designs; compare Psalms 65:3, “Iniquities prevail against me.’ The sense is, that to do evil is agreeable to our strong natural inclinations and passions.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Romans 7:21. I find then a law — I am in such a condition and state of soul, under the power of such habits and sinful propensities, that when I would do good-when my will and reason are strongly bent on obedience to the law of God and opposition to the principle of sin, evil is present with me, κακον παρακειται, evil is at hand, it lies constantly before me. That, as the will to do good is constantly at hand, Romans 7:18, so the principle of rebellion exciting me to sin is equally present; but, as the one is only will, wish, and desire, without power to do what is willed, to obtain what is wished, or to perform what is desired, sin continually prevails.
The word νομος, law, in this verse, must be taken as implying any strong or confirmed habit, συνηθεια, as Hesychius renders it, under the influence of which the man generally acts; and in this sense the apostle most evidently uses it in Romans 7:23.
