Romans 7:20
New International Version
Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

New Living Translation
But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

English Standard Version
Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

Berean Literal Bible
Now if what I do not want, I do this, it is no longer I who do it, but sin dwelling in me.

King James Bible
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

New King James Version
Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

New American Standard Bible
But if I do the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me.

NASB 1995
But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

NASB 1977
But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

Legacy Standard Bible
But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one working it out, but sin which dwells in me.

Amplified Bible
But if I am doing the very thing I do not want to do, I am no longer the one doing it [that is, it is not me that acts], but the sin [nature] which lives in me.

Christian Standard Bible
Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one that does it, but it is the sin that lives in me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but it is the sin that lives in me.

American Standard Version
But if what I would not, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me.

Contemporary English Version
And so, if I don't do what I know is right, I am no longer the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them.

English Revised Version
But if what I would not, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Now, when I do what I don't want to do, I am no longer the one who is doing it. Sin that lives in me is doing it.

Good News Translation
If I do what I don't want to do, this means that I am no longer the one who does it; instead, it is the sin that lives in me.

International Standard Version
But if I do what I don't want to do, I am no longer the one who is doing it, but it is the sin that is living in me.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me.

New Heart English Bible
But if what I do not desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now if I do that which I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Weymouth New Testament
But if I do that which I desire not to do, it can no longer be said that it is I who do it, but the sin which has its home within me does it.

World English Bible
But if what I don’t desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And if what I do not will, this I do, it is no longer I that work it, but sin that is dwelling in me.

Berean Literal Bible
Now if what I do not want, I do this, it is no longer I who do it, but sin dwelling in me.

Young's Literal Translation
And if what I do not will, this I do, it is no longer I that work it, but the sin that is dwelling in me.

Smith's Literal Translation
And if what I would not, this I do, I no more work it, but sin dwelling in me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now if I do that which I will not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now if I do what I am not willing to do, it is no longer I who am doing it, but the sin which lives within me.

New American Bible
Now if [I] do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

New Revised Standard Version
Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now if I do that which I do not wish, then it is not I who do it, but the sin which dominates me.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And if I did the thing that I did not want, it was not I doing it, but sin that dwelt within me.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Now, if I do that which I wish not to do, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells in me.

Godbey New Testament
If I do that which I do not will, it is no longer I that do it, but sin dwelling in me.

Haweis New Testament
If then I do that which I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Mace New Testament
now if I do that which my mind is against, it is not meerly I that do it, but sin that dwells in me.

Weymouth New Testament
But if I do that which I desire not to do, it can no longer be said that it is I who do it, but the sin which has its home within me does it.

Worrell New Testament
But, if what I wish not, this I do, it is no more I that perform it, but the sin that is dwelling in me.

Worsley New Testament
Now if I do that which I would not, I am no more the doer of it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Struggling with Sin
19For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do. 20And 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. 21So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.…

Cross References
Galatians 5:17
For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.

James 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

1 John 1:8
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 John 3:9
Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

Ephesians 2:1-3
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, / in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. / All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.

Colossians 3:5-10
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. / Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. / When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways. ...

Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.

1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Genesis 6:5
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.

Psalm 51:5
Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

Isaiah 64:6
Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

Ezekiel 36:26-27
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. / And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.


Treasury of Scripture

Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me.

it is no.

Romans 7:17
Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Jump to Previous
Desire Dwelleth Dwelling Dwells Home Longer Mind Practise Sin Want Within Work
Jump to Next
Desire Dwelleth Dwelling Dwells Home Longer Mind Practise Sin Want Within Work
Romans 7
1. No law has power over a man longer than he lives.
4. But we are dead to the law.
7. Yet is not the law sin;
12. but holy, just and good;
16. as I acknowledge, who am grieved because I cannot keep it.














And if I do what I do not want,
This phrase highlights the internal conflict experienced by believers, reflecting the struggle between the desire to follow God's law and the reality of human weakness. This struggle is reminiscent of the dual nature of humanity, as seen in Galatians 5:17, where the flesh and the Spirit are in opposition. The concept of doing what one does not want is also echoed in the writings of the early church fathers, who discussed the tension between the old self and the new creation in Christ.

it is no longer I who do it,
Here, Paul distinguishes between the true self, redeemed in Christ, and the sinful nature that still influences behavior. This separation can be understood in light of 2 Corinthians 5:17, which speaks of believers as new creations. The idea is that the true identity of a believer is found in Christ, and the actions contrary to God's will are attributed to the remnants of the sinful nature.

but it is sin living in me that does it.
This phrase personifies sin as an active force within individuals, a concept that can be traced back to Genesis 4:7, where sin is described as crouching at the door, desiring to have Cain. The notion of sin dwelling within aligns with the understanding of original sin and the fall of humanity, as described in Romans 5:12. The presence of sin within believers underscores the need for ongoing sanctification and reliance on the Holy Spirit, as emphasized in Romans 8:13.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the Book of Romans, Paul is addressing the struggle between the sinful nature and the desire to follow God's law.

2. The Roman Church
The recipients of the letter, consisting of both Jewish and Gentile Christians, who were navigating the complexities of faith and law.

3. Sin
Personified in this passage as an active force within individuals, causing them to act contrary to their desires to do good.

4. The Law
Refers to the Mosaic Law, which Paul discusses extensively in Romans as both holy and revealing of sin.

5. The Inner Conflict
The struggle between the desire to do good and the sinful nature, a central theme in this passage.
Teaching Points
Understanding the Nature of Sin
Recognize that sin is an active force within us, influencing our actions even when we desire to do good.

The Reality of the Inner Conflict
Accept that the struggle between our sinful nature and our desire to follow God is a common experience for all believers.

Dependence on God's Grace
Acknowledge that overcoming sin is not possible through our own strength but requires reliance on God's grace and the work of the Holy Spirit.

The Role of the Law
Understand that the law reveals sin but cannot save us from it; salvation and victory over sin come through Jesus Christ.

Living in the Spirit
Encourage a life led by the Spirit, which empowers us to overcome the desires of the flesh and live in accordance with God's will.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

if
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

I
ἐγὼ (egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

do
ποιῶ (poiō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

what
(ho)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

I do not want,
θέλω (thelō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

[it is] no longer
οὐκέτι (ouketi)
Adverb
Strong's 3765: No longer, no more. Also ouk eti from ou and eti; not yet, no longer.

I
ἐγὼ (egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

who do
κατεργάζομαι (katergazomai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2716: From kata and ergazomai; to work fully, i.e. Accomplish; by implication, to finish, fashion.

it,
αὐτὸ (auto)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

but [it is]
ἀλλὰ (alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

sin
ἁμαρτία (hamartia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 266: From hamartano; a sin.

living
οἰκοῦσα (oikousa)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3611: To inhabit, dwell, indwell. From oikos; to occupy a house, i.e. Reside; by implication, to cohabit.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

me [ that does it ].
ἐμοὶ (emoi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.


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NT Letters: Romans 7:20 But if what I don't desire that (Rom. Ro)
Romans 7:19
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