So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss is that Paul isn't just describing a general struggle; he's found a consistent "law" operating within him. Even when his inner self is willing to do good, the "evil" is already right there, actively present and ready to interfere. This highlights how sin isn't just a passive absence of good, but an active force that lies in wait.
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is in the midst of a deep, personal struggle, describing the frustrating paradox of wanting to do right but being constantly thwarted by an inner force. He’s just explained how the holy Law of God reveals sin, and now he identifies this persistent, opposing force within him as a kind of internal "law" that always seems to be present, sabotaging his good intentions. This sets the stage for his profound conclusion in the next chapter, where he'll reveal the liberating power that overcomes this inner bondage.
Ever feel like you're fighting an invisible force that trips you up just when you're trying to do what's right? Paul names this frustrating experience.
Paul uses the word 'law' here in a unique way. He's not talking about God's perfect Law, but about a powerful, ingrained principle within him – the 'law of sin.' It's like a deeply etched pattern of behavior or a strong inclination that operates consistently.
Paul describes a painful disconnect: wanting to do good but finding himself doing the opposite. How can this be?
This verse highlights a deep internal conflict. Paul is willing to do good, meaning his mind or inner self desires righteousness. However, his actions are dictated by something else – the ever-present pull of evil.
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Understand the original words
nomos · Greek Noun
In a biblical, moral, or legal sense, a principle or set of rules that governs behavior or operations. In this context, it refers to an internal, consistent compulsion or inclination.
kakon · Greek Adjective/Noun
The quality or state of being morally depraved, wicked, or contrary to the nature and will of God. It often represents an active force or influence that opposes divine righteousness.
This passage directly parallels Romans 7:21 by explaining that the desires of the flesh are contrary to the Spirit, creating an internal conflict where doing what you want becomes difficult because of these opposing forces.
Genesis 6:5This verse highlights the deep-seated inclination toward evil from humanity's earliest days, illustrating the pervasive 'law' of sin that Paul describes as being 'present' and hindering good intentions.
Psalm 65:3The Psalmist's lament that 'iniquities prevail against me' echoes Paul's struggle, showing that the overwhelming power of sin is a timeless reality that affects even those who desire righteousness.
Romans 8:7This verse provides a conceptual counterpoint, explaining that the mind 'set on the flesh' is hostile to God and cannot please Him, reinforcing the idea of an ingrained, opposing 'law' within our nature that Paul grapples with.
cambridgeRomans 7:21: "I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me."
21 . I find then , &c.] The Gr. construction of this verse is difficult. But the explanation is helped by remembering that the law , not “ a law,” is the right version; and all analogy of passages leads us to refer this to the Divine Law. There can thus be little doubt of the practical meaning of the verse:—“such is the relation between me and the Law, that my will is with it, my action is against it.” The Gr…
bengelRomans 7:21: "I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me."
Romans 7:21 . Εὑρίσκω ) In this distressing conflict I find the law, [But Engl. Vers. “ a law”] without which I formerly lived. This is all [I merely find the law]. That proposition, which occurs at Romans 7:14 , is repeated.— τὸν νόμον ) the law itself, which is in itself holy.— τῷ θέλοντι , [ for , or to me ] willing ) The Dative of advantage: I find the law, which is not sinful or deadly [ for , or] to me…
What's easy to miss is that Paul isn't just describing a general struggle; he's found a consistent "law" operating within him. Even when his inner self is willing to do good, the "evil" is already right there, actively present and ready to interfere. This highlights how sin isn't just a passive absence of good, but an active force that lies in wait.
Paul is in the midst of a deep, personal struggle, describing the frustrating paradox of wanting to do right but being constantly thwarted by an inner force. He’s just explained how the holy Law of God reveals sin, and now he identifies this persistent, opposing force within him as a kind of internal "law" that always seems to be present, sabotaging his good intentions. This sets the stage for his profound conclusion in the next chapter, where he'll reveal the liberating power that overcomes this inner bondage.
Paul is in the midst of a deep, personal struggle, describing the frustrating paradox of wanting to do right but being constantly thwarted by an inner force. He’s just explained how the holy Law of God reveals sin, and now he identifies this persistent, opposing force within him as a kind of internal "law" that always seems to be present, sabotaging his good intentions. This sets the stage for his profound conclusion in the next chapter, where he'll reveal the liberating power that overcomes this inner bondage.
"So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand." — What's easy to miss is that Paul isn't just describing a general struggle; he's found a consistent "law" operating within him. Even when his inner self is willing to do good, the "evil" is already…
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Last reviewed October 2026