New Living Translation
Romans 7:23
23But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.
Romans 7:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
- New International Version (NIV)but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.
- English Standard Version (ESV)but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Context of Romans 7:23
21I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
Read all of Romans 7Romans 7:23 word by word
βλέπω δὲ ἕτερον νόμον ἐν τοῖς μέλεσίν μου ἀντιστρατευόμενον τῷ νόμῳ τοῦ νοός μου καὶ αἰχμαλωτίζοντά με ἐν τῷ νόμῳ τῆς ἁμαρτίας τῷ ὄντι ἐν τοῖς μέλεσίν μου.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- I seeβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
- anotherἕτεροςheteros · otherG2087
- lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- membersμέλοςmelos · memberG3196
- warring againstἀντιστρατεύομαιantistrateuomai · to wage war againstG497
- ofνοῦςnous · mindG3563
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- bringingαἰχμαλωτίζωaichmalōtizō · to captureG163
- of sinἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
- which isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
Cross-references for Romans 7:23
- Romans 7:5When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death.
- Romans 8:2And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
- Ecclesiastes 7:20Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.
- Galatians 5:17The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
- 1 Timothy 6:11But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
- Hebrews 12:4After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
- James 3:2Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
- James 4:1What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?
- 1 Peter 2:11Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
- Romans 6:13Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.
- Romans 7:14So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.
- Psalms 142:7Bring me out of prison so I can thank you. The godly will crowd around me, for you are good to me.”
- 2 Timothy 2:25Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.
Commentaries on Romans 7:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23But I see another law in my members - Though the person in question is less or more under the continual influence of reason and conscience, which offer constant testimony against sin, yet as long as help is sought only from the law, and the grace of Christ in the Gospel is not received, the remonstrances of reason and conscience are rendered of no effect by the prevalence of sinful passions; which, from repeated gratifications, have acquired all the force…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23But I see another law - Note, Romans 7:21. In my members - In my body; in my flesh; in my corrupt and sinful propensities; Note, Romans 6:13; compare 1 Corinthians 6:15; Colossians 3:5. The body is composed of many members; and as the flesh is regarded as the source of sin Romans 7:18, the law of sin is said to be in the members, that is, in the body itself. Warring against - Fighting against; or resisting. The law of my mind - This stands opposed to the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23-25Verses 23-25 This passage does not represent the apostle as one that walked after the flesh, but as one that had it greatly at heart, not to walk so. And if there are those who abuse this passage, as they also do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction, yet serious Christians find cause to bless God for having thus provided for their support and comfort. We are not, because of the abuse of such as are blinded by their own lusts, to find fault with…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23another law ... the law: Paul uses the word play with law in these verses (7:22). Opposing God’s law is another law, a ruling power that stops Paul from following God’s law, even though he fully agrees with it.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. But I see another--it should be "a different" law in my members--(See on Ro 7:5). warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members--In this important verse, observe, first, that the word "law" means an inward principle of action, good or evil, operating with the fixedness and regularity of a law. The apostle found two such laws within him; the one "the law of sin in his members," called (in Ga…Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 7:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Romans 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries