Romans 7:18 “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have…”

Romans 7:18

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

World English Bible

For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it doing that which is good.

American Standard Version

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.

Geneva Bible 1599

For I know, that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to wil is preset with me: but I find no meanes to perform that which is good.

Darby Translation

For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, good does not dwell: for to will is there with me, but to do right [I find] not.

Young's Literal Translation

for I have known that there doth not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh, good: for to will is present with me, and to work that which is right I do not find,

Bible in Basic English

For I am conscious that in me, that is, in my flesh, there is nothing good: I have the mind but not the power to do what is right.

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Cross references

“that in me”

Psalm 51:5 Job 14:4 Job 15:14–16 Genesis 6:5 Mark 7:21–23 Titus 3:3

Psalm 51:5 · BSB

Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

Job 14:4 · BSB

Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!

Job 15:14–16 · BSB

What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?

Genesis 6:5 · BSB

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.

Mark 7:21–23 · BSB

For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,

Titus 3:3 · BSB

For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

“in my”

John 3:6 Romans 7:25 Galatians 5:24 Romans 8:3–13 Romans 13:14 Romans 7:5

John 3:6 · BSB

Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.

Romans 7:25 · BSB

Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Galatians 5:24 · BSB

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Romans 8:3–13 · BSB

For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,

Romans 13:14 · BSB

Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

Romans 7:5 · BSB

For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death.

“for to will”

Galatians 5:17 Psalm 119:115–117 Philippians 2:13 Romans 7:15 Romans 7:19 Philippians 3:12

Galatians 5:17 · BSB

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.

Psalm 119:115–117 · BSB

Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may obey the commandments of my God.

Philippians 2:13 · BSB

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

Romans 7:15 · BSB

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do.

Romans 7:19 · BSB

For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.

Philippians 3:12 · BSB

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

17In that case, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

19For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.

Read Romans 7