Romans 7:23

But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the church in Rome, speaking in first person about the internal war between the mind's allegiance to God's law and the body's pull toward sin. He is mid-argument in a passage (Rom 7:14–25) that describes the condition of a person under the law before the resolution in chapter 8.

The words — βλέπω (blepō, "I see") is present active, marking the conflict as an ongoing, directly observed reality rather than a theoretical claim. Μέλεσιν (melesin, "members," dative plural) locates the opposing law in the physical limbs of the body, not merely in the will.

The thread — Galatians 5:17 names the same opposition as flesh against Spirit; James 4:1 traces conflict to passions at war within; Romans 8:2 provides the resolution Paul points toward in the very next verse.

Why it lands — It forces the reader to stop pretending the conflict is resolved by effort alone and to confront the gap between intention and action as a structural problem, not a moral failing.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

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 4:1 What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you?
Romans 8:2 For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 6:19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.
Romans 7:25 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.
1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
Hebrews 12:4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
1 Timothy 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
2 Timothy 2:25 He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
Psalms 142:7 Free my soul from prison, that I may praise Your name. The righteous will gather around me because of Your goodness to me.