Study Desk

Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? ^(y)May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.

For we know that the Law is ^(z)spiritual, but I am ^(aa)of flesh, ^(ab)sold ^[m](ac)into bondage to sin.

For what I am doing, ^(ad)I do not understand; for I am not practicing ^(ae)what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.

But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with ^(af)the Law, confessing that the Law is good.

So now, ^(ag)no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my ^(ah)flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.

For ^(ai)the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.

But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, ^(aj)I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

I find then ^(ak)the ^[n]principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.

For I joyfully concur with the law of God ^[o]in ^(al)the inner man,

but I see ^(am)a different law in ^[p]the members of my body, waging war against the ^(an)law of my mind and making me a prisoner ^[q]of ^(ao)the law of sin which is in my members.

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from ^[r](ap)the body of this ^(aq)death?