Romans 7:16

KJV

If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good.

KJV (with Strong's)

If {G1487} then {G1161} I do {G4160} that {G5124} which {G3739} I would {G2309} not {G3756}, I consent {G4852} unto the law {G3551} that {G3754} it is good {G2570}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Now if I am doing what I don’t want to do, I am agreeing that the Torah is good.

Berean Standard Bible

And if I do what I do not want to do, I admit that the law is good.

American Standard Version

But if what I would not, that I do, I consent unto the law that it is good.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Romans 7:16 encapsulates the profound internal conflict of a person who, despite an earnest desire to uphold God's righteous standard, finds themselves continually falling short. This verse reveals a crucial paradox: the very act of failing to do what one wills, and instead doing what one opposes, implicitly affirms the moral excellence and inherent goodness of the divine Law, demonstrating an internal agreement with its just demands even amidst personal inability.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Romans 7:16 is nestled within Paul's intricate and deeply personal exploration of the Law's function and humanity's struggle with sin, often referred to as the "wrestling match" of Romans 7. This chapter serves as a critical bridge between the declaration of justification by faith in [Romans 3-5](/romans/3 "Justification by Faith in Romans 3-5") and the triumphant freedom in the Spirit described in [Romans 8](/romans/8 "Life in the Spirit in Romans 8"). Immediately preceding this verse, [Romans 7:15](/romans/7-15 "Romans 7:15 - The Internal Conflict") sets the stage by stating, "For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I." Verse 16 directly follows this confession, providing the logical conclusion: if one hates what they do, it implies an agreement with the Law that condemns such actions as bad, thereby affirming the Law's goodness. Paul is building a case for the Law's inability to provide salvation or sanctification, not because the Law itself is flawed, but because of humanity's fallen nature.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Paul's audience in Rome included both Jewish and Gentile believers, many of whom would have had a deep reverence for the Mosaic Law. For Jewish Christians, understanding the Law's role post-Christ was paramount. The Law, given at Sinai, was considered God's perfect revelation of His will and righteousness, a covenant standard for Israel. However, it also served to expose sin ([Romans 3:20](/romans/3-20 "Romans 3:20 - Law Reveals Sin")) and highlight humanity's inability to perfectly fulfill God's demands. Paul's discourse here addresses the common misconception that the Law could provide righteousness or sanctification. He clarifies that the Law's purpose was not to save, but to reveal the extent of sin and humanity's desperate need for a different solution—God's grace in Christ. The cultural context would have been one where legalism (attempting to earn favor with God through strict adherence to rules) was a significant spiritual temptation, making Paul's theological precision all the more vital.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Romans and Paul's theology. Firstly, it underscores the **goodness and holiness of the Law**, a theme explicitly stated in [Romans 7:12](/romans/7-12 "Romans 7:12 - The Law is Holy, Just, and Good"). Paul adamantly defends the Law's divine origin and moral perfection, ensuring his readers understand that the problem lies not with God's standard, but with humanity's sinfulness. Secondly, it highlights the **power and pervasiveness of indwelling sin**, demonstrating that even a person with good intentions and an understanding of righteousness is enslaved by a force that compels them to act contrary to their will. This internal struggle reveals the **human inability to achieve righteousness by self-effort**, setting the stage for the **necessity of divine grace** and the empowering work of the Holy Spirit, which becomes the glorious focus of [Romans 8](/romans/8 "Romans 8 - Life in the Spirit"). The "I" of Romans 7, whether representing Paul himself, humanity under the Law, or the struggling believer, serves to illustrate the universal need for Christ's intervention.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **do (Greek, _poiéō'_):** This verb signifies to "make or do" in a very broad sense, encompassing actions, performance, and execution. In this context, it refers to the actual, often undesired, behaviors or choices the individual makes. The tension arises because the "doing" is contrary to the "willing," highlighting the disconnect between intent and action caused by the power of sin.
* **would (Greek, _thélō'_):** This word denotes a strong desire, choice, or preference stemming from subjective impulse or will. It signifies an internal determination or inclination. When Paul says "I would not," he is expressing a genuine, internal aversion to the actions he finds himself performing, emphasizing that his will is aligned with the Law, even if his actions are not.
* **consent (Greek, _sýmphēmi'_):** Derived from *syn* (with) and *phēmi* (to speak), this word literally means "to speak jointly" or "to agree with." It implies an internal assent, an acknowledgment, or an affirmation. When the "I" consents to the law that it is good, it means there is an intellectual and moral agreement with the Law's righteous demands, even as the individual struggles to live up to them. This consent validates the Law's authority and goodness.
* **good (Greek, _kalós'_):** This adjective describes something as "beautiful," "valuable," "virtuous," or "morally excellent." Unlike *agathos*, which often refers to intrinsic goodness, *kalós* frequently emphasizes that which is outwardly pleasing, honorable, or fitting. Here, it affirms the Law's inherent moral excellence and its admirable quality as a divine standard, reinforcing that the Law itself is not the source of the problem.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"If then I do that which I would not,"**: This clause presents a hypothetical yet deeply experienced reality. The "I" performs actions ("do") that are contrary to its genuine desire or will ("would not"). This highlights the internal conflict and the power of sin to compel actions that are abhorrent to the individual's inner moral compass. It's a confession of a disconnect between intention and behavior, a common human experience.
* **"I consent unto the law"**: This is the crucial consequence of the preceding clause. Because the individual does what they do not want to do, they implicitly or explicitly agree with the Law's judgment against those actions. The act of doing what is undesired, and recognizing it as wrong, serves as an internal affirmation of the Law's righteous standard. The "I" acknowledges the Law's moral authority and its accurate assessment of what is right and wrong.
* **"that [it is] good."**: This final phrase clarifies the nature of the consent. The individual agrees that the Law, which condemns their undesired actions, is inherently "good." This is a powerful theological statement. Despite the Law's inability to empower obedience, and despite its role in revealing sin, Paul insists on its moral perfection and divine origin. The problem is not with the standard, but with the human capacity to meet it.

#### Literary Devices
Paul's articulation in Romans 7:16 employs several potent literary devices. The primary device is **Paradox**, where the very act of failing to do what one desires (and instead doing what one hates) leads to the affirmation of the Law's goodness. This creates a striking and counter-intuitive truth: one's inability to obey paradoxically validates the standard of obedience. There is also an element of **Confessional Tone** through Paul's consistent use of the first-person singular "I" throughout Romans 7. This makes the struggle deeply personal and relatable, inviting the reader to identify with the internal conflict described. Furthermore, there's a subtle **Personification** of the Law, treating it as something to which one can "consent." While not explicitly attributing human qualities, the language implies a relationship of agreement or disagreement with an active entity, underscoring its moral authority.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 7:16 profoundly illustrates the Law's dual function: it reveals God's perfect standard and exposes humanity's utter inability to meet it in their own strength. This internal consent to the Law's goodness, even while failing to keep it, underscores the universal need for a power beyond human will to overcome sin. It demonstrates that the problem is not the Law, but the "flesh"—the fallen human nature—which is weak and enslaved to sin, leading to a profound sense of helplessness that sets the stage for the glorious solution found in Christ.

* [Romans 7:12](/romans/7-12 "Romans 7:12 - The Law is Holy, Just, and Good")
* [Romans 3:20](/romans/3-20 "Romans 3:20 - The Law Reveals Sin")
* [Galatians 5:17](/galatians/5-17 "Galatians 5:17 - The Conflict Between Flesh and Spirit")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Romans 7:16 offers profound comfort and clarity to anyone who has experienced the frustrating and often disheartening struggle between their desire to do what is right and their persistent failure to do so. It teaches us that this internal conflict is not a sign that God's Law is flawed, nor that our desire for righteousness is misguided. Instead, it highlights the deep-seated power of sin within us, even in the presence of a renewed mind that longs for God's will. Recognizing this struggle and admitting our inability to perfectly obey in our own strength is not a sign of weakness, but a crucial step towards true spiritual health. This self-awareness drives us away from self-reliance and legalism, compelling us to seek the divine help that only God's grace, through the Holy Spirit, can provide. It reminds us that our sanctification is not primarily a matter of willpower, but of yielding to the empowering presence of Christ within us, who alone can enable us to live in alignment with the good and holy Law of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you experience the tension between what you "would" (desire to do) and what you "do not" (actually do)?**
* **How does recognizing the Law's goodness, even in your struggle, deepen your appreciation for God's character?**
* **What does this verse teach you about the limits of human willpower in overcoming sin, and how does that point you to God's grace?**
* **How can acknowledging this internal struggle lead you to greater humility and dependence on the Holy Spirit?**

### FAQ

**Does Romans 7:16 imply that Paul, or the person described, is still under the condemnation of the Law?**

Answer: Not necessarily under condemnation, but certainly under the Law's *revelatory* power. Romans 7:16, particularly in context with the surrounding verses, describes the *experience* of a person (whether Paul himself, or humanity in general, or the struggling believer) who is confronted by the Law's demands. The Law, being good, exposes the inability of the flesh to perfectly obey. The "consent unto the law that it is good" means the individual agrees with the Law's righteous standard, even if they fail to meet it. This agreement, however, leads to a profound sense of helplessness and frustration, which ultimately points to the need for a solution beyond the Law—the freedom and power found in Christ, as fully elaborated in [Romans 8](/romans/8 "Romans 8 - Life in the Spirit"). The condemnation for those in Christ is removed ([Romans 8:1](/romans/8-1 "Romans 8:1 - No Condemnation in Christ Jesus")), but the internal struggle with sin, and the Law's role in highlighting that struggle, can persist.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 7:16, with its poignant portrayal of human moral bankruptcy despite internal assent to God's good Law, serves as a crucial theological setup for the glorious fulfillment found in Jesus Christ. The "I" who "does that which I would not" perfectly illustrates humanity's desperate need for a Savior who can accomplish what the Law, due to the weakness of the flesh, could not ([Romans 8:3](/romans/8-3 "Romans 8:3 - What the Law Could Not Do")). Christ fulfills the Law's righteous demands not only by perfectly obeying it in His sinless life ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")) but also by bearing its curse and penalty on the cross for our disobedience ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeems Us from the Curse of the Law")). Furthermore, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, Christ empowers believers to live in a new way, enabling them to fulfill the "righteous requirement of the law" not by their own efforts, but by walking "not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" ([Romans 8:4](/romans/8-4 "Romans 8:4 - Walking According to the Spirit")). Thus, the very struggle confessed in [Romans 7:16](/romans/7-16 "Romans 7:16 - Consent to the Law's Goodness") becomes the backdrop against which the liberating power and perfect provision of Christ shine most brightly, transforming internal consent into empowered obedience through His Spirit.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Romans 7:12

Wherefore the law [is] holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

1 Timothy 1:8

But we know that the law [is] good, if a man use it lawfully;

Romans 7:14

¶ For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Psalms 119:127

¶ Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.

Psalms 119:128

Therefore I esteem all [thy] precepts [concerning] all [things to be] right; [and] I hate every false way.

Romans 7:22

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: