the last clause of v. 18. / would, means either / approve or love, as in v. 15; or I purpose, as in v. 18.
(20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. The same conclusion from the same premises as in V. 17. ' The things which I do, when contrary to the characteristic desires and purposes of my heart, are to be considered as the acts of a slave. They are indeed my own acts, but not being performed with the full and joyful purpose of the heart, are not to be regarded as a fair crite- rion of character,'
(21) I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. This verse has been subjected to a greater variety of interpre- tations than any other in the chapter, or perhaps in the whole epistle. The construction in the original is doubtful; and besides this difficulty, there is no little uncertainty as to the sense in which the word law is to be here taken. The question is, whether Paul means the law of God, of which he has been speaking throughout the chapter, or whether he uses the word in a new sense, for a rule, course, or law of action. Our translators have assumed the latter. If the former sense of the word be preferred, the passage may be thus interpreted. ' I find, therefore, that to me wishing to act according to the law, i. e. to do good, evil is present with me.' The considerations, however, in favour of the second expla- nation of the word law appear to be decisive. 1. The other interpreta- tion does not afford a sense suited to the context, as appears from Paul's own explanation of his meaning in the following verses. *I find,' he says, ' this law, that while wishing to do good, I do evil, v. 21 ; that is, I find that while I delight in the law of God, after the inward man, there is another law in my members which causes me to sin,' vs. 22, 23. Here it is evident, that the apostle means to explain what he intended by say- ing in V. 21, that he found or experienced a law which caused him to gc counter to his better judgment and desires. 2. Having used the word law by itself for the divine law throughout the chapter, he, for the first time, in v. 22, calls it " the law of God," to mark the distinction between the law intended in v. 21, and that intended in v. 22. 3. This sense of the word is not unusual, it occurs repeatedly in the immediately succeed- ing verses.
The meaning of the verse is, ' I find, therefore, this law, that to me wishing to do good, evil is present.' This passage thus expresses the result at which the apostle had arrived. There was this inward conflict in his mind between good and evil which the law could not terminate. He found, that while wishing to do good, he was still subject to evil, and from this subjection nothing but the grace of God could deliver him. This is more fully explained in the following verses.
(22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man, &c. In the preceding verse Paul had said, " I would do good ;" the same desire after conformity to the requisitions of God is here expressed with more distinctness. / delight in the law is a stronger expression than
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