Paragraph 7:21–25

7:21a–c

So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me: The Greek is literally “So I find the law/principle to/regarding the I-wanting to/for me to do the good, that to/for me the evil is present.” It indicates that Paul found that a law or rule in his life was this: He wanted to do the good thing, but evil was always there to influence him to do the bad thing. Here are other ways to translate these words:

I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me (King James Version)
-or-
this is now what I have observed, as soon as I want to do something good, it is immediately blocked by the evil residing within me

7:21a

So: This word introduces a conclusion about what Paul said earlier.

this is the principle: Here the word principle refers to a principle: a general statement about the way something is. Paul then stated the principle: “When I want to do good, evil is right there with me (7:21b–c).” The word does not refer to the law of Moses here. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

this law (New International Version)
-or-
a law (English Standard Version)

I have discovered: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as discovered indicates that Paul looked at the facts of the situation and discovered a truth that he then told us in the words that follow.

In some languages a literal translation would not indicate the meaning above. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

find (English Standard Version)
-or-
experienced
-or-
see

7:21b

When I want to do good: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as When I want is literally “when the wanting to do good is with me.” It refers generally to any time or even all the time. It does not limit it to only some of the time. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Although I want to do good (New International Version (2011))
-or-
I want to do good ⌊things/deeds⌋

good: This word is translated as “good” in 7:16. It refers to deeds that God considers are good to do.

7:21c

evil is right there with me: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as right there with me is literally “present and ready for some purpose or action.” Evil was ready to influence Paul to do something wrong. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

evil is present in me (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
evil lies close at hand (English Standard Version)

This clause speaks of evil as if it were a physical thing. Some languages may have to translate in a different way. For example:

the thought to do evil is always there in me
-or-
evil desires are there, ready ⌊to influence⌋ me ⌊to do evil⌋

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