7:16a
And: The Greek word here is often translated “but” or even “now” (as in the English Standard Version). It introduces something more that Paul said about himself and the law.
if I do what I do not want to do: Here the word if introduces a situation that is true. If this first part is true, that supports the second part (“I admit that the law is good”) to also be true.
In some languages, using an if -clause would have a different meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:
I do what I do not want to do. ⌊True?⌋ ⌊So⌋…
-or-
⌊Would you agree that⌋ I do what I do not want to do? ⌊So⌋…
-or-
⌊You would agree that⌋ I do what I do not want to do. ⌊So⌋…
7:16b
I admit that the law is good: There are two ways to interpret the Greek words here:
(1) There is agreement with the Laws of Moses. For example:
I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good (New American Standard Bible)
(English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible)
(2) There is agreement about the Laws of Moses. For example:
I agree that the law is good (New International Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, New Century Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek grammar does not support interpretation (2).
good: This word indicates that the laws are good and therefore it is good that people follow them.
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