Romans 7:21

“I find then a law, etc..] This is to be understood either of the corruption of nature, which he found by experience to be in him; and which, because of its force, power, and prevalence it sometimes had in him, he calls “a law”; it forcibly demanding compliance with its lusts; and is the same with what he calls “evil”, and which the Jews so frequently style [rh rxy “the evil imagination”, by which they mean the corruption of nature; and one of the seven names, and the first of them, by which it is called, they tell us f129, is, [r, “evil”; the very name it goes by here, and which they say God calls it, (<010605>Genesis 6:5); and well may it be so called, since it is originally, naturally, and…”

“I find then a law - There is a law whose operation I experience whenever I attempt to do good. There have been various opinions about the meaning of the word “law” in this place. It is evident that it is used here in a sense somewhat unusual. But it retains the notion which commonly attaches to it of what binds, or controls. And though this to which he refers differs from a law, inasmuch as it is not imposed by a superior, which is the usual idea of a law, yet it has so far the sense of law that it binds, controls, influences, or is that to which he was subject. There can be no doubt that he refers here to his carnal and corrupt nature; to the evil propensities and dispositions which were…”

“I find then a law - An inward constraining power, flowing from the dictate of corrupt nature. Romans 7:22”

“7:21 principle of life (literally law): Paul is referring to a regular occurrence, such as when we speak of the “law of gravity.” The struggle between wanting to do what is right and instead doing what is wrong reveals a regular pattern operating in the human sphere.”

“a law: Rom 7:23, Rom 6:12, Rom 6:14, Rom 8:2; Psa 19:13, Psa 119:133; Joh 8:34; Eph 6:11-13; Pe2 2:19 evil: Ch2 30:18, Ch2 30:19; Psa 19:12, Psa 40:12, Psa 65:3, Psa 119:37; Isa 6:5-7; Zac 3:1-4; Luk 4:1; Heb 2:17, Heb 4:15 Romans 7:22”