Romans 7:22

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Romans 7:22 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Romans 7:22 — American Standard Version

Context — Romans 7

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For I delight in the law of God, etc..] This an unregenerate man cannot do; he does not like its commands, they are disagreeable to his corrupt nature; and as it is a threatening, cursing, damning law, it can never be delighted in by him: the moralist, the Pharisee, who obeys it externally, do not love it, nor delight in it; he obeys it not from love to its precepts, but from fear of its threatenings; from a desire of popular esteem, and from low, mercenary, selfish views, in order to gain the applause of men, and favour of God: only a regenerate man delights in the law of God; which he does, as it is fulfilled by Christ, who has answered all the demands of it: and as it is in the hands of…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For I delight in the law of God after the inward man--"from the bottom of my heart." The word here rendered "delight" is indeed stronger than "consent" in Rom 7:16; but both express a state of mind and heart to which the unregenerate man is a stranger.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For I delight - The word used here Συνήδομαι Sunēdomai, occurs no where else in the New Testament. It properly means to rejoice with anyone; and expresses not only approbation of the understanding, as the expression, “I consent unto the law,” in Romans 7:16, but more than that it denotes sensible pleasure in the heart. It indicates not only intellectual assent, but emotion, an emotion of pleasure in the contemplation of the Law. And this shows that the apostle is not speaking of an unrenewed man. Of such a man it might be said that his conscience approved the Law; that his understanding was convinced that the Law was good; but never yet did it occur that an impenitent sinner found emotions…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“For I delight in the law of God - This is more than "I consent to," Rom 7:16. The day of liberty draws near. The inward man - Called the mind, Rom 7:23, Rom 7:25. Romans 7:23”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“7:22 with all my heart (literally in my inner person): The Greeks used this phrase to denote the spiritual or immortal side of human beings (cp. 2 Cor 4:16; Eph 3:16).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“I delight: Rom 8:7; Job 23:12; Psa 1:2, Psa 19:8-10, Psa 40:8, Psa 119:16, Psa 119:24, Psa 119:35, Psa 119:47, Psa 119:48, Psa 119:72, Psa 119:92; Psa 119:97-104, Psa 119:111, Psa 119:113, Psa 119:127, Psa 119:167, Psa 119:174; Isa 51:7; Joh 4:34; Heb 8:10 inward: Rom 2:29; Co2 4:16; Eph 3:16; Col 3:9; Pe1 3:4 Romans 7:23”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification