Romans 7:21 : I find then the law, that, to me who would do good, evil is present. This verse has given commentators no end of trouble. Some think that the law is the law of Moses; others, that it is the rule of sin. But to say that it means the rule of sin involves Paul in great confusion in the use of the term the law. By that term, when not restricted by other words, he had constantly designated the law of Moses. There is no indication that Paul meant anything else in this verse. But to take it that he referred to the law of Moses involves us in a difficulty as to what the verse means, unless we adopt the marginal reading of the American Standard Version, or a similar reading. If we adopt the marginal reading, we have: "I find then in regard of the law, that to me who would do good, evil is present." This is in harmony with what Paul had said about the condition of a person under the law and, without Christ. Such a person endorsed the law, but sin hindered him from carrying out what he knew to be right. Every normal person out of Christ finds himself wishing for a better, cleaner life but without Christ he finds himself unable to free himself from the dominion of sin. But the doctrine of hereditary total depravity, that by inheritance "we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite unto all that is spiritually good, and wholly inclined to all evil, and that continually," makes it impossible for an advocate of that doctrine to see how an unconverted person can ever approve purity and holiness, or have the least desire to do any good deed. With them a sinner is opposed to everything that is right and wholly inclined to commit every crime known to man. Hence, commentators who are thoroughly wedded to that theory become confused in trying to explain Romans 7:14-23. They cannot understand how a sinner could desire to do good, or delight in any good thing.