A Third Thing: Our Own Will

Although some glimmer of the meaning now seems clear to us, we cannot fully grasp the apostle’s sense, and so we want you to explain it to us more clearly. For three things seem to be indicated here: first, the struggle of the flesh against the spirit; second, the desire of the spirit against the flesh; and third, our own free will, which seems to be placed between the two, and of which it is said, “so that you may not do what you would.” And though, as I said, we can gather some hints on this subject from what you have explained of its meaning, yet since this conference gives us the opportunity, we are eager to have it explained to us more fully. [a]