King James Bible
"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
Paul personifies two opposing forces within believers—the 'flesh' (sinful human nature) and the Spirit (God's Holy Spirit)—as actively desiring contrary outcomes. This mutual opposition creates an ongoing internal conflict that characterizes Christian experience between conversion and glorification. The fundamental incompatibility between flesh and Spirit is absolute—they operate on opposing principles with irreconcilable goals. This explains why believers experience persistent struggle rather than immediate perfection after receiving the Spirit. The practical result of this conflict is moral frustration: believers find themselves unable to consistently act on their renewed desires. This acknowledges the reality that even Spirit-filled Christians face limitations in fully executing their spiritual aspirations while still in the flesh.