15What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! [6:16] Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one you obey — whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? [6:17] But thanks be to God that you who were slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the pattern of teaching to which you were handed over, [6:18] and having been freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. [6:19] I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. [6:20] For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with respect to righteousness. [6:21] What fruit then were you producing at that time, of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. [6:22] But now, having been freed from sin and having been enslaved to God, you produce your fruit for sanctification, and the end is eternal life. [6:23] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
ROM 6:15-23
The Wages of Sin
In the world it was spoken into
In the Roman world, slavery was a pervasive institution, and the metaphor of slavery would have been immediately understood by Paul's audience. Slaves were entirely subject to their masters, with no autonomy or rights. Paul contrasts two forms of slavery: to sin, which leads to death, and to righteousness, which leads to eternal life. The term (slave) would evoke the complete ownership and control a master had over a slave, emphasizing the total submission required in both cases. The concept of (wages) would resonate with Roman soldiers and laborers, who expected payment for their service. Paul uses this imagery to argue that sin pays its wages in death, while God offers the free gift of eternal life. The (form) of teaching suggests a mold or pattern that shapes believers into a new way of life, contrasting with the former life of impurity and lawlessness. This teaching would have been particularly striking in a culture where moral philosophy often emphasized self-mastery and virtue.
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How other translations render this
ROM 6:15
- KJV
- What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
- BSB
- What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not!
- Koinōnos
- What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
ROM 6:16
- KJV
- Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
- BSB
- Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?
- Koinōnos
- Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one you obey — whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
ROM 6:17
- KJV
- But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
- BSB
- But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed.
- Koinōnos
- But thanks be to God that you who were slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the pattern of teaching to which you were handed over,
ROM 6:18
- KJV
- Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
- BSB
- You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
- Koinōnos
- and having been freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.
ROM 6:19
- KJV
- I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
- BSB
- I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.
- Koinōnos
- I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
ROM 6:20
- KJV
- For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
- BSB
- For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness.
- Koinōnos
- For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with respect to righteousness.
ROM 6:21
- KJV
- What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
- BSB
- What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.
- Koinōnos
- What fruit then were you producing at that time, of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
ROM 6:22
- KJV
- But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
- BSB
- But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.
- Koinōnos
- But now, having been freed from sin and having been enslaved to God, you produce your fruit for sanctification, and the end is eternal life.
ROM 6:23
- KJV
- For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- BSB
- For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Koinōnos
- For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
ROM 6:16
- [as] slaves:The word translated 'slaves' here refers to someone who is a bondservant by birth or capture, indicating a complete lack of personal rights or ownership, rather than a hired servant.
ROM 6:17
- to the form:The term translated 'form' refers to an impression made by a blow or pressure, like a mold or a stamp, suggesting a definitive shape or pattern that has been imprinted.
ROM 6:19
- weakness:The word translated 'weakness' carries the sense of a lack of strength or feebleness, often referring to physical sickness or infirmity, not just a general lack of resolve.
ROM 6:23
- wages:The word translated 'wages' originally referred to a soldier's pay, which included provisions like food, highlighting a payment for service rendered, often in a military context.