From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God

15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?(A) Absolutely not!(B) 16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone[a] as obedient slaves,(C) you are slaves of that one you obey(D)—either of sin leading to death(E) or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin,(F) you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed[b] over,(G) 18 and having been set free from sin,(H) you became enslaved to righteousness. 19 I am using a human analogy(I) because of the weakness of your flesh.[c] For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.

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Footnotes

  1. 6:16 Lit that to whom you offer yourselves
  2. 6:17 Or entrusted
  3. 6:19 Or your human nature

The Believer’s Enslavement to God’s Righteousness

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves[a] as obedient slaves,[b] you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or obedience resulting in righteousness?[c] 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves to sin, you obeyed[d] from the heart that pattern[e] of teaching you were entrusted to, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. 19 (I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.)[f] For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 6:16 tn Grk “to whom you present yourselves.”
  2. Romans 6:16 tn Grk “as slaves for obedience.” See the note on the word “slave” in 1:1.
  3. Romans 6:16 tn Grk “either of sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness.”
  4. Romans 6:17 tn Grk “you were slaves of sin but you obeyed.”
  5. Romans 6:17 tn Or “type, form.”
  6. Romans 6:19 tn Or “because of your natural limitations” (NRSV). sn Verse 19 forms something of a parenthetical comment in Paul’s argument.