16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves (A)to anyone as obedient slaves,[a] you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But (B)thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the (C)standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, (D)having been set free from sin, (E)have become slaves of righteousness. 19 (F)I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For (G)just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members (H)as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

20 (I)For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 (J)But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things (K)of which you are now ashamed? (L)For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you (M)have been set free from sin and (N)have become slaves of God, (O)the fruit you get leads to sanctification and (P)its end, eternal life.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 6:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; twice in this verse; also verses 17, 19 (twice), 20

16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey(A)—whether you are slaves to sin,(B) which leads to death,(C) or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God(D) that, though you used to be slaves to sin,(E) you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching(F) that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin(G) and have become slaves to righteousness.(H)

19 I am using an example from everyday life(I) because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness(J) leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin,(K) you were free from the control of righteousness.(L) 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!(M) 22 But now that you have been set free from sin(N) and have become slaves of God,(O) the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.(P)

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