Focused Passage

Romans 6:15-23

Dead to Sin and Alive to God in Christ Jesus

Paul moves from rejecting grace-abusing sin, to explaining union with Christ in death and resurrection, to commanding believers to present themselves to God, to contrasting slavery to sin with slavery to righteousness, and finally to the eternal outcomes of death or life.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not!

16 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?

17 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.

18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

19 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.

20 For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness.

21 What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.

22 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.

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 15

Original words

What Τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular then οὖν G3767 Conjunction Shall we sin ἁμαρτήσωμεν G264 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural because ὅτι G3754 Conjunction we are ἐσμὲν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural not οὐκ G3756 Adverb under ὑπὸ G5259 Preposition law νόμον G3551 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction under ὑπὸ G5259 Preposition grace χάριν G5485 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb Certainly not γένοιτο G1096 Verb - Aorist Optative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 16

Original words

vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb Do you not know οἴδατε G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction [when] G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular you offer παριστάνετε G3936 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural yourselves ἑαυτοὺς G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural [as] εἰς G1519 Preposition obedient ὑπακοήν G5218 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular slaves δούλους G1401 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural you are ἐστε G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural slaves δοῦλοί G1401 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural to [the one] G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular you obey ὑπακούετε G5219 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural whether [you are slaves] ἤτοι G2273 Conjunction to sin ἁμαρτίας G266 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular [leading] to εἰς G1519 Preposition death θάνατον G2288 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular or G2228 Conjunction to obedience ὑπακοῆς G5218 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular [leading] to εἰς G1519 Preposition righteousness δικαιοσύνην G1343 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 17

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction thanks [be] χάρις G5485 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular to God Θεῷ G2316 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction though you once were ἦτε G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural slaves δοῦλοι G1401 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular to sin ἁμαρτίας G266 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular vvv δὲ G1161 Conjunction you wholeheartedly obeyed ὑπηκούσατε G5219 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural . . . ἐκ G1537 Preposition . . . καρδίας G2588 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular the form τύπον G5179 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular of teaching διδαχῆς G1322 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular to εἰς G1519 Preposition which ὃν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular you were committed παρεδόθητε G3860 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Verse 18

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction You have been set free ἐλευθερωθέντες G1659 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular sin ἁμαρτίας G266 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular [and] have become slaves ἐδουλώθητε G1402 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 2nd Person Plural - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular to righteousness δικαιοσύνῃ G1343 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Verse 19

Original words

I am speaking λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular in human terms Ἀνθρώπινον G442 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular because of διὰ G1223 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular weakness ἀσθένειαν G769 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural flesh σαρκὸς G4561 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular Just as ὥσπερ G5618 Adverb . . . γὰρ G1063 Conjunction you used to offer παρεστήσατε G3936 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural parts of μέλη G3196 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural your [body] ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural in slavery δοῦλα G1401 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular to impurity ἀκαθαρσίᾳ G167 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction to τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular vvv ἀνομίᾳ G458 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular escalating εἰς G1519 Preposition - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular wickedness ἀνομίαν G458 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular so οὕτως G3779 Adverb now νῦν G3568 Adverb offer παραστήσατε G3936 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural vvv ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural vvv τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural [them] μέλη G3196 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural in slavery δοῦλα G1401 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular to righteousness δικαιοσύνῃ G1343 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular leading to εἰς G1519 Preposition holiness ἁγιασμόν G38 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 20

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction when Ὅτε G3753 Adverb you were ἦτε G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural slaves δοῦλοι G1401 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular to sin ἁμαρτίας G266 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular you were ἦτε G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural free of obligation ἐλεύθεροι G1658 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular to righteousness δικαιοσύνῃ G1343 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Verse 21

Original words

- οὖν G3767 Conjunction What τίνα G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular fruit καρπὸν G2590 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular did you reap εἴχετε G2192 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural at that time τότε G5119 Adverb from the [things] ἐφ’ G1909 Preposition of which οἷς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Plural vvv νῦν G3568 Adverb you are now ashamed ἐπαισχύνεσθε G1870 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural - γὰρ G1063 Conjunction The τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular outcome τέλος G5056 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular of those things ἐκείνων G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural [is] death θάνατος G2288 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 22

Original words

But δέ G1161 Conjunction now [that] νυνὶ G3570 Adverb you have been set free ἐλευθερωθέντες G1659 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular sin ἁμαρτίας G266 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and δὲ G1161 Conjunction have become slaves δουλωθέντες G1402 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular to God Θεῷ G2316 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular fruit καρπὸν G2590 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular you reap ἔχετε G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural . . . ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural [leads to] εἰς G1519 Preposition holiness ἁγιασμόν G38 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and δὲ G1161 Conjunction the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular outcome τέλος G5056 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular [is] eternal αἰώνιον G166 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular life ζωὴν G2222 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 23

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction the τὰ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Plural wages ὀψώνια G3800 Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular of sin ἁμαρτίας G266 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular [is] death θάνατος G2288 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular but δὲ G1161 Conjunction the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular gift χάρισμα G5486 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [is] eternal αἰώνιος G166 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular life ζωὴ G2222 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition Christ Χριστῷ G5547 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular Lord Κυρίῳ G2962 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.