Romans 6:18

Romans 6:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
• New International Version (NIV)You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Context of Romans 6:18

16Do you not know that when you continually offer yourselves to someone to do his will, you are the slaves of the one whom you obey, either [slaves] of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness (right standing with God)? 17But thank God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient with all your heart to the standard of teaching in which you were instructed and to which you were committed. And having been set free from sin, you have become the slaves of righteousness [of conformity to God’s will and purpose]. 19I am speaking in [familiar] human terms because of your natural limitations [your spiritual immaturity]. For just as you presented your bodily members as slaves to impurity and to [moral] lawlessness, leading to further lawlessness, so now offer your members [your abilities, your talents] as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification [that is, being set apart for God’s purpose]. 20When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness [you had no desire to conform to God’s will].

Romans 6:18 word by word

Ἐλευθερωθέντες δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας ἐδουλώθητε τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Beingἐλευθερόωeleutheroō · to set freeG1659
• thenδέde · thenG1161
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• sinὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• sinἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• ye became the servantsδουλόωdouloō · to enslaveG1402
• of righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343

Cross-references for Romans 6:18

• Romans 6:14For sin will no longer be a master over you, since you are not under Law [as slaves], but under [unmerited] grace [as recipients of God’s favor and mercy].
• Psalms 116:16O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your handmaid; You have unfastened my chains.
• Psalms 119:32I will run the way of Your commandments [with purpose], For You will give me a heart that is willing.
• Luke 1:74To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear,
• John 8:32And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”
• 1 Corinthians 7:21Were you a slave when you were called? Do not worry about that [since your status as a believer is equal to that of a freeborn believer]; but if you are able to gain your freedom, do that.
• Galatians 5:1It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].
• 1 Peter 2:16Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover or pretext for evil, but [use it and live] as bond-servants of God.
• Romans 6:19I am speaking in [familiar] human terms because of your natural limitations [your spiritual immaturity]. For just as you presented your bodily members as slaves to impurity and to [moral] lawlessness, leading to further lawlessness, so now offer your members [your abilities, your talents] as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification [that is, being set apart for God’s purpose].
• Isaiah 26:13O Lord our God, other masters besides You have ruled over us; But through You alone we confess Your name.
• Isaiah 54:17No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And this is their vindication from Me,” says the Lord.

Commentaries on Romans 6:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Being then made free from sin - is a term that refers to the manumission of a slave. They were redeemed from the slavery of sin, and became the servants of righteousness. Here is another prosopopoeia: both sin and righteousness are personified: sin can enjoin no good and profitable work; righteousness can require none that is unjust or injurious.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18“Being then made free from sin.” That is, as a master. You are not under its dominion; you are no longer its slaves. They were made free, as a servant is who is set at liberty, and who is, therefore, no longer under obligation to obey. Ye became the servants … - You became voluntarily under the dominion of righteousness; you yielded yourselves to it; and are therefore bound to be holy; compare the note at John 8:32.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-20Verses 16-20 Every man is the servant of the master to whose commands he yields himself; whether it be the sinful dispositions of his heart, in actions which lead to death, or the new and spiritual obedience implanted by regeneration. The apostle rejoiced now they obeyed from the heart the gospel, into which they were delivered as into a mould. As the same metal becomes a new vessel, when melted and recast in another mould, so the believer has become a…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Being then--"And being"; it is the continuation and conclusion of the preceding sentence; not a new one. made free from Sin, ye became the servants of--"servants to" Righteousness--The case is one of emancipation from entire servitude to one Master to entire servitude to another, whose property we are (see on Ro 1:1). There is no middle state of personal independence; for which we were never made, and to which we have no claim. When we would not that…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 6:18

• Holiness
• Regeneration
• Righteous
• Servant

In the dictionaries

• Destroy
• Fruit
• Newness
• Obey
• Reign
• Wages
• Works, Good
• Baptismal Regeneration
• Bible, the
• Canon of the New Testament

Commentaries on Romans 6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings