God’s Word Translation
Romans 6:18
18Freed from sin, you were made slaves who do what God approves of.
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
16Don’t you know that if you offer to be someone’s slave, you must obey that master? Either your master is sin, or your master is obedience. Letting sin be your master leads to death. Letting obedience be your master leads to God’s approval. 17You were slaves to sin. But I thank God that you have become wholeheartedly obedient to the teachings which you were given. Freed from sin, you were made slaves who do what God approves of. 19I’m speaking in a human way because of the weakness of your corrupt nature. Clearly, you once offered all the parts of your body as slaves to sexual perversion and disobedience. This led you to live disobedient lives. Now, in the same way, offer all the parts of your body as slaves that do what God approves of. This leads you to live holy lives. 20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from doing what God approves of.
Read all of Romans 6Romans 6:18 word by word
Ἐλευθερωθέντες δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας ἐδουλώθητε τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Romans 6:18
- Romans 6:14Certainly, sin shouldn’t have power over you because you’re not controlled by God’s laws, but by God’s favor.
- Psalms 116:16O Lord, I am indeed your servant. I am your servant, the son of your female servant. You have freed me from my chains.
- Psalms 119:32I will eagerly pursue your commandments because you continue to increase my understanding.
- Luke 1:74He promised to rescue us from our enemies’ power so that we could serve him without fear
- John 8:32You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
- 1 Corinthians 7:21Were you a slave when you were called? That shouldn’t bother you. However, if you have a chance to become free, take it.
- Galatians 5:1Christ has freed us so that we may enjoy the benefits of freedom. Therefore, be firm ⌞in this freedom⌟, and don’t become slaves again.
- 1 Peter 2:16Live as free people, but don’t hide behind your freedom when you do evil. Instead, use your freedom to serve God.
- Romans 6:19I’m speaking in a human way because of the weakness of your corrupt nature. Clearly, you once offered all the parts of your body as slaves to sexual perversion and disobedience. This led you to live disobedient lives. Now, in the same way, offer all the parts of your body as slaves that do what God approves of. This leads you to live holy lives.
- Isaiah 26:13O Lord, our God, you are not the only master to rule us, but we acknowledge only you.
- Isaiah 54:17No weapon that has been made to be used against you will succeed. You will have an answer for anyone who accuses you. This is the inheritance of the Lord’s servants. Their victory comes from me,” declares 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
In the dictionaries
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
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