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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Romans 6:20 For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/romans/6-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/45_Rom_06_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Romans 6:20 - The Wages of Sin" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness." /><script type="application/javascript" 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id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/romans/6-19.htm" title="Romans 6:19">◄</a> Romans 6:20 <a href="/romans/6-21.htm" title="Romans 6:21">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comment </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/romans/6.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/romans/6.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/romans/6.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/romans/6.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/romans/6.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/romans/6.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/romans/6.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/romans/6.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/romans/6.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in relation to righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/romans/6.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/romans/6.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/romans/6.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/romans/6.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness [you had no desire to conform to God’s will].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/romans/6.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/romans/6.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from allegiance to righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/romans/6.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free in regard of righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/romans/6.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />When you were slaves of sin, you didn't have to please God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/romans/6.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free in regard of righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/romans/6.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />When you were slaves to sin, you were free from doing what God approves of.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/romans/6.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />When you were the slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/romans/6.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />For when you were slaves of sin, you were "free" as far as righteousness was concerned. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/romans/6.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/romans/6.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/romans/6.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/romans/6.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/romans/6.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />For when you were the bondservants of sin, you were under no sort of subjection to Righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/romans/6.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />For when you were servants of sin, you were free from righteousness. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/romans/6.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />for when you were servants of sin, you were free from righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/romans/6.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/romans/6.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> for when ye were servants of the sin, ye were free from the righteousness,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/romans/6.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />For when ye were servants to sin, ye were free to justice.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/romans/6.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />For when you were the servants of sin, you were free men to justice. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/romans/6.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />For though you were once the servants of sin, you have become the children of justice.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/romans/6.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/romans/6.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/romans/6.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/romans/6.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />For when you became Servants of sin, you became free from righteousness.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/romans/6.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />For when you were the servants of sin, you were free with respect to righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/romans/6.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/romans/6.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />For when ye were the slaves of sin, ye were free from righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/romans/6.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />for when ye were the vassals of sin, ye were not in the service of virtue.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/romans/6.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />For when you were the bondservants of sin, you were under no sort of subjection to Righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/romans/6.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />For, when ye were slaves of sin, ye were free as to righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/romans/6.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/romans/6-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KIZs4GUMn-g?start=1494" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/romans/6.htm">The Wages of Sin</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">19</span>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. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1063.htm" title="1063: gar (Conj) -- For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.">For</a> <a href="/greek/3753.htm" title="3753: Hote (Adv) -- When, at which time. From hos and te; at which too, i.e. When.">when</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: ēte (V-IIA-2P) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">you were</a> <a href="/greek/1401.htm" title="1401: douloi (N-NMP) -- (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.">slaves</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēs (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/266.htm" title="266: hamartias (N-GFS) -- From hamartano; a sin.">to sin,</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: ēte (V-IIA-2P) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">you were</a> <a href="/greek/1658.htm" title="1658: eleutheroi (Adj-NMP) -- Free, delivered from obligation. Probably from the alternate of erchomai; unrestrained, i.e. not a slave, or exempt.">free of obligation</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tē (Art-DFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/1343.htm" title="1343: dikaiosynē (N-DFS) -- From dikaios; equity; specially justification.">to righteousness.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">21</span>What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/8-34.htm">John 8:34</a></span><br />Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/5-1.htm">Galatians 5:1</a></span><br />It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/2-19.htm">2 Peter 2:19</a></span><br />They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/2-1.htm">Ephesians 2:1-3</a></span><br />And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, / in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. / All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/titus/3-3.htm">Titus 3:3</a></span><br />For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-9.htm">1 Corinthians 6:9-11</a></span><br />Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. / And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/3-5.htm">Colossians 3:5-7</a></span><br />Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. / Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. / When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/4-3.htm">1 Peter 4:3-4</a></span><br />For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. / Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/4-8.htm">Galatians 4:8-9</a></span><br />Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. / But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/3-4.htm">1 John 3:4-6</a></span><br />Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness. / But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. / No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/6-24.htm">Matthew 6:24</a></span><br />No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/5-17.htm">2 Corinthians 5:17</a></span><br />Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/4-17.htm">Ephesians 4:17-19</a></span><br />So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. / They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. / Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-20.htm">Isaiah 44:20</a></span><br />He feeds on ashes. His deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/13-23.htm">Jeremiah 13:23</a></span><br />Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Neither are you able to do good—you who are accustomed to doing evil.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness.</p><p class="hdg">the servants.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/romans/6-16.htm">Romans 6:16,17</a></b></br> Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/8-34.htm">John 8:34</a></b></br> Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.</p><p class="hdg">from.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/romans/6-18.htm">Bondmen</a> <a href="/romans/6-18.htm">Bondservants</a> <a href="/acts/27-16.htm">Control</a> <a href="/romans/6-18.htm">Free</a> <a href="/romans/6-11.htm">Regard</a> <a href="/romans/6-19.htm">Righteousness</a> <a href="/romans/6-19.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/romans/6-18.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/romans/6-19.htm">Slaves</a> <a href="/romans/3-27.htm">Sort</a> <a href="/romans/6-12.htm">Subjection</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/romans/6-22.htm">Bondmen</a> <a href="/romans/6-22.htm">Bondservants</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/7-9.htm">Control</a> <a href="/romans/6-22.htm">Free</a> <a href="/romans/6-21.htm">Regard</a> <a href="/romans/8-4.htm">Righteousness</a> <a href="/romans/6-22.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/romans/6-22.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/romans/6-22.htm">Slaves</a> <a href="/romans/15-15.htm">Sort</a> <a href="/romans/8-20.htm">Subjection</a><div class="vheading2">Romans 6</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/romans/6-1.htm">We may not live in sin;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">2. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/romans/6-2.htm">for we are dead unto it;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/romans/6-3.htm">as appears by our baptism.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/romans/6-12.htm">Let not sin reign anymore;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/romans/6-18.htm">because we have yielded ourselves to the service of righteousness;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/romans/6-23.htm">and because death is the wages of sin.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/romans/6.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>For when you were slaves to sin</b><br />The phrase "slaves to sin" is a powerful metaphor used by Paul to describe the condition of humanity before accepting Christ. The Greek word for "slaves" is "doulos," which implies complete subservience and lack of freedom. In the ancient Roman context, slavery was a common institution, and a slave had no rights or autonomy. Paul uses this imagery to illustrate the total control sin had over individuals before they were redeemed by Christ. Sin, in this context, is not merely an act but a dominating power that dictates the actions and desires of those who are not in Christ. This highlights the need for a Savior who can liberate individuals from this bondage.<p><b>you were free of obligation to righteousness</b><br />The term "free of obligation" suggests a lack of responsibility or duty. In Greek, the word "eleutheros" is used, which means free or unrestrained. Paul is making a stark contrast between the state of being enslaved to sin and the concept of being free from righteousness. Before coming to faith, individuals did not feel compelled or bound to live according to God's standards of righteousness. This freedom, however, is not a positive liberty but rather an absence of the moral and spiritual compulsion to pursue what is right in God's eyes. Historically, this reflects the Gentile world, which was not under the Mosaic Law and thus did not have the same moral framework as the Jewish people. Paul is emphasizing that without Christ, there is no true freedom, as true freedom is found in being bound to righteousness through Him.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/romans/6.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 20-23.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness</span> (more literally, <span class="accented">to righteousness</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> ye were not in any bondage to righteousness). <span class="cmt_word">What fruit had ye then</span> (<span class="accented">i.e.</span> when you were formerly slaves of sin) <span class="cmt_word">in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?, for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and made servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification; and the end life eternal. For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of god is life eternal in Christ Jesus our Lord</span>. The logical connection with the previous context of the above series of verses, beginning with ver. 20, as well as the sequence of thought running through them (intimated by the particles <span class="greek">γὰρ σῦν</span>, and <span class="greek">δὲ</span>), is not at once obvious. It seems to be as follows: the <span class="greek">γὰρ</span> in ver. 20 introduces a reason for the exhortation of ver. 19, <span class="greek">παραστήσατε</span>, etc. But ver. 20 is not in itself the reason, being only an introduction to the statement of it in the verses that follow. The drift of the whole passage seems to be this: Yield ye your members to the sole service of righteousness; <span class="accented">for</span> (ver. 20) ye were once in the sole service of sin, owning no allegiance to righteousness at all; <span class="accented">and</span> (ver. 21) what fruit had ye from that service? None at all; for ye know that the only end of the things ye did then, and of which ye are now ashamed, is death. <span class="accented">But</span> (ver. 22) your new service <span class="accented">has</span> its fruit: it leads to your sanctification now, and in the end eternal life. Authorities, however, both ancient and modern, are divided as to the punctuation, and consequent construction, of ver. 21. In the Vulgate and the Authorized Version (as in the interpretation given above) the stop of interrogation is placed after "ashamed;" the answer, <span class="accented">none</span>, being understood, and "for the end," etc., being the reason why there is no fruit The other way is to take the question as ending at "had ye then," and "those things whereof," etc., as the answer to it, and for the end, etc., as the reason why they are ashamed. Thus: "What fruit had ye then (when you were free from righteousness)? The works (or pleasures) of which you are now ashamed were the only fruit; you are ashamed of them now; <span class="accented">for their</span> end is death." The latter interpretation is defended by Alford on the ground that it is more consistent "with the New Testament meaning of <span class="greek">καρπός</span>, which is 'actions,' the ' fruit of the man' considered as the tree, not 'wages' or 'reward,' the 'fruit of his actions.'" This is true. But, on the other hand, it may be argued that such use of the word <span class="greek">καρπός</span> by St. Paul is always in a good sense; he usually regards <span class="accented">sin</span> as having no fruits at all; to the <span class="accented">fruit</span> of the Spirit is opposed, not any fruit of a different character, but <span class="accented">the works</span> (<span class="greek">ἔργα</span>) of the flesh (<a href="/galatians/5-19.htm">Galatians 5:19, 22</a>); and in <a href="/ephesians/5-11.htm">Ephesians 5:11</a> (again in opposition to the <span class="accented">fruit of the Spirit</span>) he speaks of the <span class="accented">unfruitful</span> works (<span class="greek">ἔργοις τοῖς ἀκάρποις</span>) <span class="accented">of</span> darkness. Thus the idea of ver. 21, understood as in the Authorized Version, seems closely to correspond with that of the passage last cited. "The things of which ye are now ashamed," in ver. 21, are "the works of darkness" of <a href="/ephesians/5-11.htm">Ephesians 5:11</a>; and in both places they are declared to have no fruit. Sin is a barren tree, and only ends in death. Cf. what was said above with respect to <span class="greek">εἰς τὴν ἀνομίαν</span> and <span class="greek">εἰς ἁγιασμόν</span> in ver. 19. It is true, however, that the expression in the next chapter, <span class="greek">καρποφορῆσαι</span> <span class="greek">τῷ θανάτῳ</span> (<a href="/romans/7-5.htm">Romans 7:5</a>), in opposition to <span class="greek">καρποφορήσωμεν τῷ Θεῷ</span>, in some degree weakens the force of the above argument. We observe, lastly, on ver. 23, that to the "wages" of sin (<span class="greek">ὀψώνια</span> , used usually to denote a soldier's pay) is opposed "free gift" (<span class="greek">χάρισμα</span> for sin earns death as its due reward; but eternal life is not earned by us, but granted us by the grace of God. As to the phrase, <span class="greek">δουλωθέντες τῷ Θεῷ</span>, in ver. 22, it can be used without the need of any such apology as seems to be implied in ver. 19 (according to the meaning of the verse that has been preferred) for speaking of our becoming <span class="accented">slaves</span> to righteousness. For we do belong to God as his <span class="greek">δοῦλοι</span>, and to Christ, having been "bought with a price" (cf. <a href="/1_corinthians/7-23.htm">1 Corinthians 7:23</a>); and St. Paul at the beginning of his Epistles often calls himself <span class="greek">δοῦλος Ξριστοῦ</span> (cf. also <a href="/luke/17-10.htm">Luke 17:10</a>). But it does not follow that our service should be the service of slaves; it may be a free, willing, enthusiastic obedience notwithstanding; we obey, not because we are under bondage to obey, but because love inspires us (cf. <a href="/galatians/4-6.htm">Galatians 4:6</a>, etc., "Because ye are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no longer a servant, but a son"). <p> <p> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/romans/6-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">For</span><br /><span class="grk">γὰρ</span> <span class="translit">(gar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1063.htm">Strong's 1063: </a> </span><span class="str2">For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">when</span><br /><span class="grk">Ὅτε</span> <span class="translit">(Hote)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3753.htm">Strong's 3753: </a> </span><span class="str2">When, at which time. From hos and te; at which too, i.e. When.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you were</span><br /><span class="grk">ἦτε</span> <span class="translit">(ēte)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> </span><span class="str2">I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">slaves</span><br /><span class="grk">δοῦλοι</span> <span class="translit">(douloi)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1401.htm">Strong's 1401: </a> </span><span class="str2">(a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to sin,</span><br /><span class="grk">ἁμαρτίας</span> <span class="translit">(hamartias)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_266.htm">Strong's 266: </a> </span><span class="str2">From hamartano; a sin.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you were</span><br /><span class="grk">ἦτε</span> <span class="translit">(ēte)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> </span><span class="str2">I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">free of obligation</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐλεύθεροι</span> <span class="translit">(eleutheroi)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1658.htm">Strong's 1658: </a> </span><span class="str2">Free, delivered from obligation. Probably from the alternate of erchomai; unrestrained, i.e. not a slave, or exempt.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to righteousness.</span><br /><span class="grk">δικαιοσύνῃ</span> <span class="translit">(dikaiosynē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Dative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1343.htm">Strong's 1343: </a> </span><span class="str2">From dikaios; equity; specially justification.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/romans/6-20.htm">Romans 6:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/romans/6-20.htm">Romans 6:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/romans/6-20.htm">Romans 6:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/romans/6-20.htm">Romans 6:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/romans/6-20.htm">Romans 6:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/romans/6-20.htm">Romans 6:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/romans/6-20.htm">Romans 6:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/romans/6-20.htm">Romans 6:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/romans/6-20.htm">Romans 6:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/romans/6-20.htm">Romans 6:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/romans/6-20.htm">NT Letters: Romans 6:20 For when you were servants of sin (Rom. 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