Romans 6:19

Purity Sin Obedience

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.

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.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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.
KJV: I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
WEB: I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh; for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification.
ASV: I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye presented your members [as] servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members [as] servants to righteousness unto sanctification.
DARBY: I speak humanly on account of the weakness of your flesh. For even as ye have yielded your members in bondage to uncleanness and to lawlessness unto lawlessness, so now yield your members in bondage to righteousness unto holiness.
BLB: I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your⁺ flesh. For just as you⁺ presented your⁺ members [as] slaves to uncleanness and to lawlessness unto lawlessness, so now present your⁺ members [as] slaves to righteousness unto sanctification.

ÅB: Jeg snakker på menneskelig vis på grunn av hvor skrøpelig kjøttet deres er. For slik som dere bød lemmene deres fram som tjenere for urenheten og urettferdigheten til urettferdighet, slik skal dere nå by lemmene deres fram som tjenere for rettferdigheten til helliggjørelse!
OTB: Jeg taler på menneskelig vis på grunn av deres kjøds skrøpelighet. For likesom dere før bød frem deres lemmer som tjenere for urenhet og lovløshet til lovløshet, så by nå frem deres lemmer som tjenere for rettferdighet til helliggjørelse.
B1930: Jeg taler på menneskelig vis for eders kjøds skrøpelighets skyld. For likesom I bød eders lemmer frem som tjenere for urenheten og urettferdigheten til urettferdighet, således by nu eders lemmer frem som tjenere for rettferdigheten til helliggjørelse!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Romans 6:13
Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.
Read in context
1 Peter 4:2–4
Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God.
Read in context
Colossians 3:5–7
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
Read in context
Ephesians 2:2–3
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.
Read in context
1 Corinthians 6:11
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.
Read in context
Romans 6:16–17
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?
Read in context
Romans 3:5
But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms.
Read in context
Galatians 3:15
Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended.
Read in context