Division 6:1–8:39

How to live as believers

In this division Paul showed that God has made a way to rescue people from being punished for wrongdoing and put them in a right relationship with himself.

Here are other possible headings for this division:

We must live as dead to sin and the Laws of Moses and live in the Holy Spirit
-or-
Living free from sin and the law and living in the Holy Spirit

Section 6:1–14

We must live for God because we died to sin

In this section, Paul told the believers in Rome that they should not continue to sin, because baptism symbolizes death to sin. Jesus’ resurrection symbolizes the new life that believers can live in. The believers’ old way of life is crucified on the cross of Jesus so that they have no need to follow the desires to sin. Believers will live new lives for God and death no longer rules them, because Jesus died and was raised for them. Therefore believers should consider themselves dead to sin and do the good deeds that God wants them to do. God’s grace removes believers from the rule of sin in their lives.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

Believers are dead to sin, so they must live for God
-or-
Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ (New International Version)
-or-
We are no longer slaves to sin, but God’s servants

Paragraph 6:1–4

6:1a

What then shall we say?: The word then indicates a connection to previous verses. Here it introduces the question “What shall we say?” In some languages, it is more natural to have the word then first. For example:

Then/Therefore, what shall we say?

This is a rhetorical question. It introduces the next question (6:1b–c). Paul did not expect the readers to answer this question. Here are other ways to translate this question:

Shall we say this?
-or-
What then are we to say? (New Revised Standard Version)

In some languages, it is more natural to avoid this kind of question. For example:

So do you think we should continue sinning…? (New Century Version)
-or-
Well now, is it good if
-or-
But let’s not say/think like this:
-or-
Maybe we might say this:
-or-
there is perhaps a person who will say that

shall we say: The Greek tense is the future tense (“will we say”). Here it indicates what someone might say. See the examples above.

6:1b–c

Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase?: In 5:20 Paul said that an increase in sin resulted in an abundance of grace. Someone might misunderstand Paul’s words and think that he should continue sinning in order to receive more grace from God. Here Paul referred to that thinking with this question. He showed that this thinking was clearly wrong with the words “Certainly not” in 6:2.

This is a rhetorical question. But Paul answered it himself in 6:2. So you should translate these words as a question here. Here are other ways to translate this question:

Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? (New International Version)
-or-
Is it possible that we continue to commit sin in order that God will all the more give us his grace?
-or-
is it good if we continue to do sin just so that this grace/mercy of God will continue to be abundant toward us?

Paul expected that his readers would agree that it is wrong for anyone to think he should continue sinning to receive more grace. In some languages indicating that this thinking is wrong must be done another way. For example:

Is it right to say that we should continue to sin so that grace might increase?
-or-
It is wrong to say that we should continue to sin so that grace might increase.

6:1b

continue in sin: This phrase refers to continuing to sin, instead of trying to do the things that God wants believers to do. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

remain in sin (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
persist in sin (Revised English Bible)
-or-
do not abandon doing evil

6:1c

so that: Here this word introduces the purpose for continuing to sin.

grace: Here the word grace indicates that God does something kind or helpful. People do not deserve this help. See how you translated this word in 1:7 or 5:2.

may increase: Here the word increase refers to grace getting larger/more abundant. See how you translated this word in 5:20 (“increased,” “abounded”).

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