Section 6:15–23

Become as slaves to righteousness

In this section, Paul told the believers in Rome that they must not sin even if they are not under the Laws of Moses. He told them that if they obey sin then they are slaves to sin. Instead, they must become slaves of righteousness, that is, doing things that God says are right to do. This command includes all parts of their lives.

Paul further explained that when they were always obeying the desires of sin, they were free from doing things that God says are right to do. He reminded them that they were now ashamed of those sins and the consequences. The final consequence of those sins is death. God had set them free from a life of sin and they had become like slaves of God. The consequences of that is becoming holy and receiving eternal life. For sinning earns a person death, but when that person believes in Jesus, God gives him eternal life.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

We must be slaves of God doing righteous deeds
-or-
We must always do what God says is right ⌊to do⌋
-or-
We are servants of straight/upright behavior

Paragraph 6:15–19

6:15a

What then?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used this question to introduce the next question. It also indicates a connection to what Paul just said with the Greek word often translated “therefore.” Here are other ways to translate this question:

So what should we do? (New Century Version)
-or-
So, what then shall we say/think?

In some languages a question is not natural here. If that is true in your language, translate it as a statement. For example:

Well then, (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Therefore, think about this:

6:15b–c

Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not!: The question is rhetorical. By asking it, Paul wanted the readers to think about what the answer might be. He also answered it himself here. Here are some ways to translate this:

• As a rhetorical question and its answer. For example:

Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! (New International Version)
-or-
We are not under law but under grace, and so should we sin? Of course not!

• As a statement. For example:

We are certainly not to sin because we are under grace, not under law.
-or-
We are under grace, not under law, but we are certainly not to sin because of that.

6:15b

we are not under law: This clause refers to believers not being under the authority of the laws of Moses. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

we are not under ⌊the authority of⌋ the laws ⌊of Moses⌋
-or-
the laws ⌊of Moses⌋ do not sit over us

See how you translated under law in 6:14.

under grace: The words “we are” are implied here. Believers are under the authority of grace. The grace of God affects our lives in all ways. Here are other ways to translate these words:

⌊we are⌋ under ⌊the authority of⌋ ⌊the⌋ grace ⌊of God⌋
-or-

⌊the⌋ grace ⌊of God⌋ ⌊sits⌋ over ⌊us⌋

See how you translated under grace in 6:14.

6:15c

Certainly not!: The Greek is literally “May it not be.” It indicates a very strong “no.” Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Not at all!
-or-
By no means! (English Standard Version)
-or-
No, indeed!

See how you translated these words in 3:4 or 6:2. Note that “certainly” in the As a statement examples in 6:15b–c translate the words Certainly not! here. If you used “certainly” there, do not translate these words here.

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