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Romans Chapter 6

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) 23 Verses

What is Romans 6 about?

Paul's systematic exposition of the gospel — justification by faith, the sovereignty of God, sin's universality, and life in the Spirit. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?
3Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
5For if we have become united with [him] in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of his resurrection;
6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;
7for he that hath died is justified from sin.
8But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him;
9knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death no more hath dominion over him.
10For the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus.
12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof:
13neither present your members unto sin [as] instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God.
14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace.
15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? God forbid.
16Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves [as] servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered;
18and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.
19I 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.
20For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free in regard of righteousness.
21What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life.
23For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“What shall we say then? etc..] The apostle here obviates an objection he saw would be made against the doctrine he had advanced, concerning the aboundings of the grace of God in such persons and places, where sin had abounded; which if true, might some persons say, then it will be most fit and proper to continue in a sinful course of life, to give up ourselves to all manner of iniquity, since this is the way to make the grace of God abound yet more and more: now says the apostle, what shall we say to this? how shall we answer such an objection? shall we join with the objectors, and say as they do? and shall we…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“THE BEARING OF JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE UPON A HOLY LIFE. (Rom 6:1-11) What, &c.--The subject of this third division of our Epistle announces itself at once in the opening question, "Shall we (or, as the true reading is, "May we," "Are we to") continue in sin, that grace may abound?" Had the apostle's doctrine been that salvation depends in any degree upon our good works, no such objection to it could have been made. Against the doctrine of a purely gratuitous justification, the objection is plausible; nor has there ever been an age in which it has not been urged. That it was brought against the apostles, we know…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“What shall we say then? - This is a mode of presenting an objection. The objection refers to what the apostle had said in Romans 5:20. What shall we say to such a sentiment as that where sin abounded grace did much more abound? Shall we continue in sin? ... - If sin has been the occasion of grace and favor, ought we not to continue in it, and commit as much as possible, in order that grace might abound? This objection the apostle proceeds to answer. He shows that the consequence does not follow; and proves that the doctrine of justification does not lead to it. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“The apostle here sets himself more fully to vindicate his doctrine from the consequence above suggested, Rom 3:7-8. He had then only in strong terms denied and renounced it: here he removes the very foundation thereof. Romans 6:2”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“6:1 Well then: Because Paul has just proclaimed that God multiplies grace where sin increases (5:20), he knows that people will wonder whether this means that sin does not matter in the Christian life.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“What: Rom 3:5 Shall: Rom 6:15, Rom 2:4, Rom 3:5-8, Rom 3:31, Rom 5:20, Rom 5:21; Gal 5:13; Pe1 2:16; Pe2 2:18, Pe2 2:19; Jde 1:4 Romans 6:2”
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