Romans 6:18
New International Version
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

New Living Translation
Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

English Standard Version
and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

Berean Standard Bible
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Berean Literal Bible
And having been set free from sin, you have become slaves to righteousness.

King James Bible
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

New King James Version
And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

New American Standard Bible
and after being freed from sin, you became slaves to righteousness.

NASB 1995
and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

NASB 1977
and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Legacy Standard Bible
and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Amplified Bible
And having been set free from sin, you have become the slaves of righteousness [of conformity to God’s will and purpose].

Christian Standard Bible
and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and having been liberated from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.

American Standard Version
and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.

Contemporary English Version
Now you are set free from sin and are slaves who please God.

English Revised Version
and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Freed from sin, you were made slaves who do what God approves of.

Good News Translation
You were set free from sin and became the slaves of righteousness.

International Standard Version
And since you have been freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness.

Majority Standard Bible
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

NET Bible
and having been freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.

New Heart English Bible
Being made free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Webster's Bible Translation
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Weymouth New Testament
You were set free from the tyranny of Sin, and became the bondservants of Righteousness--

World English Bible
Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and having been freed from sin, you became servants to righteousness.

Berean Literal Bible
And having been set free from sin, you have become slaves to righteousness.

Young's Literal Translation
and having been freed from the sin, ye became servants to the righteousness.

Smith's Literal Translation
And freed from sin, ye were subdued to justice.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Being then freed from sin, we have been made servants of justice.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And having been freed from sin, we have become servants of justice.

New American Bible
Freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness.

New Revised Standard Version
and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now, being made free from sin, you become the servants of righteousness.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And when you were freed from sin you became Servants to righteousness.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and being made free from sin, you have be come the servants of righteousness.

Godbey New Testament
but having been made free from sin, ye became servants unto righteousness.

Haweis New Testament
Emancipated then from sin, ye became servants to righteousness.

Mace New Testament
being then set free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Weymouth New Testament
You were set free from the tyranny of Sin, and became the bondservants of Righteousness--

Worrell New Testament
and, having been made free from sin, ye were made slaves of righteousness.

Worsley New Testament
and being set free from sin, ye are become the servants of righteousness.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Wages of Sin
17But 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. 19I 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.…

Cross References
John 8:34-36
Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. / A slave does not remain in the house forever, but a son remains forever. / So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Galatians 5:1
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.

1 Peter 2:16
Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Galatians 5:13
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.

1 Corinthians 7:22
For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.

Ephesians 6:6
And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

1 John 3:9
Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

Colossians 1:13-14
He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, / in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

1 Corinthians 6:20
you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

1 John 5:18
We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

Ezekiel 36:26-27
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. / And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

Jeremiah 31:33
“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.

Psalm 119:45
And I will walk in freedom, for I have sought Your precepts.


Treasury of Scripture

Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness.

made.

Romans 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Psalm 116:16
O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.

Psalm 119:32,45
I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart…

servants.

Romans 6:19,20,22
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…

Isaiah 26:13
O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.

Isaiah 54:17
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

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Bondmen Bondservants Free Freed Freedom Righteousness Servants Sin Slaves Tyranny
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Romans 6
1. We may not live in sin;
2. for we are dead unto it;
3. as appears by our baptism.
12. Let not sin reign anymore;
18. because we have yielded ourselves to the service of righteousness;
23. and because death is the wages of sin.














You have been set free
The phrase "have been set free" comes from the Greek word "eleutheroo," which means to liberate or to make free. In the context of Romans, Paul is addressing the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice. Historically, the concept of freedom was significant in Roman society, where slavery was prevalent. Paul uses this imagery to convey the spiritual liberation believers experience through Christ. This freedom is not just a release from the penalty of sin but also from its power and dominion over one's life. It is a call to live in the liberty that Christ provides, a liberty that empowers believers to pursue holiness.

from sin
The Greek word for "sin" here is "hamartia," which means missing the mark or falling short of God's standard. In the Jewish context, sin was understood as a transgression against God's law. Paul emphasizes that through Christ, believers are no longer under the bondage of sin. This is a profound shift from the Old Testament sacrificial system, where sin required continual atonement. In Christ, the ultimate sacrifice has been made, and believers are no longer slaves to sin's power. This freedom from sin is both a positional truth and a practical reality, encouraging believers to live in the victory Christ has secured.

and have become slaves
The term "slaves" is translated from the Greek word "doulos," which means a bondservant or one who is devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests. In the Roman world, slavery was a common institution, and Paul uses this metaphor to illustrate total devotion and commitment. While the term "slave" may carry negative connotations, Paul redefines it in a positive light, indicating a willing and joyful submission to a new master—righteousness. This servitude is not oppressive but liberating, as it aligns with God's perfect will and purpose for humanity.

to righteousness
"Righteousness" in Greek is "dikaiosyne," which refers to the state of being right or just in the eyes of God. In the biblical context, righteousness is not merely about moral behavior but about being in right relationship with God. Through Christ, believers are imputed with His righteousness, enabling them to live lives that reflect God's character. This new allegiance to righteousness is a transformative process, where believers grow in holiness and reflect the image of Christ. It is both a gift and a calling, empowering believers to live out their faith in practical ways that honor God.

(18) Ye became the servants.--Comp. "Whose service is perfect freedom," adopted from St. Augustine.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
You have been set free
ἐλευθερωθέντες (eleutherōthentes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1659: To free, set free, liberate. From eleutheros; to liberate, i.e. to exempt.

from
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

sin
ἁμαρτίας (hamartias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 266: From hamartano; a sin.

[and] have become slaves
ἐδουλώθητε (edoulōthēte)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1402: To enslave. From doulos; to enslave.

to righteousness.
δικαιοσύνῃ (dikaiosynē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1343: From dikaios; equity; specially justification.


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NT Letters: Romans 6:18 Being made free from sin you became (Rom. Ro)
Romans 6:17
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