Romans 6:22
in Romans 6But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life.
KJV
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
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This verse in Romans 6
Commentary
12 notes on this verse"But now, having been freed from sin and made slaves to God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end, eternal life." He compares fruits with fruits: and the fruits of sin, for which the saints are now — that is, after they have been freed from sin and made slaves to God — ashamed, he declares to be ended in death; but the fruits of righteousness, which are unto sanctification, he says receive as their end eternal life.
This site's exposition
become slaves to God
on Romans 6:22-23
Those set free from sin and made slaves to God reap fruit that leads to holiness, and eternal life is the outcome. Wages are earned and owed, and a gift is given outright. Sin pays death as a wage, and God gives eternal life in Christ Jesus.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
If when we receive the forgiveness of sins we become imitators of good deeds, we shall acquire holiness and we shall obtain eternal life at the end, for we shall pass from death, which Paul said was the end, to life, which is without end.
Throughout this chapter, while withdrawing our members from unrighteousness and sin and applying them to righteousness and holiness, and transferring the same from the wages of death to the gift of eternal life, Paul undoubtedly promises to the flesh the reward of salvation. Now it would not have been consistent for a rule of holiness and righteousness to be especially enjoined for the flesh if the reward of such a discipline were not also within its reach; nor could even baptism be ordered for the flesh if by its regeneration a course were not inaugurated tending to its restitution.
Of the former, the fruit was shame, even after the being set free. Of these the fruit is holiness, and where holiness is, there is all confidence. But of those things the end is death, and of these everlasting life. Do you see how he points out some things as already given, and some as existing in hope, and from what are given he draws proof of the others also, that is from the holiness of the life. For to prevent your saying (i.e. as an objection) everything lies in hope, he points out that you have already reaped fruits, first the being freed from wickedness, and such evils as the very recollection of puts one to shame; second, the being made a servant unto righteousness; a third, the enjoying of holiness; a fourth, the obtaining of life, and life too not for a season, but everlasting. Yet with all these, he says, do but serve as ye served it. For though the master is far preferable, and the service also has many advantages, and the rewards too for which ye are serving, still I make no further demand. Next, since he had mentioned arms and a king, he keeps on with the metaphor.
But on us it is incumbent to reach the unaccomplished end, obeying the commands-that is, God-and living according to them, irreproachably and intelligently, through knowledge of the divine will; and assimilation as far as possible in accordance with right reason is the end, and restoration to perfect adoption by the Son, which ever glorifies the Father by the great High Priest who has deigned to call us brethren and fellow-heirs. And the apostle, succinctly describing the end, writes in the Epistle to the Romans: "But now, being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."
The Medieval Church1 voice
The fruit of the works of sin is shame; the fruit of righteousness is sanctification, purity, innocence. The end of the former is death; the end of the latter is eternal life.
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then when he says, but now, he describes the state of justice: first, he describes a condition of this state; second, the effect, at you have your fruit; third, the end, at and the end life. In regard to the first it should be noted …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Secondly, A resignation of ourselves to the service of God and righteousness, to God as our master, to righteousness as our work. When we are made free from sin, it is not that we may live as we list, and be our own masters; no: when we are delivered out of Egypt, we are, as Israel, led to the holy mountain, to receive the law, and are there brought into the bond of the covenant.
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
But now being made free from sin - As being free from righteousness is the finished character of a sinner, so being made free from sin is the finished character of a genuine Christian. And become servants to God - They were transferred from the service of one master to that of another: they were freed from the slavery of sin, and engaged in the service of God. Fruit unto holiness - Holiness of heart was the principle; and righteousness of life the fruit.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But now - Under the Christian plan of justification. Being made free from sin - Being delivered from its dominion, and from bondage; in the same manner as before conversion they were free from righteousness, Rom 6:20. Ye have your fruit unto holiness - The fruit or result is holiness. This service produces holiness, as the other did sin. It is implied here, though not expressly affirmed, that in this service which leads to holiness, they received important benefits, as in the service of sin they had experienced many evils. And the end - The final result - the ultimate consequence will be. At present this service produces holiness; hereafter it will terminate in everlasting life. By this consideration the apostle states the tendency of the plan of justification, and urges on them the duty of striving after holiness. Everlasting life - Note, Joh 3:36. This stands in contrast with the word “death” in Rom 6:21, and shows its meaning. “One is just as long in duration as the other;” and if the one is limited, the other is. If those who obey shall be blessed with life forever, those who disobey will be cursed with death forever. Never was there an antithesis more manifest and more clear. And there could not be a stronger proof that the word “death” in Rom 6:21, refers not to temporal death, but to eternal punishment. For what force would there be in the argument on the supposition that temporal death only is meant? The argument would stand thus: “The end of those sins is to produce temporal death; the end of holiness is to produce eternal life!” Will not temporal death be inflicted, it would be immediately asked, at any rate? Are Christians exempt from it? And do not people suffer this, whether they become Christians or not? How then could this be an argument bearing on the tenor of the apostle’s reasoning? […]
The words behind it
21 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| νυνὶ | nuni | Now | G3570 → | 19 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἐλευθερωθέντες | eleutherothentes | having been set free | G1659 → | 7 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἁμαρτίας | hamartias | sin | G266 → | 173 times |
| δουλωθέντες | doulothentes | having become slaves | G1402 → | |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεῷ | theo | to God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἔχετε | echete | you have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καρπὸν | karpon | fruit | G2590 → | 66 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| εἰς | eis | unto | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| ἁγιασμόν, | hagiasmon | sanctification, | G38 → | |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τέλος | telos | the end | G5056 → | 40 times |
| ζωὴν | zoen | [is] life | G2222 → | 135 times |
| αἰώνιον. | aionion | eternal. | G166 → | 68 times |
νυνὶNow
nuniG3570 →19 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἐλευθερωθέντεςhaving been set free
eleutherothentesG1659 →7 times
ἀπὸfrom
apoG575 →640 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἁμαρτίαςsin
hamartiasG266 →173 times
δουλωθέντεςhaving become slaves
doulothentesG1402 →
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
θεῷto God
theoG2316 →1312 times
ἔχετεyou have
echeteG2192 →707 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
καρπὸνfruit
karponG2590 →66 times
ὑμῶνof you
humonG4771 →2973 times
εἰςunto
eisG1519 →1755 times
ἁγιασμόν,sanctification,
hagiasmonG38 →
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
τέλοςthe end
telosG5056 →40 times
ζωὴν[is] life
zoenG2222 →135 times
αἰώνιον.eternal.
aionionG166 →68 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Galatians 5:13For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 2:16
Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 9:19
Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
- 1 Peter 2:16
Through
John 8:32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
it leads to
- Romans 8:2
For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death.
- John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
- John 17:17
Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.
- John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
- Romans 8:2
Through
Romans 8:2For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death.
it leads to
- Romans 6:14
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
- 2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
- Romans 6:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies3
On this verse
About Romans
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 2; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 12; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Tertullian, ON RESURRECTION OF THE FLESH 47; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.