The big picture
Romans 6 opens in verse 1 with “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?”, reaches its middle movement near verse 12 with “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts…”, and closes in verse 23 with “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ…” Repeated or prominent terms include servants, dead, death, Christ, righteousness. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Romans · King James Version · 23Romans 6:1-8
1–8: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Romans 6:1–8 opens with “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” and reaches “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Romans 6 develops its own movement around servants, dead, death, Christ, righteousness, with particular weight carried by dead, Christ, death.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Romans 6:1-8
King James Version1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Romans 6:9-16
9–16: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath…
Romans 6:9–16 opens with “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over…” and reaches “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Romans 6 develops its own movement around servants, dead, death, Christ, righteousness, with particular weight carried by dead, obey, yield.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.” Naming Christ and Knowing keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Naming Christ keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Romans 6:9-16
King James Version9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are 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 the law, but under grace.
15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 6:17-23
17–23: God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed…
Romans 6:17–23 opens with “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that…” and reaches “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Romans 6 develops its own movement around servants, dead, death, Christ, righteousness, with particular weight carried by servants, free, righteousness.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
Romans 6:17-23
King James Version17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19I 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.
20For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21What fruit had ye then in those 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 holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Romans 6:1 begins with “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?”
Where the chapter turns
Romans 6:15 forms a natural hinge: “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.”
The final note
Romans 6:23 leaves the reader with “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words servants, dead, death, Christ, righteousness, members help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What repeated description explains the judgment?
The earth is corrupt and filled with violence, especially in verses 11-13.
What does obedience look like here?
Detailed preparation, gathering provisions and constructing what God commands.
KJV words made clear
- dominion
- responsibility or rule
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.