Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 6:18
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
18. Being then, &c.] This verse is a brief summary, in more direct terms, of the previous two verses. The emphasis is the reality, and immediateness, of the new servitude. “ Then: ” better, But. A slight contrast of thought is indicated, between the willingness of the obedience (Rom 6:17), and the consequent obligation.
righteousness ] See last note on Rom 6:16. The same reference of the word will hold good both here and there. The practical meaning thus is that pardon, as conveyed in the Divine justification, is now the (as it were) Master, the possessor of the obedience of the will; in other words, the ruling principle and motive.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Being then made free from sin. That is, as a master. You are not under its dominion; you are no longer its slaves. They were made free, as a servant is who is set at liberty, and who is, therefore, no longer under obligation to obey.
Ye became the servants … – You became voluntarily under the dominion of righteousness; you yielded yourselves to it; and are therefore bound to be holy; compare the note at Joh 8:32.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 18. Being then made free from sin] is a term that refers to the manumission of a slave. They were redeemed from the slavery of sin, and became the servants of righteousness. Here is another prosopopoeia: both sin and righteousness are personified: sin can enjoin no good and profitable work; righteousness can require none that is unjust or injurious.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Made free from sin; i.e. the servitude of sin; having received a manumission from that hard and evil master, you have given tap yourselves to a better and more ingenuous service.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
18. Being then“Andbeing”; it is the continuation and conclusion of the precedingsentence; not a new one.
made free from Sin, ye becamethe servants of“servants to”
RighteousnessThe caseis one of emancipation from entire servitude to one Master to entireservitude to another, whose property we are (see on Ro1:1). There is no middle state of personal independence; forwhich we were never made, and to which we have no claim. When wewould not that God should reign over us, we were in righteousjudgment “sold under Sin”; now being through grace “madefree from Sin,” it is only to become “servants toRighteousness,” which is our true freedom.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Being then made free from sin,…. Not from a sinful nature; nor from a corrupt heart; nor from vain thoughts; nor from sinful words; nor from sinful actions altogether; but from the damning power of sin: sin brought all men under a sentence of condemnation; Christ has bore the execution of this sentence in himself for his people; hence, as considered in him, they are free from it; and such as are born again have passed from death to life, and shall never enter into condemnation: likewise, such persons are free from the guilt of sin; men are in a legal sense arraigned for sin, accused of it, and being convicted, are pronounced guilty before God; and awakened souls have a sense of it in themselves; but the blood of Christ sprinkled on their consciences frees them from it; though fresh sins committed bring fresh guilt, which requires the continual application of the blood of Jesus for pardon and cleansing: but what is chiefly designed here is freedom from the servitude of sin, as appears from the context. Now God’s elect are not released voluntarily by their former masters; nor is their freedom obtained by their own power and will; but it is of God, Father, Son, and Spirit; and the Gospel is generally the means of it, and happy are those persons who are blessed with it! They are rid of a bad master; are freed from the worst of bondage; will be no more servants, as before; are delivered from the power, and out of the kingdom of darkness; are heirs of heaven, and shall enjoy the glorious liberty of the children of God: and for the time present are
become the servants of righteousness; servants to God, whose Gospel they obey; servants to Christ, whose righteousness they submit to; and servants to the law of righteousness, as held forth by Christ; they give up themselves to a course and life of righteousness, in which there are true honour, peace, and pleasure.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Ye became servants of righteousness ( ). First aorist passive indicative of , to enslave. “Ye were made slaves to righteousness.” You have simply changed masters, no longer slaves of sin (set free from that tyrant), but ye are slaves of righteousness. There is no middle ground, no “no man’s land” in this war.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1 ) “Being then made free from sin,” (eleutherothentes de apo tes hamartias) “And having been freed (set free or liberated) from sin;” When, at what point of obedience to God is one said to be made free, liberated. Emancipated from sin-shackles? The answer is when he believes with the heart into (eis) righteousness –not when he is baptized, etc., Rom 10:10; Act 10:43.
2) “Ye became the servants of righteousness,” (edoulothete te dikaiosune) “Ye became (were) enslaved to righteousness”; or by right of redemption, the ransom purchase of Christ from sin, ye became his property, belonging to him, 1Co 6:19-20; Mar 9:41 b; 1Co 3:21-23.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
18. And having been made free from sin, etc. The meaning is, “It is unreasonable that any one, after having been made free, should continue in a state of bondage; for he ought to maintain the freedom which he has received: it is not then befitting, that you should be brought again under the dominion of sin, from which you have been set at liberty by Christ.” It is an argument derived from the efficient cause; another also follows, taken from the final cause, Ye have been liberated from the bondage of sin, that ye might pass into the kingdom of righteousness; it is hence right that you should wholly turn away from sin, and turn your minds wholly to righteousness, into the service of which you have been transferred.”
It must be observed, that no one can be a servant to righteousness except he is first liberated by the power and kindness of God from the tyranny of sin. So Christ himself testifies,
“
If the Son shall free you, you shall be free indeed.” (Joh 8:36.)
What are then our preparations by the power of free will, since the commencement of what is good proceeds from this manumission, which the grace of God alone effects?
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(18) Ye became the servants.Comp. Whose service is perfect freedom, adopted from St. Augustine.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Rom 6:18 . “But, freed from sin, ye have become servants of righteousness.” This is not to be regarded as the conclusion from the two premisses, Rom 6:16-17 (Rckert, Reiche), because is not used, and because substantially the same thought was already contained in Rom 6:17 . Paul rather expresses once more the happy change in his readers just described; and does so in a thoughtfully chosen antithetical form, no longer however dependent on , but independent and thus more emphatic (hence a colon is, with Lachmann, to be inserted before .). But he leaves the reader to draw for himself the conclusion , namely: this is therefore fully justified.
The is the autem of continuation; the transition, however, is not from activity ( ) to passiveness (Hofmann, comp Th. Schott), for the latter is already given in , but from the state of the case expressed in Rom 6:17 to a striking specification, in a more precise form , of the revolution in the relation of service, which was accomplished in them.
. .] that is, from the relation of slavery to it.
. .] ye have been placed in the slave-relation to righteousness ; a representation of the complete dependence on the moral necessity of being righteous, implied in conversion. On the dative comp 1Co 9:19 ; Tit 2:3 ; 2Pe 2:19 . This slavery, where the is the mistress, is consequently the true moral freedom ( , Plat. Alc. I. p. 135 C.). Comp the similar paradox in 1Co 7:22 .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. (19) 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. (20) For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. (21) What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. (22) But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (23) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Reader! when the Apostle saith, as in the opening of these verses: Being made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness; we must be cautious not to carry the sense too far. You and I are not wholly free from sin. So far from it, that it is my constant sorrow, that I am so much the subject of sin. I know, I feel, I carry about with me, a body of sin and death. In thoughts, and words, and actions, how often do I feel the working of sin in my nature. And, So little am I become a servant of righteousness, that my daily complaint at the close of the day is, how little have I lived to the divine glory. But, the Apostle doth not mean, by the freedom from sin in the one instance, or the servant of righteousness in the other, a state of perfect holiness before God. All that is intended from the words of the Apostle is, that by virtue of redemption in Christ, his people are delivered from the condemning power of sin, and are brought into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. And as such, they have their fruit, that is, the blessed effects of Christ’s redemption unto holiness, even the holiness of God our Savior, theirs by virtue of union and communion with Him; and the end everlasting life. Grace here, a sure earnest of glory hereafter.
And, I admire the very striking manner in which the Apostle sums up the Chapter, when drawing the nice, but proper distinction between sin, in its final consequences; and righteousness in Christ, as the believer’s portion forever. The Apostle calls the end of sin wages, and declares those wages to be death. For, as a servant covenants with his master, to receive wages at the end of his labor: So, the sinner as truly covenants to receive death, which is his just wages, when at death he stands forth at the judgment seat of Christ. But, the Apostle varies the expression with respect to the Lord’s faithful servants, when describing the eternal life, which will succeed to the present life. He doth not call it wages, but a gift: because it is not earned, but given. Not the demand of merit, but the blessing of grace; the Lord’s free, voluntary, and gracious act, as his gift. The gift of God, which is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Ver. 18. Versus est planus, saith Pareus.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
18. .] And (this verse is closely united with the foregoing; Rckert, Reiche, and Meyer think that it might be stated as a syllogistic conclusion, of which the dilemma is the major, and the fact of Rom 6:17 the minor) being freed from sin, ye were enslaved (see on next verse) to righteousness.
Rom 6:18 . There is no absolute independence for man; our nature requires us to serve some master.
Being . . . free = Having, then, been set free. Greek. eleutheroo. Only here, Rom 6:22; Rom 8:2, Rom 8:21. Joh 8:32, Joh 8:36. Gal 1:5, Gal 1:1.
became the servants = were made bond-servants or enslaved.
18. .] And (this verse is closely united with the foregoing; Rckert, Reiche, and Meyer think that it might be stated as a syllogistic conclusion, of which the dilemma is the major, and the fact of Rom 6:17 the minor) being freed from sin, ye were enslaved (see on next verse) to righteousness.
Rom 6:18. , being made free) It will be of use to have this connected view of the plan of the apostle, up to the point which it has now reached:-
From this view, it is evident why Paul, in proving justification by faith alone, against those who are in doubt or error, makes frequent mention of the gift of the Holy Spirit, and of the other things, which follow as the consequences of justification. As righteousness flows from faith; adoption [sonship] accompanies righteousness; the gift of the Holy Spirit, with the cry, Abba, Father, and with newness of life, follows upon adoption; but faith and righteousness are not in themselves clearly perceived by sense; whereas the gift of the Holy Ghost produces very conspicuous and prominent [standing out palpable] effects; comp. [God] bare them witness [giving them the Holy Ghost] Act 15:8. Farther, the surpassing excellence of these fruits, most effectually proves the worthlessness of mens works.
Rom 6:18
Rom 6:18
and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.-And being made free from sin and the rule of sin, by the form of teaching into which they were cast, by being buried with Christ in baptism and raised again in newness of life, they had become the servants of righteousness. They were by their burial, out of self into death with Christ, and their resurrection to walk in a newness of life, freed from sin and the rule of sin, and became obligated to the life of righteousness in Christ.
sin
Sin. (See Scofield “Rom 3:23”).
made: Rom 6:14, Psa 116:16, Psa 119:32, Psa 119:45, Luk 1:74, Luk 1:75, Joh 8:32, Joh 8:36, 1Co 7:21, 1Co 7:22, Gal 5:1, 1Pe 2:16
servants: Rom 6:19, Rom 6:20, Rom 6:22, Isa 26:13, Isa 54:17
Reciprocal: Lev 25:10 – proclaim Lev 25:55 – my servants Deu 6:21 – General Deu 16:12 – General Deu 27:9 – this day Rom 8:2 – hath 1Co 9:27 – and Gal 4:26 – free Gal 5:13 – ye 1Th 2:13 – effectually
:18
Rom 6:18. This is the same in thought as verse 11.
Rom 6:18. And being made free, etc. This is not the conclusion from what precedes, but a continuation of Rom 6:17. The single act of deliverance and transformation is referred to.
Became servants, i.e., bondmen, personally and wholly belonging to this service. This bondage is real freedom. Compare the opposite thought in Rom 6:20.
Our apostle goes on to put the Romans in mind of their past state by nature, and of their present state by grace; they were once the servants of sin, but now free from sin, and made by Christ servants of righteousness: All believers are made free by Christ for service, not one free from serving; to be free to serve is infinitely better than to be free from service; such as are by Christ freed from sinful servitude, are best fitted for, and most obliged to spiritual service.
Learn hence, That such as are recovered from sin to God, should shew the reality of their change, by being as zealous in the ways of holiness, as before they were earnest in the ways of sin. Shall we not do as much for God as for sin and Satan! Is not he a better master, his work better service, and his wages a better reward?
Lord, shall we not with as much zeal and vigour serve thee, as ever we served our lusts, those imperious exactors of our time and strength? Oh, had we the faculties and powers of angels, yet would our service for thee fall infinitely short of our obligations to thee!
Observe, next, How the apostle doth not barely urge the necessity of serving Christ in our regenerate state, but does enforce the proportion which our service now ought to bear to the disservice formerly done in our carnal state: As ye have yielded your members servants to iniquity,; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness.
Observe lastly, The great dignation and gracious condescension of Christ, that he should accept those members of ours as instruments of his service, which have been employed in the devil’s service.
“Oh blessed Jesus! wilt thou come into that vile heart of mine, which was once the seat of Satan, where he has ruled, and every unclean lust been harboured? Oh holy Spirit! shall that body be thy temple to dwell in now, which has been so often defiled with lust and vomit heretofore? Shall that tongue ever praise him in heaven, which has blasphemed him by oaths and horrid imprecations here on earth!”
One would have expected, that Christ should rather have said, “Vile wretch? Satan has had the use and service of thy body, and all its members, from thy childhood and youth, unto this day; thy will has been his throne, thy memory his storehouse, and all thy members his tools and instruments to sin against me; thou didst indeed dedicate all these to my service and glory in thy baptism, but thou hast employed all these in Satan’s service for many years past: However, if now thou art willing to yield those very members unto righteousness and to holiness, which formerly were servants unto uncleanness, I will both accept them and reward thee for them.”
and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.
18. And having been made free from sin, you became slaves unto righteousness. The stupendous fact of your wonderful deliverance out of Satanic slavery, which means brutality here and damnation hereafter, and have been transformed into the slaves of God, which means the highest freedom in the universe, i. e., the very delectable and glorious liberty of God himself, is a grand source of thanksgiving to God. Hence the apostle opens this sentence with a shout of triumph, proceeding with a beautiful rehearsal of the glorious transformation, culminating in entire sanctification which really makes you the slave of righteousness, i. e., perfectly subservient to righteousness, having not the slightest affinity for unrighteousness.
The slavery of the readers to righteousness was therefore voluntary. It seems that because of his very nature man must be the slave of something. "Righteousness" here is the result of following Christian teaching, and it is the equivalent of godly living. It is righteous character and conduct.
Paul did not say that every believer takes advantage of his or her freedom from sin’s tyranny to become a slave of God. He said his readers had done so, and in this he rejoiced. Dedication to God is voluntary, not automatic for the Christian (cf. Rom 6:13; Rom 12:1). If a believer does not truly dedicate himself or herself to God, he or she will continue to practice sin to a greater extent than he will if he does present himself to God (Rom 6:16).
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)