Romans 6:1
What does Romans 6:1 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 6:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 6:1 means
Paul poses a sharp question to expose a wrong conclusion drawn from the abundance of grace he has just celebrated: if grace increases where sin is found, should believers keep on sinning to give grace more room to work? The verse does not approve the idea; it surfaces a potential abuse of the gospel. Grace is not a pretext for moral carelessness. By raising the question, Paul forces the reader to face whether salvation by grace through faith weakens moral duty. He is preparing to show that the very nature of Christian salvation contradicts ongoing, willful slavery to sin. The gospel’s generosity is never a license to rebel but a power to be transformed.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
KJV
King James Version · 1611What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949What may we say, then? are we to go on in sin so that there may be more grace?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862What, then, shall we say? shall we continue in the sin that the grace may abound?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752What shall we say, then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890What then shall we say? Should we continue in sin that grace may abound?
Context
This opening question looks back to the end of chapter 5, where grace superabounded over sin. A careless listener might think that more sin means more grace. Verse 1 gives voice to that mistaken inference so Paul can refute it. In the verses that follow (2–11), he will answer with the believer’s union with Christ in his death and resurrection. Then he will move to imperatives (12–14) and a slavery metaphor (15–23) to show grace produces obedience.
v.1This passage
v.2God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 5:20
And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:
- Romans 3:5
But if our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.)
- Romans 3:31
Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law.
- 2 Peter 2:18
For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;
- 1 Peter 2:16
as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
- Jude 1:4
For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
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