Romans 6:2
What does Romans 6:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 6:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 6:2 means
Paul’s immediate answer is emphatic: absolutely not. The key reason follows—believers have “died to sin.” This does not mean Christians are now incapable of committing sins, but that sin’s former rule and claim over them has been broken. Death ends a relationship; to be “dead to sin” is to be separated from its lordship and condemned status. Therefore, continuing to live under sin’s control would contradict who believers now are in Christ. The verse appeals to identity before conduct: if we have truly died to sin with Christ, it is unthinkable to remain where we once were. New life must replace old bondage, and Paul will now explain how that death occurred.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?
KJV
King James Version · 1611God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949In no way. How may we, who are dead to sin, be living in it any longer?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862let it not be! we who died to the sin--how shall we still live in it?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752God forbid! For we that are dead to sin, how shall we live any longer therein?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Far be the thought. We who have died to sin, how shall we still live in it?
Context
Verse 2 rejects the proposal of verse 1 and introduces the main thesis of the chapter: union with Christ means death to sin’s dominion. The flow now turns to the foundational event that accomplished this—our participation in Christ’s death and resurrection, signified in baptism (verses 3–5). Paul will unpack how this union frees from slavery to sin (6–7) and secures new life (8–10), then call believers to reckon and present themselves accordingly (11–13).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 39:9
he is not greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
- Psalms 119:104
Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way. נ NUN.
- 1 Peter 1:14
as children of obedience, not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in the time of your ignorance:
- Galatians 2:19
For I through the law died unto the law, that I might live unto God.
- Romans 7:4
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.
- Colossians 3:3
For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
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