Romans 6:23 kjv
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23 nkjv
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 niv
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 esv
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 nlt
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 3:23 | For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, | Universal sin |
| 1 Cor 15:56 | The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. | Sin as the source of death |
| Gen 2:17 | but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die." | Original prohibition and consequence |
| Gen 3:19 | By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” | Consequence of the Fall |
| Ezek 18:4 | For the wages of sin is death. | Old Testament confirmation |
| Gal 3:10 | For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” | Sin and curse |
| Gal 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. | Sowing and reaping sin |
| Rom 5:12 | Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— | Sin and death through Adam |
| Rom 5:17 | For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! | Contrast grace and sin |
| Rom 5:18 | Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. | Contrast justification and condemnation |
| Rom 6:2 | By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? | Died to sin |
| Rom 6:11 | In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. | Alive to God in Christ |
| Rom 6:22 | But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you bear is for holiness, and the end is eternal life. | Fruit of holiness |
| John 3:16 | “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. | God's gift of life |
| John 3:36 | Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him. | Believing in the Son |
| John 5:24 | “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. | Crossed over from death to life |
| John 8:12 | When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” | Light of life |
| 1 Tim 6:12 | Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you confessed your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. | Eternal life as a calling |
| 1 John 5:11 | And this is the testimony: God has]given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. | Life is in His Son |
| 1 John 5:12 | Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. | Possessing the Son |
| Rev 20:14 | Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. | Second death |
| Rev 21:4 | He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” | Absence of death in new creation |
| Ps 1:6 | For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. | Way of the wicked leads to ruin |
Romans 6 verses
Romans 6 23 Meaning
The wages earned through sin results in death, but God's free gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord. This verse highlights the stark contrast between the consequence of sin and the gift of salvation.
Romans 6 23 Context
Romans 6 delves into the implications of being united with Christ through baptism and faith. Paul is addressing a potential misunderstanding that if believers are dead to sin, they can continue living in it. He strongly refutes this, emphasizing that freedom from sin’s dominion means actively living a new life in righteousness. This specific verse, Romans 6:23, serves as a powerful concluding statement to this section, vividly illustrating the dire consequence of sin versus the incomparable gift of God. It emphasizes that the "wages" of sin are death, a payment earned, whereas eternal life is a "gift" freely given.
Romans 6 23 Word Analysis
For (γάρ - gar): A conjunction introducing a reason or explanation. Here, it explains why believers should not continue in sin.
the wages (ὀψώνιον - opsonion): This term originally referred to rations given to soldiers, later money paid to soldiers. It signifies payment earned through service or labor. In this context, it’s the remuneration received for services rendered in slavery to sin.
of sin (τῆς ἁμαρτίας - tēs hamartias): “Sin” refers to rebellion against God, falling short of His standard, or a state of being estranged from God. It is the active force and power that demands payment for its service.
is (τελευτὴ - teleutē): From τελευτάω (teleutaō), meaning "to end," "to finish," or "to bring to an end." Here it implies the outcome or the ultimate result. It’s the final destination.
death (θάνατος - thanatos): This refers to a comprehensive cessation of life and being in relationship with God. It includes spiritual separation from God, and ultimately, physical and eternal judgment (the second death).
but (δὲ - de): A contrasting conjunction. It introduces a stark opposition to the preceding statement.
the gift (τὸ χάρισμα - to charisma): A grace gift, something freely bestowed without any merit on the recipient's part. It's a supernatural endowment or provision from God.
of God (θεοῦ - theou): Emphasizes the divine origin of this gift, stemming from God's benevolent will and love.
is (ζωὴ αἰώνιος - zōē aiōnios): The phrase translates to "eternal life."
eternal life (ζωὴ αἰώνιος - zōē aiōnios): “Life” (ζωὴ - zōē) refers to the life that is characteristic of God, a quality of life, not merely duration. “Eternal” (αἰώνιος - aiōnios) indicates duration without beginning or end, timeless existence. It means life lived in God's presence, shared with God.
Group Analysis: The verse presents a profound dichotomy. "Wages of sin" implies an earned payment for servitude. No one earns sin, but because of Adam’s sin, humanity is enslaved and their 'work' (existence in this fallen state) leads to an earned wage of death. The contrast is stark: "gift of God" signifies that eternal life is unearned, a spontaneous bestowal from a benevolent Giver. This emphasizes that salvation is not a reward for our efforts, but a response to God's grace. The parallelism emphasizes that sin has a natural and inevitable outcome, while God’s provision is a gracious override of that natural order.
Romans 6 23 Bonus Section
The concept of "wages" (ὀψώνιον - opsonion) paid for sin, when considered in the broader biblical narrative, also resonates with the idea of spiritual servitude. Sin binds individuals like a slave master, and the "payment" is the spiritual death that enslaves them further. The contrast with a "gift" (χάρισμα - charisma) is crucial, as it undermines any notion of earning salvation through works or religious observance. God's gift is offered freely and can only be received by faith in Jesus Christ. The parallel structure of the verse is a rhetorical masterstroke, leaving no room for doubt regarding the certainty of sin's consequence and the certainty of life offered through God's grace in Christ.
Romans 6 23 Commentary
This verse is a cornerstone of the Christian doctrine of salvation, presenting the unvarnished truth about the consequence of sin and the provision of God’s grace. It powerfully states that every sin, without exception, carries the full penalty of death—not just physical death, but eternal separation from God. This death is depicted as "wages," indicating it’s the just recompense for service to sin, the result of our willful disobedience. However, Paul immediately pivots to God’s immense generosity. Eternal life is not earned, not a result of our good deeds, but a free "gift" from God. This gift is intimately linked to Jesus Christ, His sacrifice, and the new life He offers. It calls believers to recognize this contrast and live in light of it, acknowledging that their past allegiance to sin has ended and their new allegiance is to God, producing the fruit of righteousness unto eternal life.