Romans 6 · Verse 17

Romans 6:17

But 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.

Romans 6:17, King James Version

Romans 6:17 in other translations

BSB	But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed.
WEB	But thanks be to God that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were delivered.
ASV	But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered;
YLT	and thanks to God, that ye were servants of the sin, and--were obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which ye were delivered up;
DARBY	But thanks be to God, that ye were bondmen of sin, but have obeyed from the heart the form of teaching into which ye were instructed.
BBE	But praise be to God that though you were the servants of sin, you have now given yourselves freely to that form of teaching under which you were placed;
Webster	But 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.

What does Romans 6:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

17. But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of Sin--that is, that this is a state of things now past and gone. but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you--rather, "whereunto ye were delivered" (Margin), or cast, as in a mould. The idea is, that the teaching to which they had heartily yielded themselves had stamped its own impress upon them.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 17. But God be thanked. The argument in this verse is drawn from a direct appeal to the feelings of the Roman Christians themselves. From their experience Paul was able to draw a demonstration to his purpose, and this was with him a ground of gratitude, to God.

That ye were, etc. The sense of this passage is plain. The ground of the thanksgiving was not that they had been the slaves of sin; but it is, that notwithstanding this, or although they had been thus, yet that they were now obedient. To give thanks to God that men were sinners, would contradict the whole spirit of this argument, and of the Bible. But to give thanks that although men had been sinners, yet that now they had become obedient that is, that great sinners had become converted--is in entire accordance with the spirit of the Bible, and with propriety. The word although or whereas, understood here, expresses the sense, "But thanks unto God, that whereas ye were the servants of sin," etc. Christians should thank God that they themselves, though once great sinners, have become converted; and when others who are great sinners are converted, they should praise him.

The servants of sin. This is a strong expression implying that they had been in bondage to sin; that they had been completely its slaves.

From the heart. Not in external form only; but as a cordial, sincere, and entire service. No other obedience is genuine.

That form of doctrine. Greek, Type. Rom 5:14. The form or type of doctrine means that shape or model of instruction which was communicated. It does not differ materially from the doctrine itself, "you have obeyed that doctrine," etc. You have yielded obedience to the instructions, the rules, the tenor of the Christian revelation. The word doctrine does not refer to an abstract dogma, but means instruction, that which is taught. And the meaning of the whole expression is simply, that they had yielded a cheerful and hearty obedience to that which had been communicated to them by the teachers of the Christian religion. Comp. Rom 1:8.

Which was delivered you. Marg.," Whereto ye were delivered." This is a literal translation of the Greek; and the sense is simply in which you have been instructed.

(z) "form of" 2Ti 1:13 (1) "doctrine" or, "whereto you were delivered"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin - This verse should be read thus: But thanks be to God that, although ye were the servants of sin, nevertheless ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that was delivered unto you; or, that mould of teaching into which ye were cast. The apostle does not thank God that they were sinners; but that, although they were such, they had now received and obeyed the Gospel. The Hebrew phrase, Isa 12:1, is exactly the same as that of the apostle here: In that day thou shalt say, I will praise thee, for thou wast angry with me: that is, although thou wast angry with me, thou hast turned away thy wrath, etc. That form of doctrine - Τυπον διδαχης; here Christianity is represented under the notion of a mould, or die, into which they were cast, and from which they took the impression of its excellence. The figure upon this die is the image of God, righteousness and true holiness, which was stamped on their souls in believing the Gospel and receiving the Holy Ghost. The words εις ὁν παρεδοθητε τυπον refer to the melting of metal; which, when it is liquefied, is cast into the mould, that it may receive the impression that is sunk or cut in the mould; and therefore the words may be literally translated, into which mould of doctrine ye have been cast. They were melted down under the preaching of the word, and then were capable of receiving the stamp of its purity.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 6:16-20

Every man is the servant of the master to whose commands he yields himself; whether it be the sinful dispositions of his heart, in actions which lead to death, or the new and spiritual obedience implanted by regeneration. The apostle rejoiced now they obeyed from the heart the gospel, into which they were delivered as into a mould. As the same metal becomes a new vessel, when melted and recast in another mould, so…

Read the full comment on Romans 6:16-20 →

Romans 6:17 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

χάριςcharisThanks [be]G5485

δὲdehoweverG1161

τῷtō<the>G3588

θεῷtheōto GodG2316

ὅτιhotithatG3754

ἦτεēteyou wereG1510

δοῦλοιdouloislavesG1401

τῆςtēs<the>G3588

ἁμαρτίας,hamartiasof sin,G266

ὑπηκούσατεhupēkousateyou have become obedientG5219

δὲdenowG1161

ἐκekfrom [the]G1537

καρδίαςkardiasheartG2588

εἰςeistoG1519

ὃνhonwhichG3739

παρεδόθητεparedothēteyou were handed overG3860

τύπονtuponto the formG5179

διδαχῆς.¶didachēsof teaching.G1322

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 6:17

1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
2 Timothy 1:13
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 2:14
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
Ephesians 2:5-10
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: …
Romans 16:26
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
3 John 1:3
For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
Romans 1:8
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
Acts 11:18
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Romans 15:18
For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
Philemon 1:4
I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
2 John 1:4
I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
Hebrews 5:9
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

But.
1:8; 1Ch 29:12-16; Ezr 7:27; Mt 11:25,26; Ac 11:18; 28:15; 1Co 1:4
Eph 1:16; Php 1:3-5; Col 1:3,4; 1Th 1:2,3; 3:9; 2Th 1:3; 2Ti 1:3-5
Phm 1:4; 2Jo 1:4; 3Jo 1:3
that.
1Co 6:9-11; Eph 2:5-10; 1Ti 1:13-16; Tit 3:3-7; 1Pe 2:9; 4:2-5
but ye.
1:5; 2:8; 15:18; 16:26; Ps 18:44; *marg:
2Co 10:5,6; Heb 5:9; 11:8; 1Pe 1:22; 3:1; 4:17
that form.
2Ti 1:13
which was delivered you. Gr. whereto ye were delivered.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Romans 6:16
Know 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
But 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.
Romans 6:18
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Read all of Romans 6

Romans 6:17 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Empero gracias á Dios, que aunque fuisteis siervos del pecado, habéis obedecido de corazón á aquella forma de doctrina á la cual sois entregados;
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Or grâces à Dieu de ce que vous étiez esclaves du péché, mais de ce que ensuite vous avez obéi de cœur à la forme de doctrine dans laquelle vous avez été instruits.
German Elberfelder 1871	Gott aber sei Dank, daß ihr Sklaven der Sünde waret, aber von Herzen gehorsam geworden seid dem Bilde der Lehre, welchem ihr übergeben worden seid!
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Gratias autem Deo quod fuistis servi peccati, obedistis autem ex corde in eam formam doctrinæ, in quam traditi estis.