Romans 6:17 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul gives thanks that those once enslaved to sin have now obeyed wholeheartedly the teaching they received.
What Does Romans 6:17 Mean?
Paul breaks into thanksgiving. His readers 'were' the servants of sin, but that bondage is past; they have obeyed 'from the heart' the 'form of doctrine,' the pattern of teaching about Christ delivered to them. The change is genuine and inward, not mere outward conformity, and so it moves him to thank God rather than to praise them.
True obedience springs from the heart, not from grudging compliance, and it takes the shape of the gospel into which they were instructed. Paul credits God for the transformation, reminding us that a changed life is itself a gift to be thankful for. Where the heart has truly embraced the teaching of Christ, the whole person is being reshaped to match it.
Romans 6:17 in the Original Language
typos (τύπος), 'form' -- a pattern or mold that gives shape to what is pressed into it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 6:17
What does Romans 6:17 mean?
Paul gives thanks that those once enslaved to sin have now obeyed wholeheartedly the teaching they received.