OET interlinear ROM 6:19

6:19a

I am speaking in human terms: This clause refers to Paul using words that refer to things that are familiar to people’s experience. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I am using an example from everyday life (NIV11)

I am now using an illustration that people can easily understandKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

the weakness of your flesh: The BSB literally translates the Greek words here. Here the weakness of…flesh refers generally to people not always understanding things. The word your indicates that the believers in Rome also do not always understand things. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

you are weak in your natural selves (NIV)

you are still weak human beings (NJB)

according to ways of your bodies your understanding of things is weak

you still think as people of this world and not as mature believers

6:19b–d

Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness: The phrase Just as introduces something to be compared. Paul compared what the believers used to do (6:19b–c) to what they must now do (6:19d–e).

Some languages do not introduce the thing to be compared as Paul did here. For example:

you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so, in the same way, now offer them in slavery to righteousness

6:19b

The Greek of 6:19b begins with a word that is usually translated as “For” (as in the ESV). This word introduces the reason that Paul spoke in human terms because of the believers’ natural limitations (6:19a). He spoke that way because the believers had at an earlier time presented their members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness (6:19b–c). Some English versions omit this word, as the BSB does, allowing the context to imply that connection.

you used to offer: The word offer refers to giving something to someone for him to control. Believers used to allow themselves to be controlled by sin. See how you translated the word “present” in 6:13.

used to: Here this phrase refers to what believers did at one time before they believed in Jesus. It does not refer to only doing something one time.

the parts of your body: Here the word parts refers to parts of the human body and implies deeds done with those parts. See how you translated parts in 6:13.

in slavery to impurity: Here the word slavery is a figure of speech. It refers to believers allowing impurity to rule their lives, like a master rules the lives of his slaves. See how you translated the similar phrase in 6:17 (“slaves to sin”).

impurity: This word refers to deeds that are immoral to do. Here are other ways to translate this word:

uncleanness (KJV)

filthy practices

See how you translated this word in 1:24.

6:19c

and: Here this word indicates another thing to which the believers in Rome used to present their members as slaves.

to escalating wickedness: The Greek phrase is literally “to lawlessness into lawlessness.” It indicates that a person does things that ignore the law or disobeys it.Jewett (page 420) says it refers to “the general condition which results from such acts.” Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

to lawlessness for lawlessness (NABRE)

lawlessness for a life of lawlessnessCranfield (page 321).

to lawlessness resulting in anarchyJewett (page 413).

Some other English versions add the word escalating or “increasing” (NIV: “ever-increasing”). But it is not clear to this author how the Greek words support that meaning.Cranfield (page 327) and Morris speak against any meaning of “more” here.

6:19d

so: The Greek word here introduces what is compared to the words in 6:19b–c. In some languages the word or phrase of comparison is put here. For example:

In the same way (GNT)

now: Here this word means “at this time.” It refers to the time that Paul was writing, but can imply now for any reader of this verse.

righteousness: Here this word refers to deeds and thoughts that God says are right to do or think, as in 6:18.

6:19e

leading to: The Greek word is literally “to,” as in 6:19c. Living a life of righteousness causes the person to become more and more holy. For example:

for (NABRE)

for a life of

resulting in (NASB)

holiness: There are several ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as holiness. Here are the two main ways:

1. It means being made holy here. Every righteous deed makes believers more holy. For example:

   you will become holy (NLT) (RSV, NJB, NASB, NABRE, ESV, NET, NLT)

2. It means already having been made holy and remaining holy here. For example:

   holiness (NIV) (BSB, NIV, KJV, GW, REB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because Greek words with this particular Greek ending usually refer to a process of becoming something.See Morris (on TW), Cranfield (page 327), or Lenski (page 432).