Romans 6:17 (ASV)

Passage

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;

Nearby Context

Romans 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? God forbid.

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves [as] servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Romans 6:17 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;

Romans 6:18 and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.

Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye presented your members [as] servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members [as] servants to righteousness unto sanctification.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "thanks", "whereas", "servants", "became", "obedient", "heart", "form", and "teaching". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "thanks" and "whereas", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "Know ye not that to whom ye..." into verse 18's "and being made free from sin ye...", so "thanks" and "whereas" belong inside that flow. In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "thanks" and "whereas" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.