Romans 6:20 (ASV)

Passage

For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free in regard of righteousness.

Nearby Context

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.

Romans 6:20 For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free in regard of righteousness.

Romans 6:21 What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "servants", "free", "regard", and "righteousness". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "servants" and "free", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "I speak after the manner of men..." into verse 21's "What fruit then had ye at that...", so "servants" and "free" 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 "servants" and "free" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.