Romans 6:17 (GNV)

Passage

But God be thanked, that ye haue beene the seruants of sinne, but yee haue obeyed from the heart vnto the forme of the doctrine, wherunto ye were deliuered.

Nearby Context

Romans 6:15 What then? shall we sinne, because we are not vnder the Law, but vnder grace? God forbid.

Romans 6:16 Knowe ye not, that to whomsoeuer yee giue your selues as seruats to obey, his seruants ye are to whom ye obey, whether it be of sinne vnto death, or of obedience vnto righteousnesse?

Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye haue beene the seruants of sinne, but yee haue obeyed from the heart vnto the forme of the doctrine, wherunto ye were deliuered.

Romans 6:18 Being then made free from sinne, yee are made the seruants of righteousnesse.

Romans 6:19 I speake after the maner of man, because of the infirmitie of your flesh: for as yee haue giuen your members seruants to vncleannes and to iniquitie, to commit iniquitie, so now giue your mebers seruants vnto righteousnesse in holinesse.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "thanked", "haue", "beene", "seruants", "sinne", "obeyed", and "heart". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "thanked" and "haue", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "Knowe ye not that to whomsoeuer yee..." into verse 18's "Being then made free from sinne yee...", so "thanked" and "haue" 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 "thanked" and "haue" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.