Romans 6:23 (KJV)

Passage

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Nearby Context

Romans 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those 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 holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "gift of God", "wages", "death", "eternal", "life", "through", "jesus", and "christ". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "gift of God" and "wages", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "But now being made free from sin...", giving immediate footing for "gift of God" and "wages". 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 "gift of God" and "wages" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.