Bible Strands
Romans 6:17
But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul to the Roman church, mid-argument against the claim that grace licenses continued sin (6:1–2). This verse is his pivot: he shifts from hypothetical to the concrete fact of their conversion.
The words — douloi (δοῦλοι), "slaves," is the load-bearing noun; it appears in v.16 for both "slaves to sin" and "slaves to righteousness," making the change one of master, not of status.
The thread — 2 Timothy 1:13 repeats the typos ("form/pattern") language for teaching, and 2 Corinthians 2:14 echoes the charis tō theō ("thanks be to God") formula. 1 Peter 2:9 restates the same identity shift—bondage to a chosen people—from the perspective of the new covenant community.
Why it lands — The verse names a specific, verifiable transition: you obeyed a particular body of teaching, and that obedience is what changed your master. It asks the reader to identify what "form of teaching" they have actually committed to and whether their obedience is wholehearted or merely nominal.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Cross-references
- 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- 2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.
- 2 Timothy 1:13 Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.
- Romans 16:26 but now revealed and made known through the writings of the prophets by the command of the eternal God, in order to lead all nations to the obedience that comes from faith—
- Ephesians 2:5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
- 3 John 1:3 For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk.
- Acts 11:18 When they heard this, they had no further objections, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”
- Romans 15:18 I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,
- Philemon 1:4 I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers,