Romans 6:20

20 For when you were the bondservants of sin, you were under no sort of subjection to Righteousness.

Romans 6:20 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 6:20

For when ye were the servants of sin
This is an argument used, or a reason given, why regenerate persons should be diligent in the service of righteousness; because when they were employed in the drudgery of sin, they

were free from righteousness;
they had no righteousness, nor were they desirous of any; yea, averse to it, threw off the yoke of the law of righteousness, and lived in a very unrighteous manner: hence may be observed what is the free will of man in an unregenerate state; not free to, but "from" righteousness; free enough to evil, but from all that is good; and also what obligation lies upon believers, who are delivered from the bondage of corruption, and the servitude of sin, to a life and service of righteousness; inasmuch as they were before free from it, and unconcerned about it, but are now made by the grace of God free to it, they ought therefore cheerfully to pursue it, and neglect no opportunity of performing it.

Romans 6:20 In-Context

18 You were set free from the tyranny of Sin, and became the bondservants of Righteousness--

19 your human infirmity leads me to employ these familiar figures--and just as you once surrendered your faculties into bondage to Impurity and ever-increasing disregard of Law, so you must now surrender them into bondage to Righteousness ever advancing towards perfect holiness.

20 For when you were the bondservants of sin, you were under no sort of subjection to Righteousness.

21 At that time, then, what benefit did you get from conduct which you now regard with shame? Why, such things finally result in death.

22 But now that you have been set free from the tyranny of Sin, and have become the bondservants of God, you have your reward in being made holy, and you have the Life of the Ages as the final result.