Dead to Sin, Alive to God (2 Corinthians 4:7–18)
1 WBS What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? BSB BSB: What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase?
2 WBS By no means: how shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? BSB BSB: Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?
3 WBS Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death? BSB BSB: Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
4 WBS Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. BSB BSB: We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.
5 WBS For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: BSB BSB: For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.
6 WBS Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him , that the body of sin may be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. BSB BSB: We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
7 WBS For he that is dead is freed from sin. BSB BSB: For anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
8 WBS Now if we are dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: BSB BSB: Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.
9 WBS Knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. BSB BSB: For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.
10 WBS For in that he died, he died to sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth to God. BSB BSB: The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.
11 WBS Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. BSB BSB: So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 WBS Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts of it. BSB BSB: Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.
13 WBS Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin: but yield yourselves to God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God: BSB BSB: Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.
14 WBS For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. BSB BSB: For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
The Wages of Sin 15 WBS What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? By no means. BSB BSB: What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not!
16 WBS Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants in obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? BSB BSB: Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?
17 WBS 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. BSB BSB: 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.
18 WBS Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. BSB BSB: You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19 WBS I speak after the manner of men, because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity, to (work ) iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness, to (work ) holiness. BSB BSB: I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.
20 WBS For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. BSB BSB: For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness.
21 WBS What fruit had ye then in those things of which ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. BSB BSB: What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.
22 WBS But now being made free from sin, and having become servants to God, ye have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life. BSB BSB: But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.
23 WBS For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. BSB BSB: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.