What Does Romans 6:23 Mean?
Romans 6:23 meaning explained verse-by-verse: "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord...." Original language, context & application.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
— Romans 6:23 (KJV)
The Plain Meaning
Paul contrasts what we earn (death through sin) with what God freely gives (eternal life through Christ). Salvation cannot be earned; it must be received.
Word Study
'Opsōnion' means wages, pay, or compensation—originally a soldier's rations. Sin is personified as an employer who pays its workers with death. This is contrasted with 'charisma' (free gift)—God gives what cannot be earned. The wordplay is devastatingly clear.
Living It Out
Sin pays a wage we don't want; God gives a gift we don't deserve. Eternal life isn't earned by good works but received through faith in Christ.
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