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For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Verse Takeaways
1
Earned Wages vs. A Free Gift
Commentators unanimously highlight the stark contrast Paul draws. The Greek word for "wages" refers to a soldier's earned pay. Death is not an arbitrary punishment but the just and deserved payment for serving sin. In contrast, eternal life is not earned through our good works. Paul intentionally calls it a "free gift" to emphasize that salvation is received entirely by God's grace, not as a reward we have merited.
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Romans
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8
18th Century
Presbyterian
For the wages of sin. The word translated here as wages (oqwnia)—properly denotes what is purchased to be eaten with bre…
Wages (οψωνια). Late Greek for wages of soldier, here of sin. See on Lu 3:14; 1 Corinthians 9:7; [Reference 2 Corinthi…
19th Century
Anglican
The gift of God.—The natural antithesis would be wages; but this would here be inappropriate, and therefore the Apostle s…
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In a fitting conclusion, Paul puts God (and his mastery) over against sin, gift over against wages, eternal life over against death—crowning it all…
16th Century
Protestant
For the wages of sin, etc. Some think that Paul, by comparing death to allowances of meat (obsoniis), disparagingly poin…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
For the wages of sin is death
By sin, is meant every sin, original sin, actual sin, every kind of sin, lesser and …
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The pleasure and profit of sin do not deserve to be called fruit. Sinners are merely ploughing iniquity, sowing vanity, and reaping the same. Shame…
13th Century
Catholic
After showing with a reason based on God’s grace that we should not continue in sin but should serve God, the Apostle shows the same thin…
