Romans 6:10-11
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The phrase "he died to sin, once for all" highlights that Christ's death wasn't just for our sins, but it decisively ended sin's claim and power over Him. This singular, unrepeatable death, contrasted with His eternal life "to God," establishes a finished work that sets us free to live a new, unending life dedicated to God.
For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is contrasting Christ's decisive death with His eternal life, emphasizing that Christ's death effectively dealt with sin's power once and for all. This is part of his argument that believers, united with Christ in His death and resurrection, should no longer live as slaves to sin. His resurrection life, now lived in continuous communion with God, serves as the model for our new existence.
Why does Paul emphasize that Jesus 'died to sin' and that it happened 'once for all'? It's not just about Jesus' suffering, but about a decisive victory.
Jesus' death wasn't just a tragic event; it was a deliberate and complete act that dealt with sin's power and penalty.
The Final Sacrifice
When Jesus died, He died 'unto sin.' This means His death was the ultimate sacrifice, addressing and canceling the claims sin had over humanity. He was never sinful Himself, but He willingly bore the weight of our sin.
'Once for All'
The phrase 'once for all' (often translated from a Greek word meaning 'one time, and completely') highlights the finality and sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice. Unlike the repeated sacrifices in the Old Testament, Jesus' death is a singular, unrepeatable event that permanently removes sin's power and offers salvation. His death wasn't a temporary fix; it was the definitive solution.
If Jesus' death decisively dealt with sin, what's the significance of His ongoing life? It's not just about His existence, but His purpose.
Jesus’ resurrection and current life are not passive states but active ministries dedicated entirely to God. This reality has profound implications for how believers are called to live.
Living for God's Glory
Having conquered sin and death, Jesus now 'lives to God.' This means His resurrected life is fully oriented toward God’s purposes and glory. He acts for God, with God’s power, and in accordance with God’s will. His eternal life is a life of perfect communion and service to the Father.
Ask a follow-up
Our Imitation
Paul uses Christ’s life as a model. Just as Jesus’ death canceled sin’s dominion over Him, His life is now dedicated to God. Similarly, because we are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, our new life, free from sin's ultimate condemnation, should also be lived for God’s glory.
Understand the original words
ephapax · Greek Adverb
A standard expression in biblical theology denoting an act that occurs one time in history and possesses permanent, irreversible efficacy, requiring no repetition.
logizomai · Greek Verb
To reckon, count, or logically conclude something as true based on a reality or fact. In a theological sense, it is the deliberate application of faith to the truth of one's position in Christ.
hamartia · Greek Noun
In this context, referring to the power and principle of sin that remains in fallen humanity. It denotes a state of separation from God and active rebellion against His will.
Christos Iēsous · Greek Noun
The promised Messiah, the Son of God. It signifies the believer's union with Him; because He died and rose, the believer shares in that reality.
This passage directly uses the same Greek word for 'once for all' to emphasize the unique and unrepeatable nature of Christ's sacrificial death, mirroring Romans 6:10's point about his death's finality.
1 Peter 3:18It states that Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, highlighting the purpose of His death as atonement, which is implicitly connected to His death 'to sin' in Romans 6:10.
Colossians 2:13-14This passage speaks of being made alive with Christ and having our sins forgiven, paralleling the idea in Romans 6:10 that Christ's death and life have power over sin and lead to life with God.
Romans 6:4It connects our being raised with Christ to walking in newness of life, which directly supports the implication in Romans 6:10 that Christ's life to God is the model for our new life free from sin's dominion.
cambridgeRomans 6:10: "For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God."
10 . in that he died ] Lit. that which He died ; His dying, in all that it involved. So below, that which He liveth . unto sin ] i.e., as the previous argument shewed, “with reference to the claim of sin;” to meet and cancel it; and therefore so as now to be out of reach of its doom. once ] once for all , “once and for ever.” The word here is not necessary to the argument, but it enforces, by c…
pulpitRomans 6:10: "For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God."
Verse 10. - For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. "Died unto sin" certainly does not mean here, as some have taken it, died by reason of sin, or to atone for sin, but has the sense, elsewhere obvious in this chapter, of ἀποθνήσκειν, followed by a dative, which was explained under ver. 2. Christ was, indeed, never subject to sin, or himself infect…
The phrase "he died to sin, once for all" highlights that Christ's death wasn't just for our sins, but it decisively ended sin's claim and power over Him. This singular, unrepeatable death, contrasted with His eternal life "to God," establishes a finished work that sets us free to live a new, unending life dedicated to God.
Paul is contrasting Christ's decisive death with His eternal life, emphasizing that Christ's death effectively dealt with sin's power once and for all. This is part of his argument that believers, united with Christ in His death and resurrection, should no longer live as slaves to sin. His resurrection life, now lived in continuous communion with God, serves as the model for our new existence.
Paul is contrasting Christ's decisive death with His eternal life, emphasizing that Christ's death effectively dealt with sin's power once and for all. This is part of his argument that believers, united with Christ in His death and resurrection, should no longer live as slaves to sin. His resurrection life, now lived in continuous communion with God, serves as the model for our new existence.
"For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." — The phrase "he died to sin, once for all" highlights that Christ's death wasn't just for our sins, but it decisively ended sin's claim and power over Him. This singular, unrepeatable death, contras…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
