Romans 6:1-2

The Believer’s Freedom from Sin’s Domination

6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to remain in sin so that grace may increase? 6:2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Galatians 5:13

Practice Love

5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; ¹  only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, ²  but through love serve one another. ³ 

Titus 2:11-12

2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. ⁴  2:12 It trains us ⁵  to reject godless ways ⁶  and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Hebrews 12:15-16

12:15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up ⁷  and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled. 12:16 And see to it that no one becomes ⁸  an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. ⁹ 

Hebrews 12:1

The Lord’s Discipline

12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, ¹⁰  we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,

Hebrews 2:16

2:16 For surely his concern is not for angels, but he is concerned for Abraham’s descendants.

Hebrews 2:2

2:2 For if the message spoken through angels ¹¹  proved to be so firm that every violation ¹²  or disobedience received its just penalty,

Hebrews 2:10

2:10 For it was fitting for him, for whom and through whom all things exist, ¹³  in bringing many sons to glory, to make the pioneer ¹⁴  of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Hebrews 2:18

2:18 For since he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

¹ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:11.

² tn Grk “as an opportunity for the flesh”; BDAG 915 s.v. σάρξ 2.c.α states: “In Paul’s thought esp., all parts of the body constitute a totality known as σ. or flesh, which is dominated by sin to such a degree that wherever flesh is, all forms of sin are likew. present, and no good thing can live in the σάρξ…Gal 5:13, 24;…Opp. τὸ πνεῦμα…Gal 3:3; 5:16, 17ab; 6:8ab.”

³ tn It is possible that the verb δουλεύετε (douleuete) should be translated “serve one another in a humble manner” here, referring to the way in which slaves serve their masters (see L&N 35.27).

⁴ tn Grk “all men”; but ἀνθρώποις (anqrwpois) is generic here, referring to both men and women.

⁵ tn Grk “training us” (as a continuation of the previous clause). Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started at the beginning of v. 12 by translating the participle παιδεύουσα (paideuousa) as a finite verb and supplying the pronoun “it” as subject.

⁶ tn Grk “ungodliness.”

⁷ tn Grk “that there not be any root of bitterness,” but referring figuratively to a person who causes trouble (as in Deut 29:17 [LXX] from which this is quoted).

⁸ tn Grk “that there not be any,” continuing from v. 15.

⁹ sn An allusion to Gen 27:34-41.

¹⁰ tn Grk “having such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us.”

¹¹ sn The message spoken through angels refers to the OT law, which according to Jewish tradition was mediated to Moses through angels (cf. Deut 33:2; Ps 68:17-18; Acts 7:38, 53; Gal 3:19; and Jub. 1:27, 29; Josephus, Ant. 15.5.3 [15.136]).

¹² tn Grk “through angels became valid and every violation.”

¹³ tn Grk “for whom are all things and through whom are all things.”

¹⁴ sn The Greek word translated pioneer is used of a “prince” or leader, the representative head of a family. It also carries nuances of “trailblazer,” one who breaks through to new ground for those who follow him. It is used some thirty-five times in the Greek OT and four times in the NT, always of Christ (Acts 3:15; 5:31; Heb 2:10; 12:2).