¹⁷ But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin,^(A) you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were transferred^[a] to,^{(B) 18} and having been liberated from sin,^(C) you became enslaved to righteousness. ¹⁹ I am using a human analogy^[b](D) because of the weakness of your flesh.^[c] For just as you offered the parts^[d] of yourselves as slaves to moral impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification. ²⁰ For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from allegiance to righteousness.^[e](E)

¹⁹ They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them.^(A)