Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are: According to Protestant theologian Heinrich Meyer, chapter 6 shows how the righteousness of God, "so far from furthering immorality, on the contrary excludes the latter from the Christian state, and for the first time rightly establishes, promotes, and quickens true morality".

[5] From the beginning of this chapter, Paul addresses the "plausible objection"[6] that Christians should "continue in sin, that grace may abound" (Romans 6:1).

[7] In Romans 3:8,[8] Paul had referred to slanderous reports to the effect that believers taught "Let us do evil that good may come".

[5][13] Paul replies that believers should "certainly not (μὴ γένοιτο, mē genoito) continue in sin, that grace may abound" (Romans 6:2).

[15] The Pulpit Commentary describes the phrase as "Paul's usual way of rejecting an idea indignantly".