The New Testament letter to the Romans contains the phrase “the wages of sin is death.”
The wording appears in Romans 6:23, which contrasts the consequence of sin with God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. The verse forms part of Paul’s discussion of slavery to sin, freedom from sin, and the new life associated with righteousness.
The phrase is often quoted by itself, but its meaning depends on the contrast in the full verse. “Wages” suggests what sin earns, while eternal life is described not as an earned payment but as a gift from God. This distinction is central to the verse’s structure.
Romans is traditionally attributed to Paul and was written to Christians in Rome. It is one of Paul’s longest and most influential letters, presenting a sustained theological argument about sin, faith, law, salvation, and life in Christ.