Romans 6:1

I have started on my Greek exegesis of Romans 6:1-14 and by God's grace I plan to do it on a one-verse-in-one-day basis. If I am disciplined enough at it, I should complete it in 2 weeks.

τι I-ASN ουν CONJ
What then?
ερουμεν V-FAI-1P επιμενομεν V-PAI-1P τη T-DSF αμαρτια N-DSF
(should we) say we continue in (the) sin
.............................ινα CONJ η T-NSF χαρις N-NSF πλεοναση V-AAS-3S
.............................so that (the) grace might increase?

ερουμεν is a Future Active Indicative. It carries a deliberative future nuance. It asks a question that implies some doubt about the response. It is asked in the first person singular or plural and is generally either cognitive or volitional. In this case it carries the volitional sense in asking "should we?" rather than the cognitive "how will we?" (Wallace p.570)

πλεοναση is an Aorist Active Subjunctive with a deliberative rhetorical sense. The rhetorical question expects no verbal response, but is in fact a thinly disguised statement, though couched in such a way as to draw the listener into the text. In the speaker’s presentation, there is uncertainty about whether the listener will heed the implicit command. Unlike the interrogative indicative, it does not ask a question of fact, but of obligation. It is supremely a question of “oughtness”. (Wallace p.467)

This verse is a follow-up from what he has said in Rom 5:20, "Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more" (ESV). He is not asking a question of whether to increase in sin but whether it is morally acceptable to continue in sin, in which he has confirm it with a μη γενοιτο, God forbid!

This verse starts Paul's retort on those who would argue that they can and should sin because not only God's grace and forgiveness would cover it in the first place but as they sin, God's grace for them would increase. However much this sounds absurd but in small ways, do I do that? Do I justify my own sins comforting myself that it is okay since God is graceful and forgiving anyway? God forbid! God is love but God is also wrath. There are too many mentions of the wrath of God in just Revelations alone to think that God would let us go away with that.

Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, "Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God." ~ Rev 16:1 (ESV)

Maeghan