“Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”
Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to God as instruments of righteousness. — Paristēmi ("present/offer") is the counterpart to baptismal surrender; the body's μέλη (melē, "members/limbs") are not morally neutral but must be enlisted actively for righteousness. The σκεῦος (skeuos, "instrument/vessel") language suggests the body is a tool redirected toward God through voluntary self-offering.
Church Fathers on Romans 6:13
“Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin...but as instruments of righteousness.” The body then is indifferent between vice and virtue, as also instruments (or arms) are. But either effect is wrought by him that uses it. As if a soldier fighting in his country's behalf, and a robber who was arming against the inhabitants, had the same weapons for defense. For the fault is not laid to the suit of armor, but to those that use it to an ill end.…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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