In Greek this verse begins with a participial phrase which is equivalent to a subordinate clause (see Revised Standard Version “having been set free from sin”), but the Good News Translation makes this into a coordinate clause: you were set free from sin.

You were set free from sin may be translated: “you were released from the power of sin” or “God set you free from the power of sin.” Became the slaves of righteousness may be translated as “became slaves to do what is right.” However, such an expression can be badly misunderstood, and it may be appropriate to introduce God at this point in parallelism with verse 22 (namely, slaves of God) and therefore read: “became the slaves of God in order to do what is right.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .