AISBT ReaderUnited with him in death and resurrection: the old self crucified, freed from sin, alive to God (Romans 6:5–11)
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exegetical · Rom 6:5–11 · ✓ Approved

United with him in death and resurrection: the old self crucified, freed from sin, alive to God (Romans 6:5–11)

Uncertain σύμφυτοι (symphytoi, 6:5). This commentary follows the Greek note's lean to "united with, grown together" (BSB "united with Him"), from συμφύω. The alternative is "planted together," linking it with φυτεύω (note.language.Rom.6.3-Rom.6.5.baptizo-symphytoi; lex.G4854; lex.G3667).

Uncertain The futures ἐσόμεθα (6:5) and συζήσομεν (6:8). The lean is a real future, the bodily resurrection, because 6:8 speaks of what is believed and awaited and 8:11 promises it. The alternative is a logical future, new life now (6:4, 11).

Uncertain Whether "our old self was crucified with Him" (6:6, BSB) describes a definitive break or an ongoing process. The lean is definitive; the grounds and the alternative are given in note.exegetical.Rom.6.1-Rom.6.14.union-and-sanctification (lex.G3820; lex.G4957).

Uncertain The phrase "the body of sin" (6:6, BSB). The lean is the bodily person as ruled by sin: a genitive of definition, as in 7:24, with sin's reign placed "in your mortal body" (6:12, BSB). The alternative takes σῶμα as figurative, sin as a whole mass, as Calvin read it (src.calvin-romans-owen; note.language.Rom.6.6-Rom.6.7.palaios-anthropos-dedikaiotai; lex.G4983; lex.G2673).

Uncertain ὁ γὰρ ἀποθανὼν δεδικαίωται ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας (6:7). This commentary follows the Greek note's lean to forensic acquittal: δικαιόω is forensic elsewhere in Romans (3:24–28; 4:5; 5:1, 9), and δικαιόω ἀπό means acquittal in Acts 13:39 (lex.G1344). The alternative, which the BSB's "has been freed from sin" follows, is release from sin's power, since slavery to sin is the context (6:6) and 6:18, 22 speak of being set free from sin. On justification as a verdict, see note.exegetical.Rom.1.17.imputation, note.exegetical.Rom.3.21-Rom.3.26.righteousness-revealed, and note.exegetical.Rom.4.3-Rom.4.8.crediting-righteousness.

Says Since Christ was raised, "death no longer has dominion over Him" (6:9, BSB). "The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God" (6:10, BSB).

Implies ἐφάπαξ (ephapax): Christ's death is once for all and cannot be repeated (lex.G2178; note.exegetical.Rom.3.25.hilasterion-propitiation; compare Heb 7:27; 9:12).

Says Paul draws the conclusion for the readers (οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς): "dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (6:11, BSB). The order of εἶναι varies without change of sense (var.Rom.6.11.einai-order).

Uncertain The mood of λογίζεσθε (6:11). The lean is imperative, "count yourselves," because οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς draws a conclusion and the imperatives of 6:12–13 follow. The alternative is the indicative, which has the same form (note.language.Rom.6.8-Rom.6.14.ephapax-kyrieusei; lex.G3049).

Claims

  • UncertainWhether σύμφυτοι (6:5) means 'united with, grown together' (lean; συμφύω) or 'planted together' (alternative; φυτεύω).
  • UncertainWhether ἐσόμεθα (6:5) and συζήσομεν (6:8) are real futures, the bodily resurrection (lean; 6:8 'we believe'; 8:11), or logical futures, new life now (alternative; 6:4, 11).
  • UncertainWhether the crucifixion of the old self (6:6) is a definitive break (lean) or an ongoing process (alternative), as set out in the union-and-sanctification note.
  • UncertainWhether 'the body of sin' (6:6) is the bodily person ruled by sin (lean; genitive of definition; 7:24; 6:12) or sin as a whole mass (alternative; Calvin).
  • UncertainWhether δεδικαίωται ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας (6:7) is forensic acquittal (lean; δικαιόω in 3:24–28; 4:5; 5:1, 9; Acts 13:39) or release from sin's power (alternative; the slavery context; 6:18, 22).
  • SaysDeath no longer has dominion over the risen Christ, who died to sin once for all and lives to God (6:9–10).
  • ImpliesChrist's death (ἐφάπαξ, 6:10) is once for all and cannot be repeated (compare Heb 7:27; 9:12).
  • SaysBelievers, like Christ, are dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (6:11).
  • UncertainWhether λογίζεσθε (6:11) is imperative, 'count yourselves' (lean; οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς; the imperatives of 6:12–13), or indicative (alternative; same form).

Citations

  • BSB public domain Rom 6:5–12
  • SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Rom 6:5–11; 7:24; 8:11; Acts 13:39; Heb 7:27; 9:12
  • Calvin, Romans (Owen) public domain on Rom 6:6 (by reference; not quoted)
Sources Bible Scholarship & Tool CC BY 4.0 SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain Calvin, Romans (Owen) public domain

2026-10-30

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