Romans 6:6
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse emphasizes that the "body of sin" – not our physical body itself, but sin's power operating through our earthly existence – is rendered powerless. This "destruction" isn't just about stopping individual sinful acts, but about dismantling sin's authority over us so we're no longer enslaved.
Paul is explaining how believers are set free from sin's dominion, building on the idea that baptism signifies a union with Christ's death and resurrection. This "old self" represents everything we were before Christ, characterized by sin. The goal of this crucifixion is to neutralize sin's power so believers can live a new life dedicated to God.
Paul talks about our 'old self' being crucified. What exactly is this 'old man' and how is he connected to us?
The 'Old Man' is Our Pre-Christ Identity
When Paul mentions the "old man" (or "old self"), he's not talking about a different person living inside you. Instead, he's referring to your entire identity and way of life before you were united with Christ. It's like looking at a before-and-after picture.
Crucially, when Christ died, this old way of being died with Him, ideally and ideally. It's a foundational concept for understanding Christian freedom.
Paul doesn't just say our old self 'died,' he says it was 'crucified.' Why this specific, brutal imagery?
Crucifixion Means Finality and Shame
The word "crucified" is packed with meaning, especially in the context of Christ's death.
Understand the original words
palaios anthropos · Greek Noun phrase
Referring to the person as he was before conversion, dominated by Adam's fallen nature, which was judicially terminated at the cross.
synestaurōthē · Greek Verb
To execute by fastening to a cross; in a theological sense, it signifies the identification of the believer with Christ's death, resulting in the breaking of the power of the sinful nature.
sōma tēs hamartias · Greek Noun phrase
The physical body as the instrument through which sin operates in a fallen world; it requires the liberating work of Christ to be rendered powerless in its rebellion against God.
douleuein · Greek Verb
This passage speaks of a personal crucifixion with Christ, where Paul declares 'I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.' This echoes the Romans 6:6 idea that our old self is identified with Christ's death.
Colossians 2:11Here, believers are described as having been 'circumcised with a circumcision not made by hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ.' This connects the 'body of sin' in Romans 6:6 to the idea of a spiritual 'putting off' or destruction tied to Christ's work.
Ephesians 4:22This verse instructs believers to 'put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires.' This directly links to the concept of the 'old man' being crucified and 'destroyed' as mentioned in Romans 6:6.
Colossians 3:9Similar to Ephesians 4:22, this passage urges believers to 'put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.' This reinforces the idea of a past 'old self' that is put away, aligning with the crucifixion described in Romans.
Romans 8:13bengelRomans 6:6: "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."
Romans 6:6 . Ἄνθρωπος , man ) The abstract for the concrete, as in ch. Romans 7:22 , and in many other places.— ἵνα — τοῦ μηκέτι ) The particles should be carefully noticed; as also the three synonymous nouns, and the verbs added to them.— καταργηθῇ , may be destroyed ) may be stripped of its dominion [ Romans 6:14 ].— τὸ σῶμα τῆς ἁμαρτίας , the b…
clarkeRomans 6:6: "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."
Our old man is crucified with him - This seems to be a farther extension of the same metaphor. When a seed is planted in the earth, it appears as if the whole body of it perished. All seeds, as they are commonly termed, are composed of two parts; the germ, which contains the rudiments of the future plant; and the lobes, or body of the seed, which…
The verse emphasizes that the "body of sin" – not our physical body itself, but sin's power operating through our earthly existence – is rendered powerless. This "destruction" isn't just about stopping individual sinful acts, but about dismantling sin's authority over us so we're no longer enslaved.
Paul is explaining how believers are set free from sin's dominion, building on the idea that baptism signifies a union with Christ's death and resurrection. This "old self" represents everything we were before Christ, characterized by sin. The goal of this crucifixion is to neutralize sin's power so believers can live a new life dedicated to God.
Paul is explaining how believers are set free from sin's dominion, building on the idea that baptism signifies a union with Christ's death and resurrection. This "old self" represents everything we were before Christ, characterized by sin. The goal of this crucifixion is to neutralize sin's power so believers can live a new life dedicated to God.
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The intensity of the imagery highlights the profound and irreversible nature of the change that occurs when we are united with Christ.
The ultimate goal of this crucifixion? To stop being slaves. What does this freedom truly look like?
From Enslavement to Service
The core purpose of our "old self" being crucified with Christ is to break the chains of enslavement to sin.
This liberation is the practical outworking of our union with Christ's death, enabling us to live a life pleasing to Him.
A state of bondage where one is under the controlling authority of sin, unable to free oneself without divine intervention through Christ.
This verse states, 'For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.' This illuminates the 'destruction' of the 'body of sin' by showing the ongoing, Spirit-empowered process of mortifying sinful deeds that results from our union with Christ.
"We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin." — The verse emphasizes that the "body of sin" – not our physical body itself, but sin's power operating through our earthly existence – is rendered powerless. This "destruction" isn't just about stoppi…
