Romans 6:3–6

Context

This passage appears at the opening of chapter 6 of Romans, the letter Paul wrote to the church in Rome. At the end of chapter 5, Paul states that "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20). In chapter 6 he raises an anticipated objection himself, "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?", and answers, "God forbid" (Romans 6:1–2). Verses 3–6 explain the reason for this answer by appeal to baptism. The argument is that baptized believers have been united with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection, and therefore can no longer live under the dominion of sin. On this basis, verse 11 adds the exhortation to reckon oneself "to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God."

Interpretation

Across denominations, this passage is commonly read as a core text for the doctrine of union with Christ, the teaching that believers are joined to Christ and participate in his death and resurrection. Traditions differ, however, on the role baptism plays in that union.

• Sacramental traditions: The Catholic and Orthodox churches, along with the Lutheran and Anglican traditions, regard baptism as a means through which God actually confers grace. They therefore read this passage as grounds for holding that union with Christ is truly effected in baptism.
• Reformed reading: The Reformed tradition, including Presbyterianism, understands baptism as a "sign and seal" of union, that is, an outward sign that displays and confirms it. Union itself is regarded as the work of the Holy Spirit through faith.
• Baptist reading: Baptists hold that immersion, in which a person is fully submerged in water and then raised, vividly portrays being "buried with him" and rising again. They therefore cite this passage in support of baptism by full immersion administered to those who have professed faith.
• Wesleyan-Holiness reading: Methodist and Holiness churches emphasize the language that "our old man is crucified" so that "henceforth we should not serve sin." They read this as grounds for sanctification, a life of growing holiness marked by real deliverance from the power of sin.
• Some interpreters understand the baptism in this passage not as the rite administered with water but as a spiritual event in which the Holy Spirit unites the believer with Christ.

Debates and Issues

• Mode of baptism: Baptists argue for immersion on the basis of the imagery of burial. Denominations that practice pouring or sprinkling hold that the focus of the text is not on mode but on the meaning of union. This question is also connected with baptism and immersion and the infant baptism debate.
• Translation: Some scholars note that the Greek verb (katargeō) rendered "destroyed" is closer in meaning to "render powerless" than to "abolish." Interpretations accordingly differ on whether the body of sin has ceased to exist or has lost its power to rule. In Korean, Baptist churches render the term for baptism as chimrye ("immersion") rather than serye.
• Meaning of the "old man": Some take it to be the old nature that remains within the believer, while others take it to be the whole of one's former existence as belonging to Adam.

In Korean Churches

This is one of the passages most frequently read at baptism and immersion services. The Revised Common Lectionary assigns Romans 6:3–11 as a reading for the Easter Vigil, so churches that follow it read this passage around Easter.

Related Passages

• Colossians 2:12
• Galatians 2:20
• Galatians 3:27
• 1 Corinthians 12:13
• Ephesians 4:22–24