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Selected Verse: Romans 6:4 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ro 6:4	Strong Concordance	Therefore [3767] we are buried with [4916] him [846] by [1223] baptism [908] into [1519] death [2288]: that [2443] like as [5618] Christ [5547] was raised up [1453] from [1537] the dead [3498] by [1223] the glory [1391] of the Father [3962], even so [3779] we [2249] also [2532] should walk [4043] in [1722] newness [2538] of life [2222].
	King James	Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Therefore we are--rather, "were" (it being a past act, completed at once). buried with him, by baptism into death--(The comma we have placed after "him" will show what the sense is. It is not, "By baptism we are buried with Him into death," which makes no sense at all; but, "By baptism with Him into death we are buried with Him"; in other words, "By the same baptism which publicly enters us into His death, we are made partakers of His burial also"). To leave a dead body unburied is represented, alike in heathen authors as in Scripture, as the greatest indignity (Rev 11:8-9). It was fitting, therefore, that Christ, after "dying for our sins according to the Scriptures," should "descend into the lower parts of the earth" (Eph 4:9). As this was the last and lowest step of His humiliation, so it was the honorable dissolution of His last link of connection with that life which He laid down for us; and we, in being "buried with Him by our baptism into His death," have by this public act severed our last link of connection with that whole sinful condition and life which Christ brought to an end in His death. that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father--that is, by such a forth-putting of the Father's power as was the effulgence of His whole glory. even so we also--as risen to a new life with Him. should walk in newness of life--But what is that "newness?" Surely if our old life, now dead and buried with Christ, was wholly sinful, the new, to which we rise with the risen Saviour, must be altogether a holy life; so that every time we go back to "those things whereof we are now ashamed" (Rom 6:21), we belie our resurrection with Christ to newness of life, and "forget that we have been purged from our old sins" (Pe2 1:9). (Whether the mode of baptism by immersion be alluded to in this verse, as a kind of symbolical burial and resurrection, does not seem to us of much consequence. Many interpreters think it is, and it may be so. But as it is not clear that baptism in apostolic times was exclusively by immersion [see on Act 2:41], so sprinkling and washing are indifferently used in the New Testament to express the cleansing efficacy of the blood of Jesus. And just as the woman with the issue of blood got virtue out of Christ by simply touching Him, so the essence of baptism seems to lie in the simple contact of the element with the body, symbolizing living contact with Christ crucified; the mode and extent of suffusion being indifferent and variable with climate and circumstances).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Therefore we are--rather, "were" (it being a past act, completed at once).

buried with him, by baptism into death--(The comma we have placed after "him" will show what the sense is. It is not, "By baptism we are buried with Him into death," which makes no sense at all; but, "By baptism with Him into death we are buried with Him"; in other words, "By the same baptism which publicly enters us into His death, we are made partakers of His burial also"). To leave a dead body unburied is represented, alike in heathen authors as in Scripture, as the greatest indignity (Rev 11:8-9). It was fitting, therefore, that Christ, after "dying for our sins according to the Scriptures," should "descend into the lower parts of the earth" (Eph 4:9). As this was the last and lowest step of His humiliation, so it was the honorable dissolution of His last link of connection with that life which He laid down for us; and we, in being "buried with Him by our baptism into His death," have by this public act severed our last link of connection with that whole sinful condition and life which Christ brought to an end in His death.

that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father--that is, by such a forth-putting of the Father's power as was the effulgence of His whole glory.

even so we also--as risen to a new life with Him.

should walk in newness of life--But what is that "newness?" Surely if our old life, now dead and buried with Christ, was wholly sinful, the new, to which we rise with the risen Saviour, must be altogether a holy life; so that every time we go back to "those things whereof we are now ashamed" (Rom 6:21), we belie our resurrection with Christ to newness of life, and "forget that we have been purged from our old sins" (Pe2 1:9). (Whether the mode of baptism by immersion be alluded to in this verse, as a kind of symbolical burial and resurrection, does not seem to us of much consequence. Many interpreters think it is, and it may be so. But as it is not clear that baptism in apostolic times was exclusively by immersion [see on Act 2:41], so sprinkling and washing are indifferently used in the New Testament to express the cleansing efficacy of the blood of Jesus. And just as the woman with the issue of blood got virtue out of Christ by simply touching Him, so the essence of baptism seems to lie in the simple contact of the element with the body, symbolizing living contact with Christ crucified; the mode and extent of suffusion being indifferent and variable with climate and circumstances).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Therefore we are buried ... - It is altogether probable that the apostle in this place had allusion to the custom of baptizing by immersion. This cannot, indeed, be proved, so as to be liable to no objection; but I presume that this is the idea which would strike the great mass of unprejudiced readers. But while this is admitted, it is also certain that his main scope and intention was not to describe the mode of baptism; nor to affirm that that mode was to be universal. The design was very different. It was to show that by the solemn profession made at our baptism, we had become dead to sin, as Christ was dead to the living world around him when he was buried; and that as he was raised up to life, so we should also rise to a new life. A similar expression occurs in Col 2:12, "Buried with him in baptism," etc. See the Editors' Notes at Mat 3:6, Mat 3:16. Into death - εἰς eis. Unto death; that is, with a solemn purpose to be dead to sin and to the world. Grotius and Doddridge, however, understand this as referring to the death of Christ - in order to represent the death of Christ - or to bring us into a kind of fellowship with his death. That like as - In a similar manner. Christ rose from death in the sepulchre; and so we are bound by our vows at baptism to rise to a holy life. By the glory of the Father - Perhaps this means, amidst the glory, the majesty and wonders evinced by the Father when he raised him up; Mat 28:2-3. Or possibly the word "glory" is used here to denote simply his power, as the resurrection was a signal and glorious display of his omnipotence. Even so - As he rose to new life, so should we. As he rose from death, so we, being made dead to sin and the world by that religion whose profession is expressed by baptism, should rise to a new life, a life of holiness. Should walk - Should live, or conduct. The word "walk" is often used to express the course of a man's life, or the tenor of his conduct; Rom 4:12; Rom 8:1 notes; Co1 5:7; Co1 10:3 notes; Eph 2:10; Eph 4:1 notes, etc. In newness of life - This is a Hebraism to denote new life. We should rise with Christ to a new life; and having been made dead to sin, as he was dead in the grave, so should we rise to a holy life, as he rose from the grave. The argument in this verse is, therefore, drawn from the nature of the Christian profession. By our very baptism, by our very profession, we have become dead to sin, as Christ became dead; and being devoted to him by that baptism, we are bound to rise, as he did, to a new life. While it is admitted that the allusion here was probably to the custom of immersion in baptism, yet the passage cannot be adduced as an argument that that is the only mode, or that it is binding on all Christians in all places and ages, for the following reasons: (1) The scope or design of the apostle is not to discuss the mode of baptism, Or to state any doctrine on the subject. It is an incidental allusion in the course of an argument, without stating or implying that this was the universal mode even then, still less that it was the only possible mode. His main design was to state the obligation of Christians to be holy, from the nature of their profession at baptism - an obligation just as impressive, and as forcible, from the application of water in any other mode as by immersion. It arises from the fact of baptism, not from the mode. It is just as true that they who are baptized by affusion, or by sprinkling, are baptised into his death; become professedly dead to sin and the world, and under obligations to live to God, as those who are immersed. It results from the nature of the ordinance, not from the mode. (2) if this was the mode commonly, it does not follow that it was the only mode, nor that it was to be universally observed; There is no command that this should be the only mode. And the simple fact that it was usually practiced in a warm climate, where ablutions were common, does not prove that it is to be observed amidst polar snows and ice, and in infancy, and age, and feebleness, and sickness; see the note at Act 8:38-39. (3) if this is to be pressed literally as a matter of obligation, why should not also the following expression, "If we have been planted together," etc., be pressed literally, and it be demanded that Christians should somehow be "planted" as well as "buried?" Such an interpretation only shows the absurdity of insisting on a literal interpretation of the Scriptures in cases of simple allusion, or where the main scope is illustration by figurative language.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
We are buried with (συνετάφημεν) Rev., more accurately, were buried. Therefore, as a natural consequence of death. There is probably an allusion to the immersion of baptism. Compare Col 3:3. Into death Through the baptism into death referred to in Rom 6:3. Both A.V. and Rev. omit the article, which is important for the avoidance of the error buried into death. Glory (δόξης) The glorious collective perfection of God. See on Rom 3:23. Here the element of power is emphasized, which is closely related to the idea of divine glory. See Col 1:11. All the perfections of God contribute to the resurrection of Christ - righteousness, mercy, wisdom, holiness. We might walk (περιπατήσωμεν) Lit., walk about, implying habitual conduct. See on Joh 11:9; see on Jo1 1:6; see on Jo3 1:4; see on Luk 11:44. In newness of life (ἐν καινότητι ζωῆς) A stronger expression than new life. It gives more prominence to the main idea, newness, than would be given by the adjective. Thus Ti1 6:17, uncertainty of riches; not uncertain riches, as A.V.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
We are buried with him - Alluding to the ancient manner of baptizing by immersion. That as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory - Glorious power. Of the Father, so we also, by the same power, should rise again; and as he lives a new life in heaven, so we should walk in newness of life. This, says the apostle, our very baptism represents to us.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
We are buried with him by baptism into death - It is probable that the apostle here alludes to the mode of administering baptism by immersion, the whole body being put under the water, which seemed to say, the man is drowned, is dead; and, when he came up out of the water, he seemed to have a resurrection to life; the man is risen again; he is alive! He was, therefore, supposed to throw off his old Gentile state as he threw off his clothes, and to assume a new character, as the baptized generally put on new or fresh garments. I say it is probable that the apostle alludes to this mode of immersion; but it is not absolutely certain that he does so, as some do imagine; for, in the next verse, our being incorporated into Christ by baptism is also denoted by our being planted, or rather, grafted together in the likeness of his death; and Noah's ark floating upon the water, and sprinkled by the rain from heaven, is a figure corresponding to baptism, Pe1 3:20, Pe1 3:21; but neither of these gives us the same idea of the outward form as burying. We must be careful, therefore, not to lay too much stress on such circumstances. Drowning among the ancients was considered the most noble kind of death; some think that the apostle may allude to this. The grand point is, that this baptism represents our death to sin, and our obligation to walk in newness of life: without which, of what use can it or any other rite be? Raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father - From this we learn, that as it required the glory of the Father, that is, his glorious energy, to raise up from the grave the dead body of Christ, so it requires the same glorious energy to quicken the dead soul of a sinner, and enable him to walk in newness of life.

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⁴¹ Then [3303] [3767] they that gladly [780] received [588] his [846] word [3056] were baptized [907]: and [2532] the same [1565] day [2250] there were added [4369] unto them about [5616] three thousand [5153] souls [5590].

⁹ But [1063] he that [3739] lacketh [3361] [3918] these things [5023] is [2076] blind [5185], and cannot see afar off [3467], and hath forgotten [3024] [2983] that he was purged from [2512] his [846] old [3819] sins [266].

²¹ What [5101] [3767] fruit [2590] had ye [2192] then [5119] in [1909] those things whereof [3739] ye are [1870] now [3568] ashamed [1870]? for [1063] the end [5056] of those things [1565] is death [2288].

⁹ (Now [1161] that he ascended [305], what [5101] is it [2076] but [1508] that [3754] he [2597] also [2532] descended [2597] first [4412] into [1519] the lower [2737] parts [3313] of the earth [1093]?

⁸ And [2532] their [846] dead bodies [4430] shall lie in [1909] the street [4113] of the great [3173] city [4172], which [3748] spiritually [4153] is called [2564] Sodom [4670] and [2532] Egypt [125], where [3699] also [2532] our [2257] Lord [2962] was crucified [4717].
⁹ And [2532] they [991] of [1537] the people [2992] and [2532] kindreds [5443] and [2532] tongues [1100] and [2532] nations [1484] shall see [991] their [846] dead bodies [4430] three [5140] days [2250] and [2532] an half [2255], and [2532] shall [863] not [3756] suffer [863] their [846] dead bodies [4430] to be put [5087] in [1519] graves [3418].

³⁸ And [2532] he commanded [2753] the chariot [716] to stand still [2476]: and [2532] they went down [2597] both [297] into [1519] the water [5204], both [5037] Philip [5376] and [2532] the eunuch [2135]; and [2532] he baptized [907] him [846].
³⁹ And [1161] when [3753] they were come up [305] out of [1537] the water [5204], the Spirit [4151] of the Lord [2962] caught away [726] Philip [5376], [2532] that the eunuch [2135] saw [1492] [3756] him [846] no more [3765]: and [1063] he went [4198] on his [846] way [3598] rejoicing [5463].

¹ I [1473] therefore [3767], the prisoner [1198] of [1722] the Lord [2962], beseech [3870] you [5209] that ye walk [4043] worthy [516] of the vocation [2821] wherewith [3739] ye are called [2564],

¹⁰ For [1063] we are [2070] his [846] workmanship [4161], created [2936] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424] unto [1909] good [18] works [2041], which [3739] God [2316] hath before ordained [4282] that [2443] we should walk [4043] in [1722] them [846].

³ And [2532] did [5315] all [3956] eat [5315] the same [846] spiritual [4152] meat [1033];

⁷ Purge out [1571] therefore [3767] the old [3820] leaven [2219], that [2443] ye may be [5600] a new [3501] lump [5445], as [2531] ye are [2075] unleavened [106]. For [1063] even [2532] Christ [5547] our [2257] passover [3957] is sacrificed [2380] for [5228] us [2257]:

¹ There is therefore [686] now [3568] no [3762] condemnation [2631] to them which are in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424], who walk [4043] not [3361] after [2596] the flesh [4561], but [235] after [2596] the Spirit [4151].

¹² And [2532] the father [3962] of circumcision [4061] to them who are not [3756] of [1537] the circumcision [4061] only [3440], but [235] who also [2532] walk [4748] in the steps [2487] of that faith [4102] of our [2257] father [3962] Abraham [11], which he had being [1722] yet uncircumcised [203].

² And [2532], behold [2400], there was [1096] a great [3173] earthquake [4578]: for [1063] the angel [32] of the Lord [2962] descended [2597] from [1537] heaven [3772], and came [4334] and rolled back [617] the stone [3037] from [575] the door [2374], and [2532] sat [2521] upon [1883] it [846].
³ [1161] His [846] countenance [2397] was [2258] like [5613] lightning [796], and [2532] his [846] raiment [1742] white [3022] as [5616] snow [5510]:

¹⁶ And [2532] Jesus [2424], when he was baptized [907], went up [305] straightway [2117] out of [575] the water [5204]: and [2532], lo [2400], the heavens [3772] were opened [455] unto him [846], and [2532] he saw [1492] the Spirit [4151] of God [2316] descending [2597] like [5616] a dove [4058], and [2532] lighting [2064] upon [1909] him [846]:

⁶ And [2532] were baptized [907] of [5259] him [846] in [1722] Jordan [2446], confessing [1843] their [846] sins [266].

¹² Buried with [4916] him [846] in [1722] baptism [908], wherein [1722] [3739] also [2532] ye are risen with [4891] him through [1223] the faith [4102] of the operation [1753] of God [2316], who [3588] hath raised [1453] him [846] from [1537] the dead [3498].

¹⁷ Charge [3853] them that are rich [4145] in [1722] this [3568] world [165], that they be [5309] not [3361] highminded [5309], nor [3366] trust [1679] in [1909] uncertain [83] riches [4149], but [235] in [1722] the living [2198] God [2316], who [3588] giveth [3930] us [2254] richly [4146] all things [3956] to [1519] enjoy [619];

⁴⁴ Woe [3759] unto you [5213], scribes [1122] and [2532] Pharisees [5330], hypocrites [5273]! for [3754] ye are [2075] as [5613] graves [3419] which [3588] appear not [82], and [2532] the men [444] that walk [4043] over [1883] them are [1492] not [3756] aware [1492] of them.

⁴ I have [2192] no [3756] greater [3186] [5130] joy [5479] than to [2443] hear [191] that my [1699] children [5043] walk [4043] in [1722] truth [225].

⁶ If [1437] we say [2036] that [3754] we have [2192] fellowship [2842] with [3326] him [846], and [2532] walk [4043] in [1722] darkness [4655], we lie [5574], and [2532] do [4160] not [3756] the truth [225]:

⁹ Jesus [2424] answered [611], Are there [1526] not [3780] twelve [1427] hours [5610] in the day [2250]? If [1437] any man [5100] walk [4043] in [1722] the day [2250], he stumbleth [4350] not [3756], because [3754] he seeth [991] the light [5457] of this [5127] world [2889].

¹¹ Strengthened [1412] with [1722] all [3956] might [1411], according to [2596] his [846] glorious [1391] power [2904], unto [1519] all [3956] patience [5281] and [2532] longsuffering [3115] with [3326] joyfulness [5479];

²³ For [1063] all [3956] have sinned [264], and [2532] come short [5302] of the glory [1391] of God [2316];

³ [2228] Know ye not [50], that so [3754] many of us [3745] as were baptized [907] into [1519] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] were baptized [907] into [1519] his [846] death [2288]?

³ For [1063] ye are dead [599], and [2532] your [5216] life [2222] is hid [2928] with [4862] Christ [5547] in [1722] God [2316].

²¹ The like figure [499] whereunto [3739] even baptism [908] doth [4982] also [2532] now [3568] save [4982] us [2248] (not [3756] the putting away [595] of the filth [4509] of the flesh [4561], but [235] the answer [1906] of a good [18] conscience [4893] toward [1519] God [2316],) by [1223] the resurrection [386] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547]:

²⁰ Which sometime [4218] were disobedient [544], when [3753] once [530] the longsuffering [3115] of God [2316] waited [1551] in [1722] the days [2250] of Noah [3575], while the ark [2787] was a preparing [2680], wherein [1519] [3739] few [3641], that is [5123], eight [3638] souls [5590] were saved [1295] by [1223] water [5204].