Bible study: Romans 6:6

Romans 6:6 reads “Knowing this that our old man was crucified with [him] in order that the body of the sin might be destroyed such that sin no longer is enslaving us.” Translations vary and try to present the message more clearly, but the above is quite close to Young’s Literal Translation and the KJV.


Knowing this…

Knowing what? The question is answered in the next part of the verse.

That our old man was crucified with [him]…

The Greek word translated “old” means not only old but well worn indicating both a degraded state and a state in which we are comfortable, otherwise it would not be well worn. The word translated “man” literally means man face, or how we are distinguished from others, either plant or animal or divine. In our fallen state we are (1) separated from God, and (2) corrupted with a predisposition to sin, thus we are comfortable with sin.

In order that the body of sin might be destroyed…

Paul is using body in the sense of something that casts a shadow over us. Being “in Adam” means being separated from God and corrupted such that we are comfortable with sin. This shadow is destroyed when we are spiritually baptized into Christ and indwelt with the convicting Holy Spirit.

“Such that sin no longer is enslaving us….

Since we are already in Christ and no longer in Adam, that legacy would not be continuing to enslave us. Therefore Paul is referring to the fact that once in Christ, our missing the mark and occasionally sinning does not pile up wrath against us, hence unlike Marley’s Ghost, we are free from the chains of the past and no longer adding to the chains of our former slavery to sin.

Here is a contextual look at the verse from the ESV.

5For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His. 6We know that our old man 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. 7For one who has died has been set free from sin.