Romans 6:6

Old man [ο π α λ α ι ο ς α ν θ ρ ω π ο ς]., Only in Paul, and only three times; here, Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:9. Compare John 3:3; Titus 3:5. The old, unrenewed self. Paul views the Christian before his union with Christ, as, figuratively, another person. Somewhat in the same way he regards himself in ch. 7.

The body of sin [τ ο σ ω μ α τ η ς α μ α ρ τ ι α ς]. Swma in earlier classical usage signifies a corpse. So always in Homer and often in later Greek. So in the New Testament, Matthew 6:25; Mark 5:29; Mark 14:8; Mark 14:43. It is used of men as slaves, Revelation 18:13. Also in classical Greek of the sum - total. So Plato : to tou kosmou swma the sum - total of the world (" Timaeus, " 31). The meaning is tinged in some cases by the fact of the vital union of the body with the immaterial nature, as being animated by the yuxh soul, the principle of individual life. Thus Matthew 6:25, where the two are conceived as forming one organism, so that the material ministries which are predicated of the one are predicated of the other, and the meanings of the two merge into one another.

In Paul it can scarcely be said to be used of a dead body, except in a figurative sense, as Romans 8:10, or by inference, 2 Corinthians 5:8. Commonly of a living body. It occurs with yuch soul, only 1 Thessalonians 5:23, and there its distinction from yuch rather than its union with it is implied. So in Matthew 10:28, though even there the distinction includes the two as one personality. It is used by Paul :

1. Of the living human body, Romans 4:19; 1 Corinthians 6:13; 1 Corinthians 9:27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-26.

2. Of the Church as the body of Christ, Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 1:23; Colossians 1:18, etc. Sarx flesh, never in this sense.

3. Of plants and heavenly bodies, 1 Corinthians 14:37; 1 Corinthians 14:40.

4. Of the glorified body of Christ, Philippians 3:21.

5. Of the spiritual body of risen believers, 1 Corinthians 14:44. It is distinguished from sarx flesh, as not being limited to the organism of an earthly, living body, 1 Corinthians 14:37; 1 Corinthians 14:38. It is the material organism apart from any definite matter. It is however sometimes used as practically synonymous with sarx, 1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Corinthians 7:17; Ephesians 5:28; Ephesians 5:31; 2 Corinthians 4:10; 2 Corinthians 4:11. Compare 1 Corinthians 5:3 with Colossians 2:5. An ethical conception attaches to it. It is alternated with melh members, and the two are associated with sin (Romans 1:24; Romans 6:6; Romans 7:5; Romans 7:24; Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5), and with sanctification (Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:19 sq.; compare 1 Thessalonians 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). It is represented as mortal, Romans 8:11; 2 Corinthians 10:10; and as capable of life, 1 Corinthians 13:3; 2 Corinthians 4:10.

In common with melh members, it is the instrument of feeling and willing rather than sarx, because the object in such cases is to designate the body not definitely as earthly, but generally as organic, Romans 6:12; Romans 6:13; Romans 6:19; 2 Corinthians 5:10. Hence, wherever it is viewed with reference to sin or sanctification, it is the outward organ for the execution of the good or bad resolves of the will.

The phrase body of sin denotes the body belonging to, or ruled by, the power of sin, in which the members are instruments of unrighteousness (ver. 13). Not the body as containing the principle of evil in our humanity, since Paul does not regard sin as inherent in, and inseparable from, the body (see ver. 13; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; 2 Corinthians 7:1. Compare Matthew 14:19), nor as precisely identical with the old man, an organism or system of evil dispositions, which does not harmonize with vers. 12, 13, where Paul uses body in the strict sense. "Sin is conceived as the master, to whom the body as slave belongs and is obedient to execute its will. As the slave must perform his definite functions, not because he in himself can perform no others, but because of His actually subsistent relationship of service he may perform no others, while of himself he might belong as well to another master and render other services; so the earthly swma body belongs not of itself to the aJmartia sin, but may just as well belong to the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:13), and doubtless it is de facto enslaved to sin, so long as a redemption from this state has not set in by virtue of the divine Spirit" (Romans 7:24; Dickson).

Destroyed. See on 3 3.

He that is dead [ο α π ο θ α ν ω ν]. Rev., literally, he that hath died. In a physical sense. Death and its consequences are used as the general illustration of the spiritual truth. It is a habit of Paul to throw in such general illustrations. See Romans 7:2.