For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Parallel translations
- WEB For to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
- BSB For this reason Christ died and returned to life, that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
- NKJV For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
- NASB For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
- NLT Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Christ died and rose again precisely so that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. His lordship is the purpose and fruit of His atoning death and resurrection.
Overview
Paul grounds the believer's belonging in the gospel itself. Christ's death and resurrection established His rightful rule over all His people, whether they have died or are still living. Because He conquered death, His lordship extends beyond the grave. This is why no believer lives or dies to himself: the risen Christ reigns over both realms as Redeemer and Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Rev 1:18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
- Luke 24:26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
- Heb 12:2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- John 5:22–23For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
- Matt 28:18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
- Eph 1:20–23Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
- 1 Pet 1:21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
- Acts 10:42And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
- 1 Pet 4:5Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
- Phil 2:9–11Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
- 2 Tim 4:1I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
- 2 Cor 5:14For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
- John 5:27–29And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
- Acts 10:36The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
- Rev 2:8And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
- Isa 53:10–12Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 14:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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