Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.
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.
- KJV For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and 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.
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 1:18and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever more. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades.
- Luke 24:26Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?”
- Heb 12:2looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- John 5:22–23For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son,
- Matt 28:18Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
- Eph 1:20–23which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,
- 1 Pet 1:21who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.
- Acts 10:42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead.
- 1 Pet 4:5who will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
- Phil 2:9–11Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;
- 2 Tim 4:1I command you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom:
- 2 Cor 5:14For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died.
- John 5:27–29He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.
- Acts 10:36The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ — he is Lord of all —
- Rev 2:8“To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: “The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these things:
- Isa 53:10–12Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise him. He has caused him to suffer. When you make his soul an offering for sin, he will see his offspring. He will prolong his days, and Yahweh’s pleasure will 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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