Baptism, Holiness, and Resurrection Hope in Romans 6

This article explores two interrelated aspects of Rom 6:1–11: the connection between baptism and participation in Christ, and the meaning of the future-tense verbs in vv. 5 and 8. Paul’s appeal to baptism points to a twofold connection between the rite and the Christian life. Baptism initiates the believer into a life of union with Christ’s death and resurrection, which has implications for how the baptized ought to behave in the present. This behavior, characterized in some sense as a participation in Christ’s resurrection, anticipates the future resurrection. The future-tense verbs in 6:5 and 8 reflect this twofold connection, with the first verb pointing to a present life of holiness or righteousness and the second verb expressing hope in the future resurrection. This pattern reflects the conclusion to Paul’s argument in Rom 6:22–23.