In Rom 6:4-8:
Paul
refer specifically to participation in Christ’s resurrection in Romans 6:5
albeit implicitly) and participation in Christ’s resurrection life in Romans 6:8.
In Romans 6:5 Paul says σύμφυτοι γεγόναμεν, meaning “planted together” or, as most
contemporary translations suggested, “united with.” Some may contend that Romans
6:5 does not contain participatory motifs, whether in reference to participation
in the death or the resurrection of Christ, because Paul’s reference is to a
status or existence rather than an event. However, as Campbell rightly notes, “participation
language remains apt since the verse refers to the state of being associated in
common experience—the death of Christ. Thus, the phrase underscores the participation
in which believers partake; they are joined with Christ in the co-experience of
his death” (Campbell [Paul and Union with Christ: An Exegetical and Theological
Study] 2012: 229).
This
implicit point is made explicit in Romans 6:8. There Paul writes: εἰ δὲ ἀπεθάνομεν σὺν Χριστῷ, πιστεύομεν ὅτι καὶ συζήσομεν αὐτῷ,
The only difference between Paul’s sentiment in Romans 6:5 and Romans 6:8 is
that in Romans 6:5 he refers to participation in the resurrection of Christ,
and in Romans 6:8 he refers to the life of Christ. But both expressions refers
to the same reality: the believer no longer participates in the dominion of sin
but in the dominion of Christ. Believers are raised to new life in Christ and
thus share in the vocation of Christ. Yet Paul’s reference here is not to
believers’ status as those who have new life but to their active participation in
the resurrection life of Christ. In dying with Christ, believers are
raised with Christ to a life which they actually live with Christ.
And the life of Christ in which believers share is one in which Christ, the
Messiah, reigns as such and as the new Adam. (Haley
Goranson Jacob, Conformed to the Image of His Son: Reconsidering Paul’s
Theology of Glory in Romans [Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP Academic, 2018], 137-38)
On this concept in Colossians:
The
reality of this transfer and its implications are elaborated throughout
Colossians. Moreover, the language used to do so bears significant resemblance
to Paul’s language in Romans 6:4-8; 8:17-30, where he describes the new union
through the various συμ-/συν-compounds that pertain to dying, being
buried, rising, living, and sharing glory with Christ. Interestingly, few commentators
acknowledge the significance of these συμ-/συν-compounds for Paul’s (or the
writer’s) theology in Colossians. As in Romans 6:4, participation with Christ
occurs through believers dying with Christ (Col 2:20; ἀπεθάνετε σὺν Χριστῷ),
being buried with the Son (συνθαπτω)
in baptism, and “raised with him [συνεγειρω]
through faith in the power of God” (Col 2:12, 3:1). Believers were formerly
dead in their sins and are now alive with Christ (2:13; συζωοποιεω); their lives are now “hidden with Christ”
(3:3; κεκρυπται συν τω Χριστω).
And having been raised with Christ (συνεγειρω),
believers can expect to appear in glory with Christ (3:4; σὺν αὐτῷ φανερωθήσεσθε).
(Ibid., 162)
