Romans 6:6 Meaning: Your Old Self Died, So Why This Struggle?
knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;
this knowing, that our old man was crucified with him , that the body of the sin may be made useless, for our no longer serving the sin;
knowing this, that our old man has been crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be annulled, that we should no longer serve sin.
Meaning in one sentence
Read Romans 6:6 meaning: Paul explains that our old sinful self was crucified with Christ, breaking sin's power so we no longer serve it.
Context
Paul has just raised a question that must have sounded extreme to his first readers. If grace grows where sin increases, why not sin more so grace can flourish? He will not let that stand. The answer is not a command to try harder but a fact about what has already happened. Everyone united to Christ, Paul says, has shared in His death. Baptism pictures this, going under the water like a burial, rising into a new kind of life. Now in verse six he tells us what that death actually achieved. It was not only Jesus who died on the cross. Something in us died too. The person we used to be, the self that was ruled by sin and had no real choice but to obey it, was put to death with Christ. And the whole point was to break sin's power over our lives, to set us free from being its slaves.
Key Words
Three Greek words carry the weight of this verse. The first is palaios anthrōpos, our 'old man.' Paul does not mean a part of us that needs improvement. He means the whole person we were before Christ, the identity shaped entirely by sin. Jewish teachers of his day called this the 'evil inclination,' and they said it was as old as the person themselves, born with us from the start. That is the self Paul says was crucified.
The verb sustauroō (crucified with) is a compound word: syn (with) plus stauroō (to crucify). It means we were actually nailed to that cross alongside Christ. Not in a symbolic way. In some real way that Paul does not try to explain fully, our old self was there when Jesus died, sharing His death. The verdict against that old self was carried out.
Then there is katargeō, rendered 'done away with' or 'destroyed.' Its root meaning is to make something idle, useless, inoperative, like a law that has been repealed or a muscle that no longer works. The 'body of sin' is not annihilated; its power to force our obedience is broken. Sin still exists, but it no longer rules. This is why the struggle remains, but the outcome is no longer in doubt.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions agree that this verse announces a decisive break with sin's power, but they describe the process differently. Methodist voices, like Adam Clarke, use a seed metaphor: the old body dies so the new life hidden inside can grow, death is the pathway to life. Reformed writers, following Calvin, see the 'old man' as the whole nature we bring from the womb, which must be progressively killed as we are renewed by the Spirit. Baptist commentators like John Gill emphasize that the 'old man' is the corruption of nature inherited from Adam, and that its crucifixion means its ruling power is broken, not that it disappears entirely. Anglican interpreters in the Cambridge Bible highlight the representative nature of Christ's death: our old self was there on the cross with Him, so that the body as sin's instrument has been cancelled in its fatal power. Each tradition presses toward the same hope: sin's dominion is ended, and the struggle that remains is real but not hopeless.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading goes like this: if my old self was crucified with Christ, I should not feel any pull toward sin at all. When I still struggle, I assume the verse cannot be true for me. In fact, the Greek word katargeō means 'rendered powerless,' not 'removed entirely.' The old self's dominion is broken, but its residual influence remains. The struggle is not a sign that nothing happened. It is the normal experience of a freed slave learning to live outside the prison. Sin no longer owns you, even when it still tempts you.
Living This Out
This week, when a familiar sin surfaces, an old angry reaction, a lie that comes too easily, a lustful thought that feels automatic, stop and name what is really happening. That impulse belongs to the person you used to be. That person is dead. So you can talk to yourself the way Paul does later in this chapter: 'Sin shall not have dominion over you, because you are not under law but under grace.' The urge may still be real, but it no longer has authority. You are free to say no. You might try this: when the temptation comes, whisper a simple thanks that the old self is dead, and ask the Spirit to make that truth solid in your chest.
Main takeaway: Your old sinful self died with Christ, breaking sin's power so you are no longer forced to serve it.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
When Jesus died on the cross, the part of us that wanted to do wrong died too. Now we can say no to sin because Jesus broke its power.
For ages 9, 12
Have you ever felt like you just had to do something wrong, like you couldn't help it? That is the 'old self' Paul talks about. Before we know Jesus, sin is our boss and we have to obey. But when we trust Jesus, something changes. Our old self dies with Him on the cross. That does not mean we never feel tempted again. It means sin is not our boss anymore. We can choose to obey God instead.
Questions People Ask
What does 'old man' mean in Romans 6:6?
The 'old man' is Paul's way of describing the person we were before we were united to Christ. It is the whole self that was shaped by and ruled by sin. This phrase comes from Jewish teaching about the 'evil inclination' that is born with every person. Paul says this old self was crucified with Christ, so its power over us is broken.
Why do I still sin if my old self is dead?
The Greek word for 'destroyed' or 'done away with' is katargeō, which means to render something powerless or inoperative. It does not mean the old self is annihilated. Its authority is broken, but its influence lingers. You still struggle because the battle is real, but the outcome is certain: sin no longer owns you.
What is the 'body of sin' in this verse?
Christians have understood this phrase in two main ways. Some see it as the physical body, which sin uses as its instrument. Others understand it as the whole mass of sin dwelling in us. Both views agree on the main point: the body of sin has been rendered powerless so that we no longer have to serve sin.
How does baptism connect to Romans 6:6?
Paul has already said in verses 3-4 that baptism unites us to Christ's death and burial. Verse 6 explains what that death accomplishes: our old self was crucified with Him. So baptism is not just a symbol of washing; it is a picture of a real death taking place and a new life beginning.
Is complete freedom from sin possible in this life?
Paul teaches that sin's dominion is broken, not that its presence is gone. He speaks of a lifelong struggle in Romans 7 and urges believers to 'reckon' themselves dead to sin in verse 11. The victory is decisive but still being worked out day by day through the Spirit.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study