Galatians 2:20 - Exposition

This verse brings out into fuller detail the several points bound up in the succinct statement of Galatians 2:19 . I am crucified with Christ ( χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι ); I have been crucified with Christ. I am on the cross, fastened thereto with Christ; the object, therefore, with him of the Law's abhorrence and anathema. If we ask, how and when he became thus blended with Christ in his crucifixion, we have the answer suggested by himself in Romans 6:3 , Romans 6:6 , "Are ye ignorant, that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?"—"that our old man was crucified with him?" It was by believing in Christ and being baptized into him; comp. Galatians 3:27 , "All ye who were baptized into Christ did put on Christ "—words which have to be taken in connection with the reference to "faith in Christ" in Galatians 3:26 . The perfect tense of the verb συνεσταύρωμαι points to a continued state of being, following upon that decisive crisis of his life; the apostle images himself as still hanging on the cross with Christ, while also sharing in his resurrection-life; his "old man" is on the cross, while his spirit partakes in and is renewed by Christ's life in God ( Romans 6:6 , Romans 6:8 , Romans 6:11 ). The pragmatism of the passage, however, that is, its relevancy to the subject discussed by him with St. Peter, consists in the twofold statement: