Have died (599) (apothnesko from apo = marker of dissociation implying a rupture from a former association, separation, departure, cessation + thnesko = die) literally means to die off and can speak of literal physical death (Ro 6:9-note) but in this context speaks figuratively (metaphorically) of a believer's death to sin (Ro 6:2-note, Ro 6:7-note, Ro 6:8-note, Col 3:3-note), self, Satan, the law (Ro 7:6-note, Gal 2:19) and the world (Col 2:20-note, cp Gal 6:14-note - crucified used instead of died) which was effected when Christ was crucified and when by faith we believed in Him and in God's reckoning (albeit a "mysterious" teaching) were crucified with Him (Ro 6:6-note). It is notable that as life was never meant to be merely existence, death which is the antonym of life does not mean non–existence. The important point is that to die does not mean one is annihilated as some would falsely teach. Everyone who has every been born will continue to exist, either in the presence of God or to experience conscious existence in separation from God (see 2Th 1:9). Summary of apothnesko (1) Literally - To die referring to natural death (opposite of zao = to live), a permanent cessation of all vital functions resulting in the end of life, with a separation of one's soul from their physical body (Mt 8:32, 22:24, 27, 26:35, Heb 9:27, 1Co 15:32, 36; Paul in Php 1:21). Christ's death (Ro 5:6, Ro 5:8, Gal 2:21, 1Co 8:11, 15:3, 2Co 5:15, 1Th 4:14, 1Th 5:10). It should be emphasized that although these passages refer to literal physical death of Christ, they have profound spiritual implications. Note that literal death pictures a separation of the spiritual from the material part of man, the soul from the body. Most of the uses of apothnesko in the gospels refer to literal physical death (exceptions include Jn 6:50 cp Jn 6:58 not die = live forever = speaks of spiritual rebirth, cp Jn 11:26) (2) Figuratively - speaks of separation - of not responding to something due to separation from it (1Co 15:31). Separation from God because of sin (Adam died the day (i.e., when, cp. Ezek 33:12) he disobeyed God, Ge 2:17.), which speaks of spiritual death (Ro 7:9, 1Co 15:22 - Death in this sense describes the present condition of all men for all have sinned - see Ro 5:12). Ro 5:15 speaks of the spiritual death all men suffered because of Adam's sin (cp Ro 5:12). (3) Mixture of literal and figurative - Christ's literal death (first use) and figuratively of death to rule and reign and power of sin (the second use of apothnesko in Ro 6:10, cp similar mixture in 2Co 5:14) Apothnesko is in the aorist tense indicates a past completed event and indicative mood which speaks of a real or actual event. Apothnesko -111x in 100v - 32" class="scriptRef">Mt 8:32; 24" class="scriptRef">9:24; 22.24" class="scriptRef">22:24, 27; 6.35" class="scriptRef">26:35; Mk 5:35, 39; 9:26; 21" class="scriptRef">21" class="scriptRef">21" class="scriptRef">12:19, 20, 21; 15" class="scriptRef">15.44" class="scriptRef">15:44; Lk 8:42, 52, 53; 16.22" class="scriptRef">16:22; 20:28, 29, 31, 32, 36" class="scriptRef">36; Jn 4:47, 49; 6:49, 50, 58; 8:21, 24, 52, 53; 11:14, 16, 21, 25, 26, 32, 37" class="scriptRef">37, 5o, 51; 12:24, 33; 18:14, 32; 19:7; 21:23; Acts 7:4; 9:37; 13" class="scriptRef">21:13; 25:11; Ro 5:6, 7, 8, 15; 6:2, 7, 8, 9; 7:2, 3, 6, 10; 8:13, 34; 14:7, 8, 9, 15; 1Cor 8:11; 9:15; 15:3, 22, 31, 32, 36; 2Cor 5:14, 15; 6:9; Gal 2:19, 21; Phil 1:21; Col 2:20; 3:3; 1Thess 4:14; 5:10; Heb 7:8; 9:27; 10:28; 11:4, 13, 21, 37; Jude 1:12; Rev 3:2; 8:9, 11; 9:6; 14:13; 16:3. NAS = dead(5), death(1), death*(1), die(34), died(53), dies(12), dying(4), mortal(1), perished(1), put(1). Apothnesko occurs over 400x in the Septuagint, the first use being God's instruction to Adam... Genesis 2:17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die (apothnesko)." What happens when you died? To die means to be separated or to be free of something. What would the Colossians be free of in context of the present discussion? The Law. Believers "are not under law, but under grace." (Ro 6:14-note) The preposition apo (in apothnesko) emphasizes the alienation and separation from human ordinances which the believer’s co-death with Christ has brought about. Our life is now hidden with Christ in God (Col 3:3-note), and to live under ordinances of human origin is to live as if in the world and not as if in Him. In Romans Paul teaches that we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (Ro 6:4-note). The picture Paul is painting is that of the believer's identification or union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. (See Gal 2:20- note) So what is his point? Paul's reasoning is that because of these great liberating truths, a believer does not have to live like a spiritually dead man but can now live as one alive in Christ, empowered with His resurrection power (Ro 6:4-note), energized by the indwelling Holy Spirit (Eph 3:16-note; Ep 5:18-note). Dying with Christ means not only identification with Him but dying to (from) something = sin (Ro 6:2-note), self (2Cor 5:14, 15), the law (Ro 7:6-note; cp Gal 2:19). In Galatians 6:14, although the verb is different (crucified instead of died) the truth is similar, Paul reiterating that believers are also dead to the world for through... the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ... the world has been crucified to [us], and [we] to the world. (Gal 6:14). In Gal 6:14 the perfect tense indicates a past completed action at a specific point in time with continuing effect, and pictures the lasting effect of our death to the world. Why do so many believers continue to make friends with the world? (cf James 4:4) In each of these preceding verses (Ro 6:2-note, 2Cor 5:14, 15, Ro 7:6-note; Gal 2:19) the tense of the verb apothnesko is aorist which signifies a decisive, final death (to sin, self, law, world). John Eadie writes... "Since ye died off with Christ from the rudiments (first principles, basic principles or elements) of the world” or, have been separated by such a death from the rudiments of the world. The phrase “rudiments of the world” has been already explained under the eighth verse. To be dead to them is to be done with them, or, to be in such a state that they have no longer any authority over us. Thus in Ro 7:3-note, Ro 7:4-note, the wife by the death of her husband is said to be so free from conjugal law, that she may marry another man. In Gal 2:19, the apostle speaks of being “dead to the law.” The dative is used in those two cases, as if there was a consciousness of complete deliverance. The preposition apo (Ed: conveys separation or dissociation) is here employed to intensify the idea, as if death were followed by distance or removal. ...They had nothing more to do with the rudiments of the world—and the rudiments of the world had nothing more to do with them. The apostle again introduces his favorite idea of union with Christ. The death of Christ abrogated the ritual law; and being one with Him in that death, they had died to that law—the apo denoting consequent separation. (A Commentary on the Greek) TO THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF THE WORLD: apo ton stoicheion tou kosmou: He has set you free from the evil powers of this world (NLT) To is the Greek preposition apo which as discussed above is a marker of dissociation and implies a rupture of a former association. It pictures a separation, a departure or a cessation.