Corpus-Paul

[BBurrowes AT aol.com]

I interpret verse seven as a statement of a general principle that supports 
or provides the grounds for verses 3-6 generally and verse 6 in particular.  
So it applies both to Christ and to believers who participate in his death 
through baptism.  Christ is the one who is crucified and has died, yet 
believers also "die" in their baptism to their old life of sin.   As Christ 
is the one who has died and is vindicated from sin, so now believers are 
justified and set right from their life of sin.  So the answer does not have 
to be either/or, but both/and. 

Brett Burrowes
Siena College
Albany, NY