Posted by Chris Dear Forum, I am so grateful that the Lord is not dependent on my intellect to instruct me in the things concerning Himself. How grateful I am!! However in looking up the meaning of Ellipsis, which by the way, just in case you too need to look up your English grammar, means that something is left out of the sentence, or omitted, so that the English word for it would be ‘Omission’. ‘Why?’ You may well ask, am I telling you all this. What relevance does this have to the verse at the top of the posting? Well, Romans 6:3, 4; is an example of a verse in which there is an ellipsis, but Dr Bullinger’s explanation is just wonderful, and so I have typed it out for you to read, if you would like to. Quoted:- So the passage reads: “Therefore we were buried with him by his baptism-unto-death (ie., his burial), in order that just as Christ was raised from among the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also, in newness of life should walk. For if we have become identified in the likeness of his death, certainly in that of his resurrection also we shall be: knowing this, that our old man was crucified together with (him) in order that the body of sin may be annulled, that we should no longer be in servitude to sin. For he that hath died hath been righteously acquitted from the sin (of him), i.e., his sin. Now if we died together with Christ, we believe that we shall live also together with him.” With this agrees Col.2:10-12. “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; buried with him in the baptism (of him) i.e., in his baptism-unto-death, in whom (not ”wherein,” but as it is rendered above) ye were raised together also through the faith of the operation of God, who raised him from among the dead,” etc., Here, again, the whole argument turns on the fact that the “circumcision” and the “baptism” spoken of are both “made without hands,” and both are fulfilled in Christ. The whole context of these two passages must be studied in order to see the one point and the great truth which is revealed: viz., that in His ‘death’ we are circumcised and cut off, “crucified with Him” (Rom. 6:6): in His ‘burial’ (or baptism-unto-death) we are baptized (Rom. 4:4; Col.2:12): and in His ‘resurrection’ we now have our true standing before God. We have all in Christ. Hence our completeness and perfection in Him is such that nothing can be added to it. All who are baptized by Him with the Holy Spirit are identified with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection. Hence, those who are being baptized are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not (1 Cor. 15:29), for they do not rise if Christ be not raised. But, if Christ be raised, then we are raised in Him; and Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more ... for in that he died, he died unto sin once for all; but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise ye also reckon yourselves dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, IN CHRIST JESUS”(Rom. 6:8-11) - [end of quote]. You may have read as I have “The Two Natures in the Child of God”, and this is fully explained there, but I found this just lovely to read, and I hope that you have too. Thank you for your patience
on 5/26/2007, 2:28 pm
86.144.227.136
Romans 6:3,4
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
My education was basic, English grammar very fundamental, so I have to look up the meaning of just about everything grammatical in nature that appears in the Companion Bible. This has happened this evening, I have had to look up the meaning of the figure ‘Ellipsis’, I have looked this up before and I know that when I come across it again’ I shall have to do the same again, a bit like a goldfish in a goldfish bowl really, every circuit of the bowl is a new experience, which is probably a good thing in the case of the goldfish, but in mine, no so!
Quote: ’ The omission arises not from want of thought, or lack of care, or from accident, but from design, in order that we may not stop to think of, or lay stress on, the word omitted, but may dwell on the other words which are thus emphasised by the omission.’ ‘These Ellipses must not be arbitrarily supplied according to our own individual views; we are not at liberty to insert any words, according to our own fancies: but they are all scientifically arranged and classified, and each must therefore be filled up, according to definite principles which are well ascertained, and in obedience to laws which are carefully laid down.’ So says Dr Bullinger in ‘Figures of Speech’.
Rom. vi. 3,4 - May be perhaps best explained by this figure. - “Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus, unto his death we were baptized? Therefore we were buried together with him by the baptism (of him) (ie., by his baptism) unto death.” For He had “a cup” to drink of (His death), and “a baptism to be baptised with” (His burial), and when He died and was buried, His people died and were buried with Him, and, as the next verse goes on to say, rose again with Him.
The whole argument lies in this that we are reckoned as having died with Him, and as having been buried with Him in His burial (or baptism-unto-death). (See Matt. 20:23; Mark 10:38,39; Luke 12:50). Hence all such are free from the dominion and condemnation of sin, and stand in the newness of resurrection life. This is “the gospel of the glory” (2 Cor. 4:4), for it was by the glory of the Father that Christ was raised, and it is glorious news indeed which tells us that all who are in Christ are “complete in Him” (Col. 2:10), “accepted in the beloved” (Eph. 1:6), “perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28)
Chris
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