Romans 14:9 kjv
For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Romans 14:9 nkjv
For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Romans 14:9 niv
For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
Romans 14:9 esv
For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
Romans 14:9 nlt
Christ died and rose again for this very purpose ? to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.
Romans 14 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 1:4 | and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection... | Christ's resurrection declares His divine Sonship and power. |
| Rom 6:9 | For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. | Christ's resurrection secures victory over death. |
| Rom 14:7-8 | For none of us lives for ourselves, and none of us dies for ourselves. If we live, we live for the Lord... | This verse is the foundational truth for why we live/die to the Lord. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... | Christ's exaltation grants Him universal Lordship and worship. |
| Acts 10:36 | You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. | Jesus is explicitly stated as Lord of all. |
| 2 Cor 5:10 | For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body... | Christ's Lordship includes His role as universal Judge. |
| 1 Pet 4:5 | But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. | God, through Christ, will judge all, living and dead. |
| Acts 17:31 | For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed... | God appointed Jesus as the Judge of the world. |
| John 5:22-23 | Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father... | The Father's authority is fully delegated to the Son for judgment and honor. |
| 1 Cor 15:25 | For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. | Christ's reign ensures ultimate subjugation of all opposition. |
| Heb 2:14-15 | Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death... | Christ's death conquers death and the devil. |
| Col 2:13-15 | He disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. | Christ's victory on the cross disarms spiritual forces. |
| Rev 1:18 | I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. | Christ possesses ultimate authority over death and the grave. |
| Rom 8:38-39 | For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, nor anything else... will be able to separate us from the love of God. | Christ's comprehensive power means nothing can separate believers from God's love. |
| Eph 1:20-22 | which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority... | Christ's exaltation demonstrates His supremacy over all creation. |
| Deut 32:39 | See now that I myself am he! There is no god besides me. I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal, and no one can rescue from my hand. | Echoes the divine prerogative of giving and taking life, now held by Christ. |
| 1 Sam 2:6 | “The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up." | Acknowledges God's sovereign power over life and death. |
| 1 Cor 8:6 | yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ... | Differentiates and unifies the roles of Father and Lord Jesus. |
| Col 1:16-18 | For in him all things were created... He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church... | Christ's preeminence and role in creation and the church underscore His Lordship. |
| Matt 28:18 | Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." | Christ explicitly states His universal authority post-resurrection. |
Romans 14 verses
Romans 14 9 Meaning
Romans 14:9 encapsulates the profound purpose of Christ's saving work: His death and subsequent life (resurrection) were divinely ordained to establish His absolute and universal lordship over all beings. This authority extends irrevocably to those who have died and those who are presently living, underscoring His sovereign claim over every aspect of existence, whether temporal or eternal.
Romans 14 9 Context
Romans 14 is concerned with practical Christian living, specifically addressing divisions among believers regarding disputable matters, such as dietary laws (eating meat, vegetarianism) and the observance of certain days. Paul urges the "strong" (those who understand their liberty in Christ) not to despise the "weak" (those with scruples or tender consciences) and the "weak" not to judge the "strong." The overarching principle is that believers are ultimately accountable to Christ alone. Verse 9 provides the foundational theological justification for this principle: Christ's ultimate Lordship over all individuals, living or dead, removes the authority for believers to judge one another on non-essential issues, as they all stand under the singular authority of Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection establish Him as the supreme Judge, rendering human judgment trivial and inappropriate in comparison.
Romans 14 9 Word analysis
For (γάρ - gar): A particle indicating reason or explanation. It links this verse as the theological basis for the preceding verses, especially 14:7-8, explaining why believers are to live and die to the Lord.
to this end (εἰς τοῦτο - eis touto): An emphatic phrase indicating purpose. It directs attention to the grand design and objective behind Christ's actions.
Christ (Χριστὸς - Christos): The Anointed One, the Messiah. This title designates Jesus' divinely appointed role and authority. It identifies the subject as the Son of God with a unique redemptive mission.
died (ἀπέθανεν - apethanen): A historical fact, indicating a completed past action. It refers to Christ's physical death on the cross, which is central to Christian doctrine of atonement and reconciliation.
and lived again (καὶ ἔζησεν - kai ezēsen): The critical Greek verb is ezēsen (from zaō, "to live"). This textual variant (NA28/UBS5) emphasizes not just the event of rising but the state of being alive post-resurrection, highlighting His continuous, unending, post-resurrection life. It signifies His triumph over death and entrance into an eternal state of life.
that He might be (ἵνα κυριεύσῃ - hina kyrieusē): A purpose clause. Hina introduces the desired outcome. Kyrieusē (from kyrieuō, "to be lord, rule, dominate") conveys the absolute and authoritative reign or dominion. This is the ultimate goal for His death and renewed life.
Lord (κύριος - kyrios): A title of supreme authority, master, sovereign. In the Old Testament Septuagint, it translates YHWH. In the New Testament, applied to Jesus, it underscores His divine authority, ownership, and position as ultimate ruler and judge.
both of the dead and of the living (νεκρῶν τε καὶ ζώντων - nekrōn te kai zōntōn): This comprehensive phrase emphasizes the universal scope of Christ's Lordship.
- dead (nekrōn): Refers to all who have physically died.
- living (zōntōn): Refers to all who are currently physically alive.
- The particle te and conjunction kai emphasize the inclusivity and comprehensiveness: His rule leaves no category of humanity outside His domain, whether in physical existence or after death.
"For to this end Christ died and lived again,": This phrase encapsulates the central redemptive acts of Christ: His atoning death and His victorious resurrection. It underscores that these events were not random but part of a divine plan, specifically for the establishment of His universal reign. The resurrection is often seen as the divine affirmation of His claims and the basis for His continued reign.
"that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.": This is the culmination and theological rationale. It clearly states the telos (purpose/goal) of His redemptive work. His Lordship is comprehensive, covering all human existence across time and eternity, thereby making Him the ultimate authority and judge over all humanity.
Romans 14 9 Bonus section
The specific choice of the verb ἔζησεν (lived) in some significant manuscripts (like the Alexandrian textual tradition and often adopted in critical texts like NA28 and UBS5) instead of ἀνέστη (rose again) subtly deepens the meaning. While "rose again" emphasizes the event of resurrection, "lived again" (or simply "lived" in that context) emphasizes the consequence of resurrection: Christ's continuous, ongoing life in a state of eternal being and reigning. This underscores not just a past event but an ongoing reality of His vibrant, post-resurrection existence and active Lordship. He did not merely "come back to life" temporarily, but entered into a permanent, ascended state of living authority. This provides a fuller theological scope for His Lordship, stretching beyond the single event of resurrection to His perpetual reign.
Romans 14 9 Commentary
Romans 14:9 stands as a pivotal theological statement within Paul's practical exhortation in Romans 14. It grounds the call for unity and non-judgment in the absolute sovereignty of Jesus Christ. His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection were not merely historical events but foundational acts with a profound purpose: to establish Him as Kyrios – the supreme Master and ultimate Authority – over every single individual, irrespective of their physical state or the era they live in. This divine mandate means that every person, whether they have died and now await resurrection or are presently alive, falls under His ultimate domain and accountability. Consequently, Paul argues, no believer has the right to usurp Christ's role as judge over another in matters of Christian liberty or conscience. Our focus shifts from judging others' practices to living our own lives to the Lord, recognizing His universal dominion and His exclusive right to assess human conduct. This verse ensures that all ethical considerations within the church are centered on Christ's cosmic Lordship and not on human-made rules or subjective judgments.Practical implication: Understanding Christ's universal Lordship compels us to live selflessly, prioritize God's kingdom, and extend grace, remembering that we are all accountable to Him, not to each other's opinions on non-essentials.