sent fi'om the body and to be present with the Lord ; as he said to the Philippians, at a later period of his career, that he had a desire to depart and to be with Christ. Again, it is said that according to the true reading of the passage, Paul says he knows we shall be raised up xcith (not hy) Christ, and therefore he cannot refer to the literal resurrection. But ad- mitting the reading to be as assumed, to be raised up with Christ does not mean to be raised contemporaneously with him, but in fellowship with him, and in virtue of union with him. This figurative mterpretation, therefore, although at first adopted by Beza and advocated by many of the most dis- tinguished modern commentators, is generally and properly rejected.
The apostle here indicates the ground of the confidence expressed in the preceding verse. He continued to sj^eak, i. e. to preach the gospel, notwithstanding his persecutions, hnoicing^ i. e. because he was sure that he and his fellow- behevers should share in its glorious consummation. The word to Jcnoio is often used in the sense of being convinced or sure of. Rom. 5, 3. 1 Cor. 15, 58. It is assumed as a fact which no Christian did or could doubt, that God had raised up Jesus from the dead. "VYhat Paul was fully persuaded of is, that God would raise us (i. e. him, for he is speaking of him- self) icith or hy Jesus. The majority of the ancient manu- scripts and versions here read cruV, icith^ instead of 8ta, 5y, and that reading is adopted in most critical editions. Both forms of representation occur in Scripture. Believers are said to be raised up by Christ and icith Christ. Our Lord often says, "I will raise him up at the last day;" and in 1 Cor. 15, 21, the resurrection is said to be (8ta) hy man, i. e. hy Christ. On the other hand, believers are said to be raised up icith oi in him. 1 Cor. 15, 22. Eph. 2, 6. Col. 3, 3. 4. 1 Thess. 5, 10. The two modes of statement are nearly coincident in meaning The believer is united to Christ, as a member of his body, and therefore a partaker of his life. It is in virtue of this union, or of this participation of life, which, the apostle expressly teaches, extends to the body as well as to the soul, Rom. 8, 8-11. 1 Cor. 6, 13-20. 15, 21. 22, that our bodies are raised from the dead. It is therefore immaterial whether we say we are raised by him, i. e. by the power of his life, or, we are raised with, i. e. in union with him, and in virtue of that union. As our resurrection is due to this community of life, our bodies shall be like his glorious body. Phil. 3, 21. And