136 II. CORINTHIANS 5, 14.

then all died, (aTre^avoi/).' The word must have the same sense in both clauses. It cannot mean were dead, because that is inconsistent with the force of the aorist. All^ (hteral- ly, the all, oX iravTcs^) i. e. the all for whom the one died. His death involved, or secured their death. This was its design and eifect, and, therefore, this clause limits the extent of the word all in the preceding clause. Christ died for the all who died when he died. The meaning of this expression has, how- ever, been variously explained. 1. It is made to mean, ' Then all died to themselves and sin.' His dying literally, secured their dying figuratively. 2. Others say the true meaning is, ' Then all ought to die.' But this is not included in the words. The aorist does not express obligation. 3. Chrysostom, The- odoret, Beza and others, give the same explanation which is implied in our version, ' If one died for all, then were all sub- ject to death.' That is, the vicarious death of Christ proves that those for whom he died Avere in a state of condemnation. But this suits neither the meaning of the word nor the context. It was not to Paul's purpose to prove that men were in a state of death. It was not what they tcere, but what the death of Christ caused them to become, that he evidently intended to express. 4. The simj)le meaning of the passage is, that the death of one was the death of all. If one died for all, the all died. The Scriptures teach that the relation between Christ and his people is analogous to that between Adam and his posterity. Rom. 5, 12-21. 1 Cor. 15, 21. 22. The apostasy of Adam was the apostasy of all united to him ; the work of Christ Avas the Avork of all united to him. In the one, all died ; in the other, all are made alive. As the sin of Adam Avas legally and etfectively the sin of his race ; so the death of Christ Avas legally and effectively the death of his people. This doctrine underlies the Avhole scheme of redemption. It is, so to speak, the generic idea of the Epistle to the Romans. The apostle shows that man, ruined by the sin of Adam, is restored by the work of Christ. His people are so united to him that his death is their death, and his life is their life. " K Ave be dead AA^th him, Ave shall also live Avith him," Rom. 6, 8. Hence believers are said to be crucified Avitli Christ, to rise Avith him, to reign Avith him. Gal. 2, 20. Eph. 2, 5. 6. The simple meaning of the Avords, "If one died for all, then all died," therefore is, that Christ's death Avas the death of his peoi)le. This as Ave have seen is according to the analogy -if Scripture ; and is also entirely pertinent to the design of