V.5. Kai ovtas ἡμᾶς. The conjunction καί does not serve merely to resume the connection; nor is it to be referred to ἡμᾶς, us also, us as well as others ; but it belongs to the participle——‘ And being,’ i. 6. even when we were dead in trespasses. Notwithstand- ing our low, and apparently helpless condition, God interfered for our recovery.
Συνεζωοποίησε τῷ Χριστῷ, he quickened us together with Christ. Ζωοποιεῖν means, to make alive, to im- part life. In the New Testament it is almost always used of the communication of the life of which Christ is the author. It either comprehends every thing which is included in salvation, the communication of life in its widest scriptural sense ; or it expresses some one point or moment in this general life-giving process. As the death from which the Christian is delivered includes condemnation (judicial death), pollution, and misery; so the life which he receives comprehends forgiveness (justification), regeneration, and blessed- ness. Thus in 2 Cor. 2, 12. 18, the apostle says, “ And you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.” As, however, in the passage before us, the words “hath raised us up,” and “ hath made us to sit in heavenly places,” are con- nected with the word “ he hath quickened,” the latter must be limited to the commencement of this work of restoration. That is, it here expresses deliverance from death and the imparting of life, and not the whole work of salvation.