6:4a

We were therefore buried with Him: It is natural in English to put the word therefore in the middle of the clause. In many languages it is more natural to put it at the beginning of the clause. For example:

Therefore, we were buried with him

We were…buried with Him: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause here. For example:

⌊God⌋ buried us with him

were…buried: Baptism is a symbol for burial. In some languages a simile must be used. For example:

were ⌊like someone who had been⌋ buried

through baptism into death: The word through indicates that baptism is the way that believers are “buried with him.” Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

by baptism into death (English Standard Version)
-or-
by means of our being baptized…it was like we were the ones who died
-or-
we have become ⌊as if⌋ dead ⌊and buried⌋ with him when we were baptized
-or-
and it is ⌊as if⌋ that baptism caused us to die

into death: Here this phrase refers to being dead to the old way of life on this earth, characterized by sin. It contrasts to “walk in newness of life” (6:4d). See the examples above.

6:4b,d (reordered)

This author has reordered this verse to put the purpose clause immediately after the words that introduce it.

in order that: This phrase introduces a purpose. We, as believers, are like dead people in regard to a life of sin on this earth, so we are to live a new kind of life as followers of Jesus. For example:

so that (New Jerusalem Bible)

we…may walk in newness of life: The word walk is a metaphor for how someone behaves over a period of time. Here it refers to living according to the new life that God gives to believers. Some languages must translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:

we might live according to the new life
-or-
we also may live new lives (New Living Translation (2004))

may: Here this word helps to indicate that walking in this way is a purpose of being buried through baptism into death (6:4a). It suggests that it would be good if we walked in newness of life. Here are other ways to translate this word:

might (English Standard Version)
-or-
would
-or-

to walk in newness of life

newness of life: This phrase refers to a new way of life. Here it refers to the new way of life that the Holy Spirit gives to believers and is characterized by righteousness (8:9–11). Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

a new life (New International Version)
-or-
a new kind of life (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
a new way-of-life

The Greek does not have the word “the” here, but Paul only had one kind of new life in mind: the new life as a believer. Your translation should indicate that Paul had only one kind of new life in mind.

too: Here this word compares “we might walk in newness of life” with “Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father.” In the reordered sentence, this meaning is not needed here. The phrase “just as” in 6:4c indicates that meaning.

6:4c

just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father: The words just as indicate that Paul compared “walking in newness of life” to Jesus being raised from the dead through the glory of the Father.

Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father: This clause is passive. It is implied that God raised Jesus by means of his glory. Some languages must use an active clause here. For example:

⌊God⌋ the Father raised Christ from the dead by his glory

raised from the dead: This phrase refers to God making Jesus alive again after he died and was put in the tomb. See how you translated this phrase in 4:24.

the glory of the Father: The word glory refers literally to a very bright light. In this context it implies power that is glorious, majestic, or great in some way. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the Father’s glorious power (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
the wonderful power of the Father (New Century Version)

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