συνεγείρω

From the study of Colossians 3:1

Range of meaning

'To raise up together with' someone. It is built from egeirō ('to raise, wake, raise from the dead') plus the prefix syn- ('with'). In the New Testament it appears only in Ephesians 2:6 and Colossians 2:12 and 3:1, always for believers being raised together with Christ. Outside the Bible it can mean physically helping someone up (BDAG). Paul uses it for being caught up into Christ's own resurrection.

Against the English

KJV 'If ye then be risen' uses an older English form that now sounds both uncertain ('if ye be') and self-powered ('risen', as if they got up by themselves). The Greek is a passive verb pointing to a completed event: 'you were raised'. Modern versions ('have been raised', 'were raised') are accurate. Most drop the 'together' and keep only 'with Christ', which is enough.

How it drifted

In older English, 'be risen' was a normal perfect ('are risen'). Today readers hear it as a hypothetical.

Used elsewhere in the period

Colossians 2:12 gives the background: 'having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him (synēgerthēte) through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.' Ephesians 2:5–6 strings together 'made alive with', 'raised with' and 'seated with' Christ in the heavenly places. Compare Romans 6:4–8, where being buried with Christ is past but resurrection life is put in future or ethical terms ('we shall also live with him', 'walk in newness of life').

From the study of Ephesians 2:6

Range of meaning

Literally "to raise up together with." It can mean physically helping someone up (LXX Exodus 23:5, helping a fallen animal up with its owner), or being raised from the dead together with someone. In the New Testament it occurs only in Ephesians 2:6 and Colossians 2:12; 3:1, always meaning that believers share Christ's resurrection.

Against the English

KJV "raised us up together" can sound as if believers were raised alongside each other. BSB/NIV "raised us up with Christ" names the partner the Greek intends, adding a word that is implied rather than written.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the LXX it is used of literal lifting (Exod 23:5; Isa 14:9, where the dead "rise up together" in Sheol to greet the fallen king). Paul and his circle build a cluster of syn- ("with-") verbs to express sharing Christ's story: died with (Rom 6:8), buried with (Rom 6:4), crucified with (Gal 2:19), made alive with (Eph 2:5; Col 2:13), raised with (here), seated with (here). Some of these words look like Paul's own coinages or rare words he put to new use.

From the study of Colossians 2:12

Range of meaning

To raise up together with; to help lift up. In the NT, to be raised with Christ from death into new life.

Against the English

"Raised with him" is accurate. KJV "ye are risen" and YLT "ye rose" make the readers the ones doing it. The Greek is passive: they were raised, by God.

Used elsewhere in the period

NT only in Ephesians 2:6 and Colossians 2:12; 3:1 ("if then you have been raised with Christ"). In the LXX it is used of helping lift a fallen animal (Exod 23:5). Compare Romans 6:4–5, where Paul says believers were buried with Christ 'so that… we too might walk in newness of life' and 'we shall be' united in his resurrection, which looks mainly to the future.