V. 23.— Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised. On this Pierce says, “ Our translators were doubtless in the wrong in joining the clause (and our bodies washed with pure water) to the end of 5:22, which most of the Greek Testaments I have seen make the beginning of 5:23.” See also Whitby, Macknight, and others. This is evidently correct, and it is also plain that the Apostle here refers to baptism. The Apostle had been speaking of believers having their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, or the consciousness of guilt being removed by the sacrifice offered upon Calvary, and themselves begotten to a lively hope of the resurrection of Christ. He then proceeds to the confession of their hope by being baptized. Our translators have said the profession of our faith, while the confession of our hope is in the margin; both meanings are good, in fact synonymous. “ So many of us (says the Apostle) as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:3-4. The Apostle thus describes the Gospel which he preached. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. In baptism the believer in a figure goes down into the grave of Christ and is raised again. This represents his fellowship with Christ in His death and resurrection. We have observed that Christ was manifested to Israel by a figurative burial and resurrection, and that He says I have a baptism to be baptized with, referring to His actual burial and resurrection; now His people are commanded to go forth to Him without the camp bearing His reproach. They are, in a figure, to go down into and come up from His grave; thus expressing their hope of a glorious resurrection through their union with Him, and during the remainder of their life they are to hold fast the confession of their hope without wavering. Assured of the faithfulness of the promise on which God hath caused them to hope, Psalms 119:49, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise them up by Jesus. 2 Corinthians 4:14.