Funeral reading
Romans 6:3–9
King James Bible
“Romans 6:3–9” (King James Bible) is a scripture reading read at a funeral or memorial service. It takes about a minute and a half read aloud, usually by a guest reader. It is in the public domain, so the full text is printed on this page and goes straight into a ceremony script.
The full text
Know ye not, that so many of us 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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Public domain, so these words can be printed in a ceremony script or an order of service.
Where it comes from
Romans 6 is part of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, and these verses are his explanation of what baptism means.
What it says
Those of us who were baptised into Christ were baptised into his death, buried with him, so that as Christ was raised from the dead, we too might walk in newness of life. If we have died with him, we believe we will also live with him; death no longer has dominion over him. At a funeral it ties the person’s baptism to their death and to the hope of rising.
A common epistle at a Catholic funeral, tying the death back to the baptism. Read at a funeral or memorial service. Themes: baptism · newness of life · death has no dominion · the Catholic funeral epistle.
Who it suits
Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other sacramental funerals where the person’s baptism matters to the family. It suits a service that includes the pall, holy water, or the paschal candle, all of which recall baptism.
Where it goes in the ceremony
As the New Testament reading in a funeral Mass or liturgy, after the Old Testament reading and psalm. Read by a family member or a parishioner.
Reading it aloud
The text on this page is 146 words. At a ceremony pace of about 130 words a minute, which is slower than conversation, that comes to about a minute and a half of reading.
- It is an argument with several “if… then” steps. Read it clearly and a little slowly.
- “Newness of life” is the phrase that matters. Give it weight.
- The final line about death having no more dominion is a statement of victory. End firmly.
Questions about reading it aloud
How long does “Romans 6:3–9” take to read aloud?
“Romans 6:3–9” takes about a minute and a half read aloud at a ceremony pace, which is slower than conversation — roughly 130 words a minute. That is the figure the run-sheet uses when it works out the timing for the whole service.
Who usually reads “Romans 6:3–9”?
Usually a guest reader rather than the officiant. “Romans 6:3–9” runs about a minute and a half, which is a manageable amount to hand to a friend or family member. Give them a printed copy of their own, in a size they can read without their glasses, and tell them where to stand and how you will introduce them.
Can “Romans 6:3–9” be printed in a ceremony script?
Yes. It is in the public domain, so the full text is on this page and can be printed in a script or an order of service.
Where this text was checked
Checked word for word against a full-text edition that is itself the authority — a Project Gutenberg or Wikisource transcription, a publisher’s own edition, or the issuing body’s page.
Checked
A reading is two minutes of the hour.
The rest is the welcome, the life, the remembrances, the committal — and knowing what comes next. Answer some questions about them and get the whole service, written out, with this reading in its place.
Other readings that suit the same service
- Romans 8:31–35, 37–39a minute and a halfNothing can separate us from the love of God
- John 11:21–2755 secondsThe resurrection and the life
- 1 Corinthians 15:20–2655 secondsChrist the first fruits of them that slept
- Ruth 1:16–17a30 secondsKing James Bible
- 1 John 4:7–12a minute and a halfKing James Bible
- Psalm 10040 secondsKing James Bible