What does mortification mean?

Meaning and Etymology

The term “mortification” generally refers to the act of “putting to death” or subduing sinful desires, habits, and behaviors. In Scripture, various Greek expressions (particularly from the words νεκρόω [nekroō] and θανάτωσις [thanatōsis]) imply a decisive act of putting away or killing. In the Berean Standard Bible, these terms are often rendered as “put to death” or “crucify,” signifying a thorough rejection of that which is sinful (e.g., Colossians 3:5: “Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature…”).

Foundational Old Testament Concepts

1. Separation from Sin

In the Old Testament, while “mortification” as a formal term does not appear, the principle is introduced by God’s call for His people to be holy and separate from idolatry and sin. Leviticus 11:44 states, “I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, because I am holy.” This separation underscores the seed of mortification: removing and shunning the power of sin.

2. Symbolism in Sacrifice

Old Testament sacrifices pointed toward the seriousness of sin and the necessity of atonement (Leviticus 1–7). The sacrifice of animals foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of the Messiah, emphasizing the importance of dealing decisively with sin. Although these sacrifices were external activities, they symbolized a deeper removal—or “death”—of sins before a holy God.

3. Illustrations of God’s Holiness and Judgment

Events like the flood (Genesis 6–8) and the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) demonstrate God’s holiness in eradicating sin. While these narratives focus on divine judgment, they also underscore a major principle of mortification: sin cannot remain unchallenged in the presence of a holy God.

New Testament Teachings

1. Pauline Theology of “Putting to Death”

The Apostle Paul uses the language of mortification most clearly in Romans 8:13: “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Here, mortification is not a mere human effort; it is accomplished “by the Spirit,” highlighting the believer’s dependence on divine power.

Paul reiterates this principle to the Colossians: “Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). This charge shows that mortification actively involves identifying and discarding specific sinful behaviors and attitudes.

2. Christ’s Teaching on Self-Denial

Jesus often taught about the serious measures needed to combat sin. Though He did not use the word “mortification” explicitly, the concept resonates in passages like Matthew 5:29–30: “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away… And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away…” Christ’s hyperbolic language underscores the gravity of sin and the radical response required to deal with it.

3. Walking by the Spirit

Galatians 5:16–17, 24 illustrates how the Spirit empowers believers to resist sinful desires: “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh… Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Mortification is part of the Spirit-led life: as the believer “walks” in step with the Spirit, sinful passions are “crucified,” or put to death, daily.

The Theological Basis

1. Union with Christ

Believers’ union with Christ provides the foundation for mortification. In Romans 6:3–4, Paul explains that those who are baptized into Christ share in His death, burial, and resurrection: “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death…that we too may walk in newness of life.” Since Christians are united with the crucified and risen Savior, they participate in both His death to sin and His victorious resurrection life, making mortification both possible and essential.

2. Sanctification as Holistic Transformation

Mortification cannot be separated from sanctification—a believer’s growth in holiness. Scripturally, this transformative process affects the entire person, including thoughts, desires, and actions. Hebrews 12:1 invites believers to “throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles,” emphasizing that spiritual maturity involves discerning and discarding every form of sin.

3. Indicative and Imperative

New Testament epistles often present the “indicative” (what God has done for believers in Christ) prior to the “imperative” (how believers should now live). Colossians 3:1–4 describes how believers are raised with Christ, setting their hearts on heavenly realities, then proceeds with the imperative (3:5) to put to death sinful traits. The teaching on mortification is grounded in the believer’s new identity in Christ.

Historical and Apologetic Perspectives

1. Early Church Fathers

Writers like Augustine and John Chrysostom taught that the believer’s spiritual life involves a continuous dying to self. Such teachings were consistent with existing manuscripts and widely affirmed, underscoring a unified witness within early Christian history that believers must pursue holiness.

2. Manuscript Reliability

The call to mortify sin is consistently attested across a range of New Testament manuscripts. Critical texts such as the Codex Sinaiticus (fourth century) and the Dead Sea Scrolls’ references to holiness in the Hebrew Scriptures support a uniform biblical message about sin, repentance, and sanctification. These manuscript findings reinforce confidence that the biblical record of mortification is textually reliable.

3. Practical Anecdotal Accounts

Across centuries, numerous testimonies involve dramatic transformations where individuals, by faith and dependence on God’s Word, forsook destructive habits. Biographies of Christians—from church fathers to contemporary believers—often highlight how practicing mortification led to tangible changes in their character and lifestyle.

Practical Dimensions of Mortification

1. Personal Discipline

Mortification often involves self-control and discipline, as urged in passages like 1 Corinthians 9:27: “No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” While Paul speaks metaphorically of “disciplining the body,” the principle extends to actively controlling impulses and desires.

2. Renewal of the Mind

Mortification is not merely an external act; it is intimately connected to a renewal of one’s thoughts. Romans 12:2 teaches, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Recognizing and rejecting sinful thought patterns is an integral part of dismantling ingrained habits.

3. Reliance on the Holy Spirit

Mortification is possible “by the Spirit” (Romans 8:13). Through prayer, study of Scripture, and reliance on God’s power, believers are equipped to overcome sin. Galatians 5:22–23 highlights the Fruit of the Spirit—attributes like love, joy, self-control—that counteract the works of the flesh, showing that mortification goes hand in hand with spiritual growth.

Philosophical and Behavioral Observations

1. Change in Character

From a behavioral science perspective, repeated choices shape habits. Mortification aligns with the principle that one’s thought life and repeated decisions can transform conduct, consistent with James 1:14–15, which demonstrates how sinful desires entice and grow when unchecked. Eliminating those desires at their root breaks harmful cycles.

2. Purpose and Identity

Philosophically, mortification ties to the Christian worldview that humanity finds true purpose and identity in God. By putting to death what contradicts that God-centered purpose, believers align their actions with their ultimate design—to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

3. Community Accountability

Behavioral studies show that external accountability can reinforce lasting personal change. Likewise, the New Testament encourages believers to “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Mortification is often practiced most effectively within a supportive faith community.

Eschatological Implications

1. Hope of Resurrection

Scripture connects present mortification with future hope. Romans 8:11 promises that “the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you,” reminding believers that present struggle against sin will culminate in ultimate resurrection and freedom from sin’s presence.

2. Preparation for Eternity

The consistent biblical theme is that believers are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20). Mortification shapes believers for their eternal home, ensuring they reflect the holy character demanded by God in both this life and the life to come (1 John 3:2–3).

Summary

Mortification is the biblically grounded process of “putting to death” sinful desires, thoughts, habits, and actions. Rooted in the Old Testament foundation of holiness, clarified by New Testament teachings, and consistently attested by the earliest and most reliable manuscripts, mortification is foundational to the Christian life of sanctification. It is spiritually empowered by the Holy Spirit, accomplished through discipline and renewal of the mind, and oriented toward the ultimate aim of glorifying God.

By placing one’s faith in Christ, uniting with Him in His death and resurrection, and relying on the indwelling Holy Spirit, believers are spiritually equipped to daily practice mortification. This ongoing commitment nurtures growth in holiness, deepens one’s fellowship with God, and prepares believers for the final consummation of all things when the victory Christ secured will be perfectly realized in eternity.