📖 Biblical Definition
The two aspects of sanctification by which the Spirit progressively renews the believer: mortification (the putting to death of sin) and vivification (the making alive unto righteousness). The Heidelberg Catechism (Q. 88-90) describes the two parts of true repentance/conversion: the dying of the old man, and the quickening of the new. (1) Mortification (the dying of the old man) is the heartfelt sorrow for sin, causing the believer to hate and turn from it more and more; the putting to death of indwelling sin by the power of the Spirit (Romans 8:13, if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live; Colossians 3:5, Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; the crucifying of the flesh, Galatians 5:24). (2) Vivification (the quickening of the new man) is the heartfelt joy in God through Christ, with love and delight to live according to the will of God in all good works; the making alive unto righteousness, the cultivation of the graces and virtues of the new man (Colossians 3:10, 12-14, put on the new man... put on therefore... bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering... and above all these things put on charity; Romans 6:11, reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ). The two aspects are inseparable and simultaneous: sanctification is not merely the negative work of killing sin (mortification) nor merely the positive work of cultivating righteousness (vivification), but both together — the putting off of the old man and the putting on of the new (Ephesians 4:22-24). Both are the work of the Spirit (sanctification is the Spirit's work) in which the believer actively participates (the believer is commanded to mortify and to put on, exercising the graces given by the Spirit). The patriarchal-Reformed reader holds the substantive doctrine of mortification and vivification as the two aspects of sanctification: the daily putting to death of indwelling sin (mortification, the dying of the old man) and the daily cultivation of righteousness and the graces of the new man (vivification, the quickening of the new man); the Christian life is the lifelong work of dying to sin and living to God, both wrought by the Spirit and pursued by the believer in dependence on grace.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
The two aspects of sanctification: mortification (the putting to death of sin, the dying of the old man) and vivification (the making alive unto righteousness, the quickening of the new man); Heidelberg Q. 88-90; Romans 6; Colossians 3:5-10; both wrought by the Spirit and pursued by the believer.
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MORTIFICATION AND VIVIFICATION, n. phr. (sanctification) The two aspects of sanctification. Heidelberg Q. 88-90: the dying of the old man, and the quickening of the new. (1) Mortification (the dying of the old man): heartfelt sorrow for sin, hating and turning from it; the putting to death of indwelling sin by the Spirit (Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5; Galatians 5:24). (2) Vivification (the quickening of the new man): heartfelt joy in God through Christ, with love and delight to live according to His will; the making alive unto righteousness, cultivating the graces of the new man (Colossians 3:10-14; Romans 6:11). Inseparable and simultaneous — putting off the old man and putting on the new (Ephesians 4:22-24). Both wrought by the Spirit and pursued by the believer.
📖 Key Scripture
Romans 6:11 — "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Colossians 3:5 — "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry."
Colossians 3:10 — "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."
Ephesians 4:22-24 — "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts... And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Mortification and vivification are the two inseparable aspects of sanctification; the corruptions are the neglect of mortification (the antinomian or cheap-grace failure to put sin to death) and the neglect of vivification (a morbid sin-focus without the positive cultivation of righteousness and joy).
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Mortification and vivification as a doctrine does not undergo lexical corruption. The principal mishandlings are the neglect of one aspect at the expense of the other. The neglect of mortification (the antinomian or cheap-grace failure to put sin to death) treats sanctification as merely positive (cultivating virtue) without the rigorous putting to death of indwelling sin that Scripture commands (Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5; Owen's famous principle, be killing sin, or it will be killing you). The neglect of vivification produces a morbid, sin-focused spirituality — an obsessive preoccupation with killing sin without the positive cultivation of righteousness, the graces of the new man, and the joy in God that vivification involves; this can produce a joyless, introspective, defeated Christian life that misses the positive, life-giving, joyful dimension of sanctification. The patriarchal-Reformed reader holds the substantive doctrine of both aspects together: sanctification is the daily putting to death of indwelling sin (mortification, the dying of the old man — the rigorous, Spirit-empowered killing of sin) AND the daily cultivation of righteousness and the graces of the new man (vivification, the quickening of the new man — the positive, joyful putting on of love, kindness, humility, meekness, and all the graces, with heartfelt joy in God through Christ). The two are inseparable and simultaneous: as the old man is put off, the new man is put on; as sin is killed, righteousness is cultivated; as the believer dies to sin, he lives to God (Romans 6:11). Both are the work of the Spirit, in which the believer actively participates, dependent on grace; the Christian life is the lifelong, joyful, rigorous work of dying to sin and living to God.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
The two aspects of sanctification: mortification (putting sin to death, the old man dying) and vivification (making alive to righteousness, the new man quickening); Heidelberg Q. 88-90; Romans 6; Colossians 3:5-10; Ephesians 4:22-24.
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['Latin', '—', 'mortificatio', 'mortification, putting to death']
['Latin', '—', 'vivificatio', 'vivification, making alive']
['Greek', 'G2227', 'zoopoieo', 'to make alive, quicken']
Usage
"Mortification and vivification: the two aspects of sanctification."
"Mortification (putting sin to death) and vivification (cultivating righteousness); Heidelberg Q. 88-90."
"Inseparable and simultaneous; both wrought by the Spirit and pursued by the believer."