Rom 5:6-8 | JFB | STEP | 6-8. For when we were yet without strength —that is, powerless to deliver ourselves, and so ready to perish. in due time —at the appointed season. Christ died for the ungodly —Three signal properties of God's love are here given: First, "Christ died for the ungodly, " whose character, so far from meriting any interposition in their behalf, was altogether repulsive to the eye of God; second, He did this "when they were without strength "—with nothing between them and perdition but that self-originating divine compassion; third, He did this " at the due time, " when it was most fitting that it should take place (compare ), The two former of these properties the apostle now proceeds to illustrate.

Romans 5:6-8

6-8. For when we were yet without strength—that is, powerless to deliver ourselves, and so ready to perish.

in due time—at the appointed season.

Christ died for the ungodly—Three signal properties of God's love are here given: First, "Christ died for the ungodly," whose character, so far from meriting any interposition in their behalf, was altogether repulsive to the eye of God; second, He did this "when they were without strength"—with nothing between them and perdition but that self-originating divine compassion; third, He did this "at the due time," when it was most fitting that it should take place (compare Ga 4:4), The two former of these properties the apostle now proceeds to illustrate.

7. For scarcely for a righteous man—a man of simply unexceptionable character.

will one—"any one"

die: yet peradventure for a good man—a man who, besides being unexceptionable, is distinguished for goodness, a benefactor to society.

some—"some one."

would—rather, "doth."

even dare to die—"Scarce an instance occurs of self-sacrifice for one merely upright; though for one who makes himself a blessing to society there may be found an example of such noble surrender of life" (So BENGEL, OLSHAUSEN, THOLUCK, ALFORD, PHILIPPI). (To make the "righteous" and the "good" man here to mean the same person, and the whole sense to be that "though rare, the case may occur, of one making a sacrifice of life for a worthy character" [as CALVIN, BEZA, FRITZSCHE, JOWETT], is extremely flat.)

8. But God commendeth—"setteth off," "displayeth"—in glorious contrast with all that men will do for each other.

his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners—that is, in a state not of positive "goodness," nor even of negative "righteousness," but on the contrary, "sinners," a state which His soul hateth.

Christ died for us—Now comes the overpowering inference, emphatically redoubled.