Rom 5:2-5 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 2. We have access . . "I am the way," etc. Doddridge renders it, "by whom we have been introduced ," etc. It means, by whom we have the privilege of obtaining the favour of God which we enjoy when we are justified . The word rendered "access" occurs but in two other places in the New Testament, . By Jesus Christ the way is opened for us to obtain the favour of God. By faith . By means of faith, . Into this grace . Into this favour of reconciliation with God. Wherein we stand . In which we now are in consequence of being justified. And rejoice . Religion is often represented as producing joy, ; . The sources or steps of this joy are these: (1.) We are justified, or regarded by God as righteous. (2.) We are admitted into his favour, and abide there. (3.) We have the prospect of still higher and richer blessings in the fulness of his glory when we are admitted to heaven. In hope . In the earnest desire and expectation of obtaining that glory. Hope is a complex emotion, made up of a desire for an object, and an expectation of obtaining it. Where either of these is wanting, there is not hope . Where they are mingled in improper proportions, there is not peace. But where the desire of obtaining an object is attended with an expectation of obtaining it in proportion to that desire, there exists that peaceful, happy state of mind which we denominate hope. And the apostle here implies that the Christian has an earnest desire for that glory; and that he has a confident expectation of obtaining it. The result of that he immediately states to be, that we are by it sustained in our afflictions. The glory of God . The glory that God will bestow on us. The word glory usually means splendour, magnificence, honour; and the apostle here refers to that honour and dignity which will be conferred on the redeemed when they are raised up to the full honours of redemption; when they shall triumph in the completion of the work; and be freed from sin, and pain, and tears, and permitted to participate in the full splendours that shall encompass the throne of God in the heavens. . Comp. ; . (f) "whom also" (g) "rejoice in hope"

Romans 5:2-5

Verse 2. We have access. Jn 14:6. "I am the way," etc. Doddridge renders it, "by whom we have been introduced," etc. It means, by whom we have the privilege of obtaining the favour of God which we enjoy when we are justified. The word rendered "access" occurs but in two other places in the New Testament, Eph 2:18, 3:12. By Jesus Christ the way is opened for us to obtain the favour of God.

By faith. By means of faith, Rom 1:17.

Into this grace. Into this favour of reconciliation with God.

Wherein we stand. In which we now are in consequence of being justified.

And rejoice. Religion is often represented as producing joy, Isa 12:3, 35:10, 52:9, 61:3,7, 65:14,18, Jn 16:22,24, Acts 13:52, Rom 14:17; Gal 5:22, 1Pet 1:8. The sources or steps of this joy are these:

(1.) We are justified, or regarded by God as righteous.

(2.) We are admitted into his favour, and abide there.

(3.) We have the prospect of still higher and richer blessings in the fulness of his glory when we are admitted to heaven.

In hope. In the earnest desire and expectation of obtaining that glory. Hope is a complex emotion, made up of a desire for an object, and an expectation of obtaining it. Where either of these is wanting, there is not hope. Where they are mingled in improper proportions, there is not peace. But where the desire of obtaining an object is attended with an expectation of obtaining it in proportion to that desire, there exists that peaceful, happy state of mind which we denominate hope. And the apostle here implies that the Christian has an earnest desire for that glory; and that he has a confident expectation of obtaining it. The result of that he immediately states to be, that we are by it sustained in our afflictions.

The glory of God. The glory that God will bestow on us. The word glory usually means splendour, magnificence, honour; and the apostle here refers to that honour and dignity which will be conferred on the redeemed when they are raised up to the full honours of redemption; when they shall triumph in the completion of the work; and be freed from sin, and pain, and tears, and permitted to participate in the full splendours that shall encompass the throne of God in the heavens. Lk 2:9. Comp. Rev 21:22-24; Rev 22:5, Isa 60:19,20.

(f) "whom also" Jn 14:6 (g) "rejoice in hope" Heb 3:6 Verse 3. And not only so. We not only rejoice in times of prosperity, and of health. Paul proceeds to show that this plan is not less adapted to produce support in trials.

But we glory. The word used here is the same that is, in verse 2, translated "we rejoice" καυχωμεθα. It should have been so rendered here. The meaning is, that we rejoice not only in hope; not only in the direct results of justification, in the immediate effect which religion itself produces; but we carry our joy and triumph even into the midst of trials. In accordance with this, our Saviour directed his followers to rejoice in persecutions, Mt 5:11,12. Comp. Jas 1:2,12.

In tribulations. In afflictions. The word used here refers to all kinds of trials which men are called to endure; though it is possible that Paul referred particularly to the various persecutions and trials which they were called to endure as Christians.

Knowing. Being assured of this, Paul's assurance might have arisen from reasoning on the nature of religion, and its tendency to produce comfort; or it is more probable that he was speaking here the language of his own experience. He had found it to be so. This was written near the close of his life, and it states the personal experience of a man who endured, perhaps, as much as any one ever did, in attempting to spread the gospel; and far more than commonly falls to the lot of mankind. Yet he, like all other Christians, could leave his deliberate testimony to the fact that Christianity was sufficient to sustain the soul in its severest trials. See 2Cor 1:3-6, 11:24-29, 12:9,10.

Worketh. Produces; the effect of afflictions on the minds of Christians is to make them patient. Sinners are irritated and troubled by them; they murmur, and become more and more obstinate and rebellious. They have no sources of consolation; they deem God a hard master; and they become fretful and rebellious just in proportion to the depth and continuance of theft trials. But in the mind of a Christian, who regards his Father's hand in it; who sees that he deserves no mercy; who has confidence in the wisdom and goodness of God; who feels that it is necessary for his own good to be afflicted; and who experiences its happy, subduing, and mild effect in restraining his sinful passions, and in weaning him from the world--the effect is to produce patience. Accordingly, it will usually be found that those Christians who are longest and most severely afflicted are the most patient. Year after year of suffering produces increased peace and calmness of soul; and at the end of his course the Christian is more willing to be afflicted, and bears his afflictions more calmly, than at the beginning. He who on earth was most afflicted was the most patient of all sufferers; and not less patient when he was "led as a lamb to the slaughter," than when he experienced the first trial in his great work.

Patience. "A calm temper, which suffers evils without murmuring or discontent."-- Webster.

(h) "glory in tribulations" Mt 5:11,12, Jas 1:2,12 Verse 4. And patience, experience. Patient endurance of trial produces experience. The word rendered experience (δοκιμην) means trial, testing, or that thorough examination by which we ascertain the quality or nature of a thing, as when we test a metal by fire, or in any other way, to ascertain that it is genuine. It also means approbation, or the result of such a trial; the being approved, and accepted as the effect of a trying process. The meaning is, that long afflictions borne patiently show a Christian what he is; they test his religion, and prove that it is genuine. Afflictions are often sent for this purpose, and patience in the midst of them shows that the religion which can sustain them is from God.

And experience, hope. The result of such long trial is to produce hope. They show that religion is genuine; that it is from God; and not only so, but they direct the mind onward to another world, and sustain the soul by the prospect of a glorious immortality there. The various steps and stages of the benefits of afflictions are thus beautifully delineated by the apostle in a manner which accords with the experience of all the children of God. Verse 5. And hope maketh not ashamed. That is, this hope will not disappoint, or deceive. When we hope for an object which we do not obtain, we are conscious of disappointment; perhaps sometimes of a feeling of shame. But the apostle says that the Christian hope is such that it will be fulfilled; it will not disappoint; what we hope for we shall certainly obtain. See Php 1:20. The expression used here is probably taken from Ps 22:4,5: "Our fathers trusted in thee;

They trusted; and thou didst deliver them.

They cried unto thee.

And were delivered;

They trusted in thee,

And were not confounded," [ashamed.]

Because the love of God. Love toward God. There is produced an abundant, an overflowing love to God.

Is shed abroad. Is diffused; is poured out; is abundantly produced, (εκκεχυται). This word is properly applied to water, or to any other liquid that is poured out, or diffused. It is used also to denote imparting, or communicating freely or abundantly, and is thus expressive of the influence of the Holy Spirit poured down, or abundantly imparted to men, Acts 10:45. Here it means that love towards God is copiously or abundantly given to a Christian; his heart is conscious of high and abundant love to God, and by this he is sustained in his afflictions.

By the Holy Ghost. It is produced by the influence of the Holy Spirit. All Christian graces are traced to his influence. Gal 5:22, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy," etc.

Which is given unto us. Which Spirit is given or imparted to us. The Holy Spirit is thus represented as dwelling in the hearts of believers, 1Cor 6:19, 3:16, 2Cor 6:16. In all these places it is meant that Christians are under his sanctifying influence; that he produces in their hearts the Christian graces; and fills their minds with peace, and love, and joy.

(i) "hope maketh not ashamed" Php 1:20 (k) "Holy Ghost which is given" Eph 1:13,14