V. (1-11) A description of the serene and blissful state which the sense of justification brings. Faith brings justification; justification brings (let us see that it _does_ bring) peace — peace with God, through the mediation of Jesus. To that mediation it is that the Christian owes his state of g... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING JUSTIFIED. — The present chapter is thus linked on to the last. Christ was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification. “Being _justified_ then,” &c. This opening has a wonderful beauty which centres in the Christian idea of peace. After all the gloomy retrospect which f... [ Continue Reading ]
BY WHOM. — More accurately translated, _through whom also we have had our access_ (Ellicott). “Have had” when we first became Christians, and now while we are such. INTO THIS GRACE. — This state of acceptance and favour with God, the fruit of justification. REJOICE. — The word used elsewhere for “... [ Continue Reading ]
But much more than this. The Christian’s glorying is not confined to the future; it embraces the present as well. It extends even to what would naturally be supposed to be the very opposite of a ground for glorying — to the persecutions that we have to undergo as Christians. (Comp. especially Matthe... [ Continue Reading ]
A climax in which are put forward higher and higher grades of fortitude and constancy.... [ Continue Reading ]
EXPERIENCE. — “Approvedness,” the quality of being tried and approved. The result of patient endurance is to test, confirm, and refine the better elements of faith. Out of this, in its turn, grows hope. Hope began and ends the circle. It is the knowledge of what is in store for him that, in the firs... [ Continue Reading ]
HOPE MAKETH NOT ASHAMED. — This Christian hope does not disappoint or deceive. It is quite certain of its object. The issue will prove it to be well founded. BECAUSE THE LOVE OF GOD. — This hope derives its certainty from the consciousness of justifying love. The believer feeling the love of God (_... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHEN WE WERE YET... — The reading at the beginning of this verse is doubtful. The reading of the Vatican MS. is very attractive, “If at least,” “If, as we know to be the fact, Christ died,” &c. But, unfortunately, this has not much further external support. If we keep the common reading we must... [ Continue Reading ]
(6-11) Exposition showing how the love of God comes to have this cogency. That love was evidenced in the death of Christ. And consider what that death was. It is rare enough for one man to die for another — even for a good man. Christ died not for good men, but for sinners, and while they were sinne... [ Continue Reading ]
YET PERADVENTURE. — The true reading is, undoubtedly, _for peradventure._ FOR A GOOD MAN. — Literally, _for the good_ (_man_)_, i.e.,_ for the good man in question, the righteous man mentioned above. It would be possible to take the phrase “for the good” as neuter rather than masculine, and to under... [ Continue Reading ]
(7-8) What makes the sacrifice of Christ so paradoxical is that it was undergone for _sinners._ Even for a righteous man it is rare enough to find another who will be ready to lay down his life. Yet some such persons there are. The one thing which is most extraordinary in the death of Christ, and wh... [ Continue Reading ]
COMMENDETH. — The English word happily covers the double meaning of the Greek. The same word is used (1) of things in the sense of “prove” or “establish,” here and in Romans 3:5; (2) of persons in the sense of “recommend,” in Romans 16:1. HIS LOVE. — Strictly, _His own love._ The love both of God a... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM WRATH. — _From the wrath,_ the divine wrath, or the wrath to come.... [ Continue Reading ]
The interval that separates the state of enmity from the state of reconciliation is a large one, that which separates the state of reconciliation from the state of salvation a small one. And yet there is a difference. Reconciliation is the initial act; the removal of the load of guilt, justification... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOT ONLY SO. — Some such word as “reconciled must be supplied from the previous verse. “We shall be saved as the sequel of our reconciliation, but we are something more than reconciled. Ours is not merely a passive, but an active state. We exult or glory in God, who, through Christ, has given us... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE. — The train of thought which follows is suggested by the mention which had just been made of atonement, reconciliation. We see here another instance of the Apostle’s fondness for transcendental theology, and for the development of the deeper mysteries of God’s dealings with man. The rapid... [ Continue Reading ]
(12-21) Contrast between the reign of death introduced by the sin of Adam, and the reign of life introduced by the atonement of Christ. The sequence is, first sin, then death. Now, the death which passed over mankind had its origin in Adam’s sin. Strictly speaking, there could be no individual sin t... [ Continue Reading ]
So much we can see; so much is simple matter of history, that sin was in the world from Adam downwards. But here comes the difficulty. Sin there was, but why guilt? And why death, the punishment of guilt? The pre-Mosaic man sinned indeed, but could not rightly be condemned for his sin until there wa... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THE SIMILITUDE OF ADAM’S TRANSGRESSION — _i.e._, “in direct defiance of divine command.” They had not incurred just punishment as Adam had, and yet they died. Why? Because of Adam’s sin, the effects of which extended to them all, just in the same way as the effects of the death of Christ exten... [ Continue Reading ]
Now comes the statement of the contrast which extends over the next five verses. The points of difference are thrown into relief by the points of resemblance. These may be, perhaps, best presented by the subjoined scheme: — _Persons of the action._ One man, Adam. One Man, Christ. _The action._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE JUDGMENT WAS BY ONE. — The judgment, verdict, or sentence from a single case ends in, or in other words takes the form of, condemnation; whereas, on the other hand, the free gift, starting from or prompted by many sins, ends in, takes the form of, justification. In the former of these cases the... [ Continue Reading ]
Further confirmation of the contrast between the effect of Adam’s sin and the atonement of Christ. The one produced a reign of death, the other shall produce a reign of life.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE. — Recapitulating what has just been said. THE OFFENCE OF ONE. — Rather, _One trespass._ JUDGMENT CAME. — These words are supplied in the English version, but they are somewhat too much of a paraphrase. It is better to render simply, _the issue was,_ which words may also be substituted f... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY WERE MADE SINNERS. — _The many,_ or mankind collectively, were placed in the position of sinners. OBEDIENCE. — This term is chosen in contradistinction to the disobedience of Adam. The obedience of Christ was an element in the atonement. (Comp. Philippians 2:8, where it is said that he “became... [ Continue Reading ]
ENTERED. — A graphic metaphorical expression: “Came in to the side of” the sin already existing; “took its place,” as it were, “by the side of” sin, and joined forces with it, thus greatly adding to its extent and power. ABOUND. — This word should be reserved for the last of the three places in thi... [ Continue Reading ]
The Apostle had already (Romans 5:13) alluded to the intervention of the Law. Now he returns to the topic, and in order to complete his historical view of the origin of sin through Adam, and its atonement through Christ, he considers what was its effect upon the former, and how that effect was met a... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO DEATH. — Rather, _in death;_ death being, as it were, the domain in which its sovereignty was exercised. In this last section we seem still to trace the influence of the school of Gamaliel. It appears that the Jewish doctors also attributed universal mortality to the fall of Adam, and regarded... [ Continue Reading ]