Romans 5
Dort1 Paul teacheth further what fruits comes forth in us by justification of faith, namely peace with God, patience, hope and assurance of Gods love, 5 Afterwards declares the foundations of this hope and assurance, namely the testimony of the Holy Ghost in our hearts, and the consideration, that God hath given up Christ unto death for us, when we were yet enemies, 9 concludes from thence that therefore we must also be assured of perseverance, and may boast thereof in God. 12 Afterwards makes an opposition betwixt Adam and Christ: and declareth that like as by transgression of Adam, sin and death came upon all men, so also by the obedience of Christ, righteousness and life shall come upon many. 20 Finally he declareth for what purpose the giving of the Law served.
1. WE therefore being justified by faith have peace with God [That is, the friendship of God, whereas before we were his enemies, ver. 8. and 10. and the assurance thereof in mind, whereby we are set at rest in God, John 16:33. Romans 14:17.] by our lord Jesus Christ:
2. By whom we have also adduction [Or, access to this grace, whereby it is given to understand that we went not to the grace of our selves, but that we were led thereto by Christ through his Spirit, Ephesians 2:8. Hebrews 8:10.] through faith, unto this grace [that is, unto this state of friendship and peace with God. From whence also proceeds that we may go unto him with boldness, and dare to call upon him as a Father, Ephesians 2:18. and chapter 3.12. Hebrews 4:16.] in which we stand, and boast in the hope. i.e. patient waiting for Christ] of the glory of God. [namely, which shall hereafter be revealed unto us, Rom.8.18.]
3. And not only (this) but we boast also in tribulations: [That is, we rejoice our selves therein, and insult over the same, because of the assurance that we have of the good issue thereof, Rom8.34. etc.] knowing that tribulation worketh patience. [not that tribulation doth that of its own nature; but that Christ strengthens believers against it by his Spirit, John 16:33 Rom.8.37.]
4. And patience proof, [Or experience, trying, namely of Christ help. [that the fulfilling of his promises also, and especially of eternal salvation shall follow thereupon, like as we herein find and feel the fulfilling of the promise.]
5. And hope make not ashamed, [That is, doth not fail nor deceive us. For when we expect or hope for anything even to boasting, which afterwards we miss of; we are grieved at it in our selves, and shamed before others] because the love of God [that is, wherewith he loveth us in Jesus Christ, as is expressed ver.8. which in the time of tribulation most comforts and strengthens us, Romans 8:38.39.] is poured out into our hearts [that is, abundantly witnessed, Romans 8:16.] ny the Holy Ghost which is given us. [namely, for our comforter in our minds, and an earnest of our inheritance, john 14.16, 17 2 Cor.1.22. Eph.1.3. And this is the first why hope maketh not ashamed, because the Holy Ghost cannot lie herein.]
6. For Christ, [This is the other foundation of our hope, the certainty of the love of Christ towards us, who reconciled us to God when we were yet estranged from him; much more therefore shall save us, now after that we are become his friends by faith] when we were yet without power, [or unable, namely to redeem our selves as being overcome by sin, like as of a mortal sickness in his time [or, at the right or fit time, i.e. in the time appointed by God, Gal.4.4] died for the ungodly [that is, who were sinners in themselves, and by their sins more and more provoked Gods wrath upon them.]
7. For scarcely with any man die of a righteous (person) for a good (man) [Or, profitable (man) i.e. who is serciceable or profitable to himself or others] it may be [this the Apostle saith, because though very few, yet nevertheless some were found, especially in the Roman Histories, who have given up themselves to death to deliver their friends and citizens from trouble: but none of them dyed for his enemies, as Christ did.] some one will even adventure [gr. Dare] to die.
8. But God confirms [Or, commendeth, praiseth] his love towards us, that Christ dyed for us when we were yet sinners. [that is, when sin had yet dominion over us , John 9:32. Romans 6:17. 19.20.]
9. Much more therefore being now justified by his blood [Gr. in his blood i.e. by his obedience unto the death of the cross, Phil.2.8. which is the moving cause wherefore God justifieth us, and upon which faith relyeth Rom.3.25.] shall we be saved by him from wrath. [that is, from the punishment of the future judgement, 1 Thes,1.10. which is also called the day of wrath Rom.2.5.]
10. For if we being enemies [Namely, because of sin which was in us, which God hates, and is enmity against God, Romans 8:7. Otherwise he hath said that God loved us when we were yet sinners, ver.8. namely, in respect that we were elected by him, and given to Christ to be redeemed John17.ver.2.6. Romans 9:13.] were reconciled unto God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled shall we be saved by his life. [Gr. In his life, i.e. by him who now liveth, and sitteth at the right hand of God, there intercedes for us, and had all things subjected unto him, Romans 8:34. Ephesians 1:20.21.22. etc. Heb.9.24.]
11. And not only (this) but we boast also in God [Namely, hereof that we being now reconciled shall also be saved from the wrath to come, ver. 9.10. and that God, is our God, and shall forever continue] through our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom we have now gotten the atonement
12. Therefore [In the following verses the Apostle declares how we are justified by Christ, with an apposition of Adam and his disobedience, by whom death pressed through, over all men, ver 12, 13,14. and afterward how on the contrary the obedience of Christ conduceth to our justification ver.15,16,17,18,19. by Gods imputation. And that therefore it is not absurd that we are all justified by one mans obedience, seeing we are all made sinners by one mans disobedience] as by one man [namely, Adam, 1 Cor. 15.21. under whom Eve is also comprehended for as much as these two were on flesh, and one common stock of all mankind Eph.5.31. 1 Tim2.14.] sin entered in the world, and by sin death :and so the death passed through unto all men, in which [namely, one man, as this Greek, particle, epi is also elsewhere taken for in, Mark 2:4 Hebrews 9:17. etc. and this particle in, is also used by Paul about this matter, 1 Cor.15.22. Or for as much or because they have sinned, and that also necessarily imports the same sense; for all the men that die have not committed any actual sin in themselves, as appears in infancy; and therefore must have sinned in this one man in whose loins they were: as Levi is said to given Tithes, being in the loins of Abraham, Hebrews 7:9. See a large exposition hereof in the following verses, and Job 14. ver.4. Psalms 51:7. John 3 ver 7. Ephesians 2:3. etc.] all have sinned; [namely, lo also by one man Jesus Christ, righteousness and life is come upon all believers, as Paul conclude, ver.18.19.]
13. For until the Law [Namely, given by Moses] sin was in the world: [that is, was also in the world, as appears by death, 14. which is the wages of sin, Romans 6:23.] but is not imputed, [that is, not accounted or reckoned for sin] when there is no Law. [from whence the Apostle would conclude that therefore there was another law, by the transgression of which even that time all men were sinners: and that not only the law of nature, which infants did not transgress, but the law which God had given to the first man, the transgression whereof was imputed to all, yea even unto infants, as the following verse imports.]
14. But death [Namely, not only the spiritual and eternal death, but also the corporal, of which in this verse he especially speaks, because that was apparent unto all, Romans 8:10. 1 Cor. 15.22.] reigned from Adam even unto Moses, over them also which had not sinned in the likeness of Adams transgression, [that is, who have yet committed no actual sin against the Law of God, as Adam and all grown persons after him have done, and yet nevertheless they dye. From whence therefore it appears that they are defiled with original sin.] who is a type [that is, a like pattern. Namely, that like as Adam in himself and by himself hath made all those sinners that are begotten of him in a natural manner, even so also Christ himself, and by himself, makes all those righteous, that are regenerated by him in a supernatural manner, as the following explications shows] of him which was to come. [that is, of Christ the promised seed, which should tread upon Satan’s head, Genesis 3:15. to which promise the Apostle seems here to allude. For there the second Adam is promised, as soon as the first was fallen.]
15. Yet not as the offence, [Or fall, falling-away, i.e. Adams sin, which is more times in this chapter called by this name] so also is the gift of grace. [that is, the benefit which is obtained for us by Christ, and is freely given us] For if by offence of one many are dead: [that is, not he himself alone but many others, namely, all that come from him according to nature] much more of the grace of God, [that is, the mercy and undeserved favour of God] and the gift by grace [that is, the righteousness of Christ, which by God of grace through faith is imputed to us] which is of the man Jesus Christ, was abundant [that is, more powerful and manifold. A similitude taken from water which its power and flood quencheth the fire, that so also the power and abundance of Christs righteousness extinguished sin and guilt] upon many. [that is, all those that are engrafted to him by faith.]
16. And not as (the guilt was) by the one that sinned [Namely, Adam as before] (so is) the gift. For the guilt [or judgement i.e. guilt, as 1 Tim. 5.12, namely, whereby we for sin are guilt before Gods judgment of temporal and eternal death, as appears by what follows] is indeed by one (offence) unto condemnation: namely, for them that are not delivered from this damnable state by faith in Christ] but the gift of grace is of many offences [namely, of them who have aggravate this common sin with many special sins, as all men do who are come to years] unto justification.
17. For if by the offence of one, death reigned by that one, [Namely, first Adam as before] much more shall they who receive [or apprehend, namely, by a true faith, John, 1.12] the abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, reign in life, [that is, being partakers of spiritual life, have victory over sin and the guilt thereof, Galatians 2:19,20. Ephes. 2.5.6. and hereafter the partakers of everlasting declared v.21.] by that one, (namely)
18. Therefore like as by offence (that came) upon all men to condemnation: [That is, hath brought them unto such an state, wherein they are condemnable before God, Romans 3:19. Eph.2.1,3.] so also by one righteousness of [Gr.dikatoma, so he calls the obedience of Christ, because it hath the power to justify others also, as the Greek word here imports, and is opposed to the transgressions, in which also was the power to make other sinners, v.19.] (grace commeth) upon all men [namely, who believe in him, or who receive this gift.v.17.] to justification of life.
19. For as by the disobedience of one man, [Here the Apostle concludes the likeness of Adam and of Christ, namely, that like as the disobedience of Adam is imputed to us, unto the guilt of condemnation, so Christs obedience imputed to us, for the discharging of us from that guilt. It is true that like as Adams first offence we became not only guilt of the same and of the punishment thereof, but also our nature was corrupted thereby, even so by Christs obedience we are not only freed from punishment, but also by the power thereof are by the spirit renewed and sanctified in our mind: but thereof the Apostle hath not spoken hitherto, but begins to speak of it in that which followeth. And this renovation also in this life is very imperfect, as he proved by his own example in the 7. Chapter, so that we cannot thereby be made righteous before God] many were made sinners. So also by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20. But the Law [Here the Apostle answers the objection: If we are made righteous only by the righteousness of Christ, to what purpose then was the law given to the Israelites by Moses, and declareth hat the law was not given to be justified thereby: but that sin and punishment we are liable by reason of sin, might be better known: and that so the grace of God in Christ, which justifieth us notwithstanding the grievousness of our sins, might be the more esteemed, and we might more diligently flee to the same refuge. See Galatians 3:19.] entered besides that, [namely, besides the guilt which we were subject to by nature: or besides the promise which was already made to Abraham, whereof is spoken in the former chapter, and Galatians 3:17.] that the offence might be the greater: [that is, the more apparent and also the stronger, not through the fault of the law, but of our corrupt nature, which always strives against that which is forbidden it. Rom. 7.v5.8.] and where sin became greater, (there) grace [see the annot. V.14,] was much more abundant.
21. That like as sin reigned [That is, had subdued us, or brought us under its power] unto death namely, temporal and eternal death as appears from the following opposition] so also grace [namely, of God towards us] should reign by righteousness [namely, which is by him freely given us through faith] unto eternal life [namely, which begins us here, and hereafter shall be fully revealed upon us, John 11:25,26, Colossians 3:3,4.] through Jesus Christ our Lord.