Meaning, commentary and cross references
Romans 5:8
“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
NIV · New International Version
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
WEB · World English Bible
But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
What does Romans 5:8 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love towards us,.... That is, he hath manifested it, which was before hid in his heart; he has given clear evidence of it, a full proof and demonstration of it; he has so confirmed it by this instance, that there is no room nor reason to doubt of it; he has illustrated and set it off with the greater lustre by this circumstance of it, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. God's elect were sinners in Adam, in whom they were naturally and federally, as all mankind were; hence polluted and guilty; and so they are in their own persons whilst unregenerate: they are dead in sin, and live in it, commit it, are slaves unto it, and are under the power and…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Romans 5:6–21
The character we were under when Christ died for us. 1. We were without strength (Rom 5:6), in a sad condition; and, which is worse, altogether unable to help ourselves out of that condition - lost, and no visible way open for our recovery - our condition deplorable, and in a manner desperate; and, therefore our salvation is here said to come in due time. God's time to help and save is when those that are to be saved are without strength, that his own power and grace may be the more magnified, Deu 32:36. It is the manner of God to help at a dead lift, 2.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Romans 5:6–9
8. But God confirms, etc. The verb, sunistesi, has various meanings; that which is most suitable to this place is that of confirming; for it was not the Apostle's object to excite our gratitude, but to strengthen the trust and confidence of our souls. He then confirms, that is, exhibits his love to us as most certain and complete, inasmuch as for the sake of the ungodly he spared not Christ his own Son.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Romans 5:5–11 (WEB)
5and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a good person someone would even dare to die. 8But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 10For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life. 11Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Cross references
- John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
- John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
- Romans 5:6
For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
- 1 Peter 3:18
Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit,
- 1 John 4:9–10
By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his only born Son into the world that we might live through him.
- 1 John 3:16
By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
- Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
- Ephesians 2:7
that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus;