Romans 5:6-8 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

For How can we now doubt of God's love, since when we were without strength Either to think, will, or do any thing good; were utterly incapable of making any atonement for our transgressions, or of delivering ourselves from the depth of guilt and misery into which we were plunged; in due time Neither too soon nor too late, but in that very point of time which the wisdom of God knew to be more proper than any other; Christ died for the ungodly For the sake, and instead of, such as were enemies to God, (Romans 5:10,) and could not merit any favour from him: that is, for Jews and Gentiles, when they were, as has been proved in the first three Chapter s, all under sin. Observe, reader, Christ not only died to set us an example, or to procure us power to follow it, but to atone for our sins; for it does not appear that this expression, of dying for any one, has any other signification than that of rescuing his life by laying down our own. “By the ungodly here, Mr. Locke understands Gentiles, as also by weak, sinners, enemies, &c. They are undoubtedly included; but it seems very inconsistent with the whole strain of the apostle's argument in the preceding Chapter s, to confine it to them. Compare Romans 3:9-20; Romans 3:22-23; Romans 4:5; Romans 5:20. I therefore,” says Dr. Doddridge, “all along explain such passages in the most extensive sense; and think nothing in the whole New Testament plainer, than that the gospel supposes every human creature, to whom it is addressed, to be in a state of guilt and condemnation, and incapable of being accepted with God, any otherwise than through the grace and mercy which it proclaims. Compare John 3:16; John 3:36; John 5:24; 1 John 3:14; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:47; and especially 1 John 1:10, than which no assertion can be more positive and express.” For scarcely for a righteous, or rather, honest, just, and unblameable man One who gives to all what is strictly their due; would one be willing to die Though apprehended to be in the most immediate danger: yet for a good man A kind, merciful, compassionate, bountiful man; peradventure some would even dare to die Every word increases the strangeness of the thing, and declares even this to be something great and unusual. But God commendeth Greek, συνιστησι, recommendeth. A most elegant and proper expression; for those are wont to be recommended to us who were before either unknown to, or alienated from us. In that while we were yet sinners So far from being good, that we were not even just; and were not only undeserving of his favour, but obnoxious to wrath and punishment; Christ died for us Died in our stead, that our guilt might be cancelled, and we brought into a state of acceptance with God.