For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
Ver. 14. The love of Christ, &c.] As reward hath an attractive, and punishment an impulsive, so love hath a compulsive faculty. This love of Christ had so closed in St Paul, so hemmed him in, and begirt him round, that his adversaries reported him a mad man, as 2 Corinthians 5:13; he erred in love toward his sweet Saviour, and even exhaled has blessed soul in continual sallies, as it were, and expressions of his dear affection to the Lord Jesus. The word συνεχει he here useth, imports that he was even shut up by his love to his dear Lord, as in a pound or pinfold, so that he could not get out. He had meditated so much upon Christ's love, donec totus fixus in corde, qui totus fixus in cruce, that his heart was turned into a lump of love.
Then were all dead] All the body suffered in and with Christ the head, and so are freed by his death, Hebrews 2:9, as if themselves in person had died.