Teks -- Romans 5:8 (NET)

5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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Robertson: Rom 5:8 - His own love

His own love ( tēn heautou agapēn ).

See note on Joh 3:16 as the best comment here.

Robertson: Rom 5:8 - While we were yet sinners

While we were yet sinners ( eti hamartōlōn ontōn ).

Genitive absolute again. Not because we were Jews or Greeks, rich or poor, righteous or good, but plain sinners. Cf. Luk 18:13, the plea of the publican, "moi tōi hamartōlōi ."

Vincent: Rom 5:8 - Commendeth

Commendeth

See on Rom 3:5. Note the present tense. God continuously establishes His love in that the death of Christ remains as its most striking manifestation.

Vincent: Rom 5:8 - His love

His love ( ἑαυτοῦ )

Rev., more literally, His own . Not in contrast with human love, but as demonstrated by Christ's act of love.

Wesley: Rom 5:8 - But God recommendeth

A most elegant expression. Those are wont to be recommended to us, who were before either unknown to, or alienated from, us.

Wesley: Rom 5:8 - While we were sinners

So far from being good, that we were not even just.

JFB: Rom 5:6-8 - For when we were yet without strength

That is, powerless to deliver ourselves, and so ready to perish.

JFB: Rom 5:6-8 - in due time

At the appointed season.

JFB: Rom 5:6-8 - Christ died for the ungodly

Three signal properties of God's love are here given: First, "Christ died for the ungodly," whose character, so far from meriting any interposition in their behalf, was altogether repulsive to the eye of God; second, He did this "when they were without strength"--with nothing between them and perdition but that self-originating divine compassion; third, He did this "at the due time," when it was most fitting that it should take place (compare Gal 4:4), The two former of these properties the apostle now proceeds to illustrate.

JFB: Rom 5:8 - But God commendeth

"setteth off," "displayeth"--in glorious contrast with all that men will do for each other.

JFB: Rom 5:8 - his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners

That is, in a state not of positive "goodness," nor even of negative "righteousness," but on the contrary, "sinners," a state which His soul hateth.

JFB: Rom 5:8 - Christ died for us

Now comes the overpowering inference, emphatically redoubled.

Clarke: Rom 5:8 - But God commendeth his love, etc.

But God commendeth his love, etc. - συνιστησι· God hath set this act of infinite mercy in the most conspicuous light, so as to recommend it to the notice and admiration of all

Clarke: Rom 5:8 - While we were yet sinners

While we were yet sinners - We were neither righteous nor good; but impious and wicked. See the preceding verse, and see the note on Rom 5:6.

Calvin: Rom 5:8 - NO PHRASE

8.=== But God confirms, === etc. The verb, συνίστησι, 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. In this, indeed, his love appears, that being not moved by love on our part, he of his own good will first loved us, as John tells us. (1Jo 3:16.) — Those are here called sinners, (as in many other places,) who are wholly vicious and given up to sin, according to what is said in Joh 9:31, “God hears not sinners,” that is, men abandoned and altogether wicked. The woman called “a sinner,” was one of a shameful character. (Luk 7:37.) And this meaning appears more evident from the contrast which immediately follows, — for being now justified through his blood: for since he sets the two in opposition, the one to the other, and calls those justified who are delivered from the guilt of sin, it necessarily follows that those are sinners who, for their evil deeds, are condemned. ¹⁶¹ The import of the whole is, — since Christ has attained righteousness for sinner by his death, much more shall he protect them, being now justified, from destruction. And in the last clause he applies to his own doctrine the comparison between the less and the greater: for it would not have been enough for salvation to have been once procured for us, were not Christ to render it safe and secure to the end. And this is what the Apostle now maintains; so that we ought not to fear, that Christ will cut off the current of his favor while we are in the middle of our course: for inasmuch as he has reconciled us to the Father, our condition is such, that he purposes more efficaciously to put forth and daily to increase his favor towards us.

TSK: Rom 5:8 - commendeth // in that

commendeth : Rom 5:20, Rom 3:5; Joh 15:13; Eph 1:6-8, Eph 2:7; 1Ti 1:16

in that : Isa 53:6; 1Pe 3:18; 1Jo 3:16, 1Jo 4:9, 1Jo 4:10

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Poole: Rom 5:8 - God commendeth his love toward us // In that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us

God commendeth his love toward us i.e. he declareth or confirmeth it by this, as a most certain sign, he makes it most conspicuous or illustrious: see Joh 3:16 1Jo 4:9,10 .

In that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us i.e. in a state of sin, and under the guilt and power of sin. Believers in some sense are still sinners, 1Jo 1:8 , but their sins being pardoned and subdued, they go no longer under that denomination. Sinners in Scripture are said to be those in whom sin dwells and reigns; see Joh 9:31 . Such we were by nature. Yea, we were not only sinners, but enemies to God, which further commendeth the love of Christ in dying for us: there is no greater love amongst men, than when one layeth down his life for his friends; but herein Christ’ s love excelled, that he gave his life for his enemies.

Gill: Rom 5:8 - But God commendeth his love towards us // in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us

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 dominion of it; and many of them are the chief and vilest of sinners; and such they were considered when Christ died for them: but are not God's people sinners after conversion? yes; but sin has not the dominion over them; their life is not a course of sinning, as before; and besides, they are openly justified and pardoned, as well as renewed, and sanctified, and live in newness of life; so that their characters now are taken, not from their worse, but better part. And that before conversion is particularly mentioned here, to illustrate the love of God to them, notwithstanding this their character and condition; and to show that the love of God to them was very early; it anteceded their conversion; it was before the death of Christ for them; yea, it was from everlasting: and also to express the freeness of it, and to make it appear, that it did not arise from any loveliness in them; or from any love in them to him; nor from any works of righteousness done by them, but from his own sovereign will and pleasure.