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Romans Chapter 5

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) 21 Verses

What is Romans 5 about?

Paul's systematic exposition of the gospel — justification by faith, the sovereignty of God, sin's universality, and life in the Spirit. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
2through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3And not only so, but we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh stedfastness;
4and stedfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope:
5and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us.
6For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly.
7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: for peradventure for the good man some one would even dare to die.
8But God commendeth 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, shall we be saved from the wrath [of God] through him.
10For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life;
11and not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
12Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned:--
13for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam`s transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come.
15But not as the trespass, so also [is] the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many.
16And not as through one that sinned, [so] is the gift: for the judgment [came] of one unto condemnation, but the free gift [came] of many trespasses unto justification.
17For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, [even] Jesus Christ.
18So then as through one trespass [the judgment came] unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness [the free gift came] unto all men to justification of life.
19For as through the one man`s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous.
20And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:
21that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Therefore being justified by faith, etc..] Not that faith is at the first of our justification; for that is a sentence which passed in the mind of God from all eternity, and which passed on Christ, and on all the elect considered in him, when he rose from the dead; (see <450425>Romans 4:25); nor is it the chief, or has it the chief place in justification; it is not the efficient cause of it, it is God that justifies, and not faith; it is not the moving cause of it, that is the free grace of God; it is not the matter of it, that is the righteousness of Christ: we are not justified by faith, either as God's work in…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“THE BLESSED EFFECTS OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH. (Rom 5:1-11) Therefore being--"having been." justified by faith, we have peace with God, &c.--If we are to be guided by manuscript authority, the true reading here, beyond doubt, is, "Let us have peace"; a reading, however, which most reject, because they think it unnatural to exhort men to have what it belongs to God to give, because the apostle is not here giving exhortations, but stating matters of fact. But as it seems hazardous to set aside the decisive testimony of manuscripts, as to what the apostle did write, in favor of what we merely think he ought to have…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Therefore - οὖν oun Since we are thus justified, or as a consequence of being justified, we have peace. Being justified by faith - See the notes at Romans 1:17; Romans 3:24; Romans 4:5. We - That is, all who are justified. The apostle is evidently speaking of true Christians. Have peace with God - see the note at John 14:27. True religion is often represented as peace with God; see Acts 10:36; Romans 8:6; Romans 10:15; Romans 14:17; Galatians 5:22; see also Isaiah 32:17. “And the work of righteousness shall be peace, And the effect of righteousness. Quietness and assurance forever:” This is called peace,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“Being justified by faith - This is the sum of the preceding chapters. We have peace with God - Being enemies to God no longer, Rom 5:10; neither fearing his wrath, Rom 5:9. We have peace, hope, love, and power over sin, the sum of the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth chapters. These are the fruits of justifying faith: where these are not, that faith is not. Romans 5:2”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“5:1–8:39 Paul now turns from the Good News about how people enter a relationship with God to the security of that relationship. Christians have a strong and unassailable promise because of God’s work in Christ, God’s love for them, and the power of the Holy Spirit. This theme frames the teaching of these chapters (5:1-11; 8:18-39) as Paul grounds that promise in the transfer of believers from the realm of Adam to the realm of Christ (5:12-21). No power—whether sin (ch 6), the law (ch 7), or death (8:1-13)—“will ever be able to separate us from the love of God” (8:39). 5:1 we have peace: In many manuscripts, the…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“being: Rom 5:9, Rom 5:18, Rom 1:17, Rom 3:22, Rom 3:26-28, Rom 3:30, Rom 4:5, Rom 4:24, Rom 4:25, Rom 9:30, Rom 10:10; Hab 2:4; Joh 3:16-18, Joh 5:24; Act 13:38, Act 13:39; Gal 2:16, Gal 3:11-14, Gal 3:25, Gal 5:4-6; Phi 3:9; Jam 2:23-26 we have: Rom 5:10, Rom 1:7, Rom 10:15, Rom 14:17, Rom 15:13, Rom 15:33; Job 21:21; Psa 85:8-10, Psa 122:6; Isa 27:5, Isa 32:17, Isa 54:13, Isa 55:12, Isa 57:19-21; Zac 6:13; Luk 2:14, Luk 10:5, Luk 10:6; Luk 19:38, Luk 19:42; Joh 14:27, Joh 16:33; Act 10:36; Co2 5:18-20; Eph 2:14-17; Col 1:20, Col 3:15; Th1 5:23; Th2 3:16; Heb 13:20; Jam 2:23 through: Rom 6:23; Joh 20:31; Eph 2:7…”
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