Romans 5:1

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Romans 5:1 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
Romans 5:1 — American Standard Version

Context — Romans 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“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 us, for, as such, it is a part of sanctification; nor as our work or act, as…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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 written, let us pause and ask--If it be the privilege of the justified to "have…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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, because, The sinner is represented as the enemy of God, Romans 8:7; Ephesians 2:16;…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“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 · Modern study notes
“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 underlying Greek verb is indicative, as translated here. A number of other…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“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 Romans 5:2”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification