Romans 5:8

King James Version (KJV)

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

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.

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

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

But God commendeth … - God has exhibited or showed his love in this unusual and remarkable manner.

His love - His kind feeling; his beneficence; his willingness to submit to sacrifice to do good to others.

While we were yet sinners - And of course his enemies. In this, his love surpasses all that has ever been manifested among people.

Christ died for us - In our stead; to save us from death. He took our place; and by dying himself on the cross, saved us from dying eternally in hell.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Christ died for sinners; not only such as were useless, but such as were guilty and hateful; such that their everlasting destruction would be to the glory of God's justice. Christ died to save us, not in our sins, but from our sins; and we were yet sinners when he died for us. Nay, the carnal mind is not only an enemy to God, but enmity itself, chap. 8:7; Col 1:21. But God designed to deliver from sin, and to work a great change. While the sinful state continues, God loathes the sinner, and the sinner loathes God, Zec 11:8. And that for such as these Christ should die, is a mystery; no other such an instance of love is known, so that it may well be the employment of eternity to adore and wonder at it. Again; what idea had the apostle when he supposed the case of some one dying for a righteous man? And yet he only put it as a thing that might be. Was it not the undergoing this suffering, that the person intended to be benefitted might be released therefrom? But from what are believers in Christ released by his death? Not from bodily death; for that they all do and must endure. The evil, from which the deliverance could be effected only in this astonishing manner, must be more dreadful than natural death. There is no evil, to which the argument can be applied, except that which the apostle actually affirms, sin, and wrath, the punishment of sin, determined by the unerring justice of God. And if, by Divine grace, they were thus brought to repent, and to believe in Christ, and thus were justified by the price of his bloodshedding, and by faith in that atonement, much more through Him who died for them and rose again, would they be kept from falling under the power of sin and Satan, or departing finally from him. The living Lord of all, will complete the purpose of his dying love, by saving all true believers to the uttermost. Having such a pledge of salvation in the love of God through Christ, the apostle declared that believers not only rejoiced in the hope of heaven, and even in their tribulations for Christ's sake, but they gloried in God also, as their unchangeable Friend and all-sufficient Portion, through Christ only.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

8. Commendeth. Gr. sunistÃ„â€œmi, which may also be rendered, “establishes,” “proves” (see on ch. 3:5). Hence the passage may be translated, “God gives proof of His love to us.” The Greek word also carries the meaning of “to recommend” (see Rom. 16:1; 2 Cor. 4:2). Hence the KJV “commend” may be appropriate here as covering both possible senses, and both may be implied in this context. Christ’s death for sinners not only proves God’s love to be a fact but also sets this love before us in all its greatness and perfection.

The form of the word in the Greek indicates that God continues to prove and commend His love for us. The sacrifice of Christ remains as the greatest demonstration of His love. Jesus died once for all, yet in the enduring results of His death we have ever-present proof of God’s love for each of us.

His love. Literally, “His own love.” The love of God the Father was displayed in the death of Christ. This vital fact must be recognized for a correct understanding of the atonement (see on ch. 3:25). Christ did not die to appease His Father or to induce Him to love us. It was divine love that conceived the plan of atonement and salvation in the beginning, and the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have all worked together in perfect harmony to effect it (see John 3:16; 10:30; 14:16, 26; 15:26; 17:11, 22, 23; Rom. 3:24; 8:32; Eph. 2:4-7; 2 Thess. 2:16; 1 John 4:10).

Some find it difficult to reconcile this conception of the eternal love of God with the frequently mentioned divine wrath. But divine wrath is God’s antagonism to sin, resulting ultimately in the complete eradication of sin from the universe. So long as men choose to remain under the dominion of sin they are inevitably involved in God’s wrath (see on Rom. 1:18). It was His own love for sinners that led God to give His Son to die, and He gave Himself in that atoning sacrifice (2 Cor. 5:19).

Yet sinners. There was nothing in man to deserve God’s love. The hypothetical “good man” of v. 7 was benevolent and lovable and inspired affection. But the love that God exercised toward us was not a response to any love we had for Him, for we were His enemies. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us” (1 John 4:10).

For. Gr. huper, which may be taken to mean “in behalf of,” “instead of.” Paul does not say only that Christ died “in our stead,” as “a propitiation” (ch. 3:25), as “an offering and a sacrifice” for us (Eph. 5:2), and as the “ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:6). If Christ’s death had been an unwilling one, it would have been enough to say that He died “instead of us.” But Paul says also that Christ died “for” us, “in our behalf.” As our Champion, Friend, and Brother, He deliberately and willingly gave His own life for our sake, because He loved us (Eph. 5:2). By this sacrifice He became our Representative, for when “one died for all, then were all dead” (2 Cor. 5:14). Thus it is correct to say that Christ died “in our stead” and “in our behalf,” and the simple word “for” seems to be an appropriate choice to cover both of these ideas.

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Ellen G. White
Our High Calling, 131.3

God will be to us everything we will let Him be. Our languid, half-hearted prayers will not bring us returns from heaven. Oh, we need to press our petitions! Ask in faith, wait in faith, receive in faith, rejoice in hope, for everyone that seeketh findeth. Be in earnest in the matter. Seek God with all the heart. People put soul and earnestness into everything they undertake in temporal things, until their efforts are crowned with success. With intense earnestness learn the trade of seeking the rich blessings that God has promised, and with persevering, determined effort you shall have His light and His truth and His rich grace. OHC 131.3

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Ellen G. White
Lift Him Up, 353.5

When we consider that Christ died for the ungodly while they were yet sinners, we are led to realize how willing and even anxious He is to bless us, that we may be a blessing to others (The Review and Herald, April 21, 1896). LHU 353.5

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Ellen G. White
Faith and Works, 87.3

When the grace of Christ is implanted in the soul by the Holy Spirit, its possessor will become humble in spirit and will seek for the society of those whose conversation is upon heavenly things. Then the Spirit will take the things of Christ and show them unto us and will glorify, not the receiver, but the Giver. If, therefore, you have the sacred peace of Christ in your heart, your lips will be filled with praise and thanksgiving to God. Your prayers, the discharge of your duty, your benevolence, your self-denial, will not be the theme of your thought or conversation, but you will magnify Him who gave Himself for you when you were yet a sinner. You will say: “I give myself to Jesus. I have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write.” As you praise Him you will have a precious blessing, and all the praise and glory for that which is done through your instrumentality will be given back to God. FW 87.3

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Ellen G. White
The Faith I Live By, 50.1

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8. FLB 50.1

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