WHAT IT MEANS
Love Demonstrated at the Cross
God’s love is demonstrated in Christ dying for us while we were still sinners, not after we became worthy.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
CONTEXT
What is happening here?
Paul is explaining the peace, hope, and reconciliation that flow from justification by faith.
APPLY IT
For today
When shame tells you to hide from God, remember that the cross began with grace toward sinners.
Read it in 5 translations
KJV King James Version
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
BSB Berean Standard Bible
But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
WEB World English Bible
But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
ASV American Standard Version
But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
and God doth commend His own love to us, that, in our being still sinners, Christ did die for us;
Surrounding context — Romans 5
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only [so], but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
συνίστησινG4921 · sunistēmi, sunistaōto commendδὲG1161 · dethenτὴνG3588 · hothe/this/whoἑαυτοῦG1438 · heautouthemselfἀγάπηνG26 · agapēloveεἰςG1519 · eistowardἡμᾶςG3165 · memeὁG3588 · hothe/this/whoθεός,G2316 · theosGodὅτιG3754 · hotithat/since: thatἔτιG2089 · etistillἁμαρτωλῶνG268 · hamartōlossinfulὄντωνG1510 · eimito beἡμῶνG3165 · memeΧριστὸςG5547 · ChristosChristὑπὲρG5228 · huperabove/forἡμῶνG3165 · memeἀπέθανεν.G599 · apothnēskōto die
Cross-references
John 15:13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.John 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.Romans 5:6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.1 Peter 3:18For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:1 John 3:16Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.1 John 4:9-10In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.Isaiah 53:6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.Ephesians 2:7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.Romans 4:25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.Ephesians 1:6-8To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.Romans 5:20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:1 Timothy 1:16Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.Romans 3:5But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? [Is] God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
CLASSIC COMMENTARY & PREACHING
Spurgeon on Romans 5:8
Read Charles H. Spurgeon material whose primary Scripture is this verse or passage.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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