The Good News of Romans 5:1-11
By Jonathan Mitchell

The passage of Rom. 5:1-11 is a kind of prologue to the entire chapter. It sets the stage, upon which the remainder of the chapter proceeds to flesh-out Paul's presentation of the Good News, which is Jesus Christ (Mk. 1:1, Jonathan Mitchell New Testament). From Rom. 3:21 to this chapter, Paul has presented arguments concerning the new "righteousness" in Christ: the rightwised existence in the Way pointed out which also includes membership and participation in the new arrangement (covenant), which is the new existence of being "in Christ," the last Adam. The argument here begins from the reality of this new creation, with the new condition and state of being within which he, and his audience, now exist. Verse 1 opens with a statement of the fact, and the following verses develop what verse 1 asserts. This short study will offer verse by verse comments and explanations.

The common versions normally open verse 1 with something like what is found in the KJV, "Therefore, being justified by faith..." This dependent clause is a part of the Christian doctrine of "justification by faith." We wish to unpack this clause, and then investigate it with a fresh and expanded rendering in order to attain a clearer view which can expand our understanding of what Paul was saying.

1. Therefore, being folks that were eschatologically delivered, rectified and rightwised (placed in the right relationship of covenantal solidarity in the Way pointed out and made fair, equitable, just, free from guilt and turned in the right direction) from the midst of [His] faithfulness, out of trust, and from conviction, we continuously hold and progressively have [other MSS: let us (or: we can and should) habitually retain and enjoy] Peace and a Joining, face to face with God (or: a harmonious joining with God; a joining peace [directing and conducting us] toward God), through our Owner and Lord, Jesus Christ (or: Master, [the] Anointed Jesus), [cf Eph. 2:14-17; Phil. 4:7; Col. 1:20; 3:15]

On offer is a conflated, expanded rendering of the Greek passive participle, 'dikaiothentes.' First given is the phrase "eschatologically delivered," which I have adopted from Douglas C. Campbell, where he based this meaning, to a large degree, from how 'dikaiosune' was used in the LXX version of the OT. The next option given is "rectified," which means "made right or upright." Have you notice the passive voice in this participle? This is what scholars call the "divine passive," meaning that God is the actor. God has acted upon human beings, and this participle gives us the results. We have also been "rightwised" - a term which I extracted from Rudolf Bultmann - which basically means, in the passive voice, "to be turned in the right direction." Along with these, on offer (from a variety of scholars) is "placed in right relationship of covenantal solidarity."

From William Chamberlin's "Exegetical Grammar of the Greek NT," I give the basic meaning of the idea: "the way pointed out." Yes, Jesus is "the Way" which has been pointed out to us... and we are called to follow Him on this Path. Other scholars have offered: "made fair, equitable, just, free from guilt." If we consider all of these scholarly presentations, it can be seen that they all work together to give us a more complete picture of the work of God in Christ Jesus. In my own offering of this verse, rather than using the term "justified" (which tends to inject a legal, courtroom flavor into the text - which leads to a sort of legal fiction), I simply used the word "just" - i.e., it signifies a transformation of an individual, making him or her a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). Paul's conversion, in Acts 9, is a classic example of how God changes individuals - and He doesn't ask permission to do this.

Following the opening passive participle is a prepositional phrase. On offer are meanings of the preposition, 'ek,' which can mean "from the midst of," or simply "out of," or just "from." The noun in this phrase is 'pisteos.' A common rendering of this term is "faith." But it also means "trust" or "conviction," as well. Since we have God doing the action, in the passive participle, I have inserted "[His]." And rather than rendering the noun as "faith," I have chosen another meaning, "faithfulness." Jesus was faithful to His Father, and He trusted Him, and He was convinced that the way of the cross was His Father's will for Him. It is His action, which came from His faithfulness and trust, which eschatologically delivered us (etc.). But there is more.

We, as a result of what Jesus did, "continuously hold and progressively have Peace and a Joining, face to face with God." This is what Jesus promised to His disciples in John 14:27,

"I am continuously sending off (releasing away; hurling off) Joining Peace to (or: for; by; in; with) you people. My Peace (Joining) I am constantly giving to you (or: in, by, for, you folks) ..."

The Greek word for peace comes from the verb which means "to join." In 1 Cor. 6:17 Paul refers to us as being "joined to the Lord." This one verse is a synopsis of the Good News - the message of goodness, ease and well-being. Let this sink in. This is not legal fiction, it is spiritual reality, and we hold/have all this "through our Owner and Lord, Jesus Christ." This is not based upon anything we do. We were dead (Eph. 2:1), and a dead person cannot even make a decision. He has to first be raised from the dead... given Life.

2. through Whom, also, we have had and now hold the conducted approach, introduction and access (or: the act of bringing toward to gain entrée), by [His] Faithfulness (or: in this trust; with that confidence; for loyalty and fidelity), into this Grace and joyous Favor within which we have stood, and in union with, and in the sphere of, which we now stand, and so we keep on celebrating, speaking loudly and boasting upon the basis of the expectation (or: about an expectant hope) of God's glory (or: of the manifestation from God which calls forth praise; from the splendor, which is God [in His Temple]; from God's good reputation; of God's assumed appearance; from the imagination of this God). [cf Eph. 2:18; 3:12]

My first rendering of the prepositional phrase, offers the dative case of 'pistis' as an instrumental dative, "by [His] faithfulness," since this is a continuation of vs. 1. But also on offer is the parenthetical expansion: "in this trust" (a locative rendering of the dative case), or, with other functions of the dative: "with that confidence," or, "for loyalty and fidelity." The word 'pistis" has the definite article, which in the first rendering I again inserted "[His]" since the antecedent of the noun is its use in vs. 1. But, when giving other renderings of 'pistis,' I offer other functions of the definite article: "this"; "that"; and then I leave it untranslated, with "for loyalty and fidelity."

What "we have had and now hold" (the perfect tense), is "the conducted approach, introduction and access (etc.)," which leads us "into this Grace and joyous Favor within which WE HAVE STOOD... [and] NOW STAND" (again, the perfect tense - a past completed action with lasting results). And so, "we keep on celebrating..." The basis of this boasting is "the expectation of God's glory." Now, this could be read as meaning God's glory is in the future. But that reading is not necessary, as the parenthetical expansion shows us. Instead of the common rendering of the genitive case as, "of," this can instead be rendered as an ablative: "from." We now have expectations of God, and from His splendor. We have expectations from His good reputation (we know Him, and Who He is). The word "glory" can also mean an assumed appearance. Thus, God appearing in Jesus gave us expectations: healing, deliverance, etc. - all of which we enjoy now. Even our imaginations (another meaning of "glory") give us expectation about what comes with Grace and the Good News.

3. So not only this, but further, we also keep on celebrating, speaking loudly and boasting within the pressures, while exulting in these squeezing ordeals, afflictions and tribulations, having seen and thus knowing that the pressure (or: the ordeal, affliction or tribulation) is habitually producing (working down; accomplishing) a relentless remaining (or: abiding and dwelling) under [situations and circumstances] (or: humble and persistent endurance and fortitude as we get through it, as well as the patient ability to give support).

This verse begins addressing virtues which, because of our delivered and rightwised situation and new state of being (vs. 1, above), turn hard experiences into sources for producing virtues, and each virtue (as fruit which has seeds within it), in turn, produces another virtue (or: Fruit of the Spirit - cf Gal. 5:22-23). Only the Spirit of God, living within us, can produce "humble and persistent endurance, enabling us to give support" within the midst of pressure, troubles, ordeals or affliction. We see from this that God "works all things into good" (Rom. 8:28), using hard times to produce His character within us. Without the work of the Spirit, within us, squeezing situations would normally bring distress or depression. But as we observe His work, within us, we celebrate and boast within the midst of pressures.

4. Yet the remaining and abiding under [produces] a quality of being approved by testing (examined and tested approval; a state of seeming to be fit for use, from having passed its testing); in turn, the quality of being approved by testing [produces] expectation and hope.

Even in everyday living, we can observe that people who take on a hard task, and then stick with it unto completion, normally receive approval from those who have observed his or her "remaining and abiding under" in difficult circumstances. In schools, certificates can be awarded - whether in academics or sports, e.g. Learning skills requires remaining with the instruction and practice. This encouragement from approval by testing, and its resultant mature character, produces in us expectation for the path that lies ahead of us. We are given hope for the days ahead, based upon His faithfulness to us in the days behind us.

In Kingdom living, we often do not think of our behaviors as deserving any special recognition, but consider our Lord's parable of the "sheep and the kids" (Mat. 25), where the Lord's character is observed in the sheep, and they are rewarded by "inheriting the Kingdom" (25:34b). Other parables illustrate reward given for faithful service. But here, Paul instructs us that the Lord's approval produces "expectation and hope" within us. In our natural lives (as living parables for us), attaining a degree of proficiency and then receiving a certificate of approval can bring the expectance of being able to practice our trade, or the hope of getting a job in our chosen field of work. Heb. 5:12 shows us that people who were recipients of that letter were expected to grow, or learn (the text does not specify), to be teachers, yet they had not developed beyond being like babies without developed "senses" (5:13-14). They were expected to go on to maturity and proficiency. Remaining joined to the Lord (Jn. 15:1ff; 1 Jn. 2:24-29) and following Him is how we mature and become proficient in the handling of the Word of Truth (2 Tim. 2:15).

5. Now the expectation (or: this expectant hope) does not habitually bring down shame (disgrace; dishonor; thus: disappointment), because God's Love (the urge toward reunion and the unambiguous, uniting acceptance from God; God's giving of Himself to [us]; the Love, which is God,) has been poured out in a gush and shed forth so that it now floods within our hearts, permeating the core of our being, through [the] Set-apart Breath-effect (or: Holy Spirit; a Sacred Attitude) being given to us, in us, and for us.

Here, Paul unpacks the virtue of expectation by first instructing us that it does not habitually bring down shame, disgrace, dishonor or disappointment. Then he explains why this is:

"because God's Love has been poured out in a gush, and has been shed forth, flooding our hearts, through the Set-apart Breath-effect (or: Holy Sirit) being given to us, in us and for us."

Notice the functions of the pronoun "us," in the dative case: It (He) has been given to us, and is given in us, and it is for our benefit. This clause is another synopsis of the Gospel - the Good News! This gift is what gives us expectation in our lives. It brings "the Love, which is God" (genitive of apposition) into the core of our beings. His Love (He, Himself) creates in us the urge toward reunion and unambiguous acceptance of others (agape - as defined by Paul Tillich). This clause offers us another definition of the Good News - the pouring out of His Love into us is what makes us a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17), giving birth to us, again (Jn. 3:7). God's very essence is given to us, in us.

6. For you see, during our STILL existing [as] weak folks and continuing being without strength (or: [B reads: Since in fact] when we were infirm and helpless), Christ, still corresponding to and in accord with [the] appointed, strategic season (or: down from a kairos; in the sphere of, and down into the level of, a proper, fitting situation; in line with a fertile moment), died for the sake of the ungodly and irreverent (or: died over [the situation of] and on behalf of those without awe of God). [cf Gal. 4:4]

Now Paul presents the founding faithfulness of Christ: His death on the cross. He remained under His ordeal, and this gave us expectant hope which we now enjoy. Our prior condition was being weak (without strength), infirm and helpless. There was nothing that we could do to attain our deliverance or to turn us in the right direction (vs. 1, above). It was completely the work of Christ, and He did this for "ungodly and irreverent" human beings. He died over our situation and condition. Notice the all-inclusive solidarity in the pronoun "our." He calls to mind the existence of humanity before the death of the Messiah on the cross. This is the reason that He died. It was not to satisfy "God's justice," rather, it was "a just act of God." God's justice had already come upon humanity in the Garden of Eden, as well as is described in Rom. 1:24ff. At the cross He died to change our condition and our situation: to liberate us, cleanse us and to give us life, by placing us in Him - in His new arrangement of the new creation.

Paul, as an aside, inserts into his statement a preposition phrase that speaks to God's plan of the ages (Eph. 3:11): "corresponding to and in accord with [the] appointed, strategic season (or: down from a kairos; in the sphere of, and down into the level of, a proper, fitting situation; in line with a fertile moment)." We suggest that this season was the end of the previous age, and the end of the Mosaic covenant (cf Heb. 8:1-9:28). The preposition used is "kata" and on offer are the linguistic functions (or, semantic range) of this term, each of which presents us with a different, but complementary, aspect of the phrase. It was both a historic situation, and a fertile, spiritual moment in God's economy of dealing with human beings (cf Eph. 2:1-22).

7. Now it follows that, with difficult toil and pain (or: You see, hardly, scarcely or rarely), for the sake of (over [the situation of]; on behalf of) a just person (a righteous one; one in accord with the Way pointed out; someone in right relationship; a rightwised one) will someone (anyone; a certain one) proceed to be dying, though over (for the sake of) the good person, noble benefactor, or virtuous cause, perhaps (or: possibly) someone (or: a certain one) may continue being brave enough (daring; courageous) to die.

8. Yet God constantly stands together with His own Love [flowing] into us (or: But God continuously puts the urge for accepting-reunion, from, and which is, Himself, together into the midst of us; [cf 8:31-39, below]), because, during our STILL continuing being (with our yet existing [as]) failures (folks deviating from the goal; ones missing the target and making mistakes; sinners; outcasts), Christ died over our [condition and predicament] (or: on our behalf; for the sake of us).

These verses underline Paul's point by the rhetorical device of restatement (vs. 8 restating vs. 6), while inserting (vs. 7) a potential, yet lesser, human parallel to be a contrasting background for the magnitude of God's gift to humanity through the death of Christ.

9. Much more, then - being NOW (at the present time) eschatologically delivered, rectified and rightwised (turned in the right direction; placed in right relationships of solidarity; righted and made fair within the Way pointed out; or: fully justified and made free from guilt; or: placed in covenant) within His blood (or: in union with the blood from, and which is, Him) - through Him we will continue being rescued (saved; delivered; made healthy and whole; kept safe), away from the [conditions or situations of] personal emotion (inherent fervor; natural mental bent or disposition; teeming passion and swelling desire; or: [our] anger and [human] wrath). [cf Rom. 4:25b; Gal. 2:17; Phil. 3:9; Consider: Gen. 3:23-24]

Here, he echoes his opening statement (vs. 1) while amplifying vs. 8 and moving forward from Christ's death to our present situation in God. Verse 9 also inserts another description of the eschatological deliverance effected by Christ's death: it was "within His blood." This is an allusion to the Day of Atonement, which Christ fulfilled (as described in Heb. chapter 9), and we read of His entering into the New Temple (His body), in Heb. 10:

19. Therefore, having freedom, openness, and boldness of speech, which come from being citizens, brothers (siblings, from the same Womb; [cf Gal. 4:26]; = fellow members), with a view to the Entrance of the set-apart places [cf Rom. 5:2, above] (or: into the Pathway-into-the-midst of, and pertaining to, the Holy Places, which represent the separated ones, and which are composed of, the sacred folks) within, and in union with, the blood of Jesus,

20. a Way (Path; Road) - a fresh, recently slain, One, and yet continuously living - which He initiated (or: which He innovated and inaugurated - made new in species, character or mode, within and in the midst) for us, and in us, through the veil which is His flesh (or: which pathway through the veil He did anew for us - that is, [through] His flesh [= His body]: recently slaughtered, and now living), [cf Jn. 14:6; Rev. 5:6]

21. along with a Great Priest [enthroned; established] upon God's House (or: on this house from God) -

22. we can be continuously and progressively approaching with a true heart in union with full-assurance from the completed act of Faithfulness (or: centered within [the] full-carrying from [His] loyalty and fidelity), the hearts having been sprinkled from a misery-gushed consciousness of what is evil or unserviceable (or: a joint-knowledge full of annoying labor; a conscience in a bad condition; [cf Gen. 3:5-7; 1 Pet. 1:2]), and then being folks with this body having been bathed, and continuing in a washed condition, in, by, and with, clean water.

Next, in the last clause of vs. 9, we see that, "through Him we will continue being rescued (saved; delivered; made healthy and whole; kept safe), away from the [conditions or situations of] personal emotion." I have followed A.T. Robertson in classifying the future tense as durative (or: lineal), along with the present and imperfect tenses ("A Grammar of the Greek New Testament in the Light of Historical Research"). Thus, I used the auxiliary (continue being) with the verb "rescued." Deliverance, salvation, rescue, restoration to health and wholeness, being kept safe are all aspects of Christ's initial work upon people, but this initiates a process that He will continue. He is the same yesterday, today and on into the ages (Heb. 13:8).

On offer, following this last term, is a parenthetical expansion of the Greek term 'orge,' which I give first as: "personal emotion." Tradition has assumed that this is in reference to "God's wrath," and that it refers to a post-mortem situation, but the text does not say this. It just says 'orge.' Humanity needs deliverance from this right now, and it has always had this need. This term can also mean: inherent fervor; natural mental bent or disposition; teeming passion and swelling desire; or: [our] anger and [human] wrath. As a part of God's plan of the ages, those who have not yet been made alive in Christ (cf 1 Cor. 15:22-23) do have God's personal emotion (etc.) continuously (and presently) dwelling upon them (Jn. 3:36). God sent Christ to rescue humanity from this ongoing situation... this situation being one characteristic of the human environment and predicament.

10. For you see, since (or: in view of the fact that; or: if) while continuously existing being actively hostile ones (or: enemies [of people, or of God]) we were suddenly fully changed from enmity to friendship BY God, and correspondingly transformed to be wholly other than we were so as to be in line, consistent and compatible IN God (or: conciliated to God) through His Son's DEATH, much more (or: all the more, then) - being folks that, following the Pattern, were transformed (or: accordingly made other than we were) - will we continue being kept safe and be progressively delivered (rescued; saved; cured and restored to the health and wholeness of our original state and condition) within His LIFE (or: in union with the Life from Him; in the midst of, and in the sphere of, the Life which is Him). [2 Cor. 5:18-19; Eph. 1:3-11; 1 Jn. 3:7]

From the first clause of this verse, we suggest that the condition of being "hostile ones (etc.)," tells us that the 'orge' of the previous verse was human 'orge.' Here, Paul adds another term, 'katallasso,' in its aorist passive form, expanding the idea of eschatological deliverance (etc.) in vs. 1, above. This verb is normally rendered "reconciled" or "conciliated. It is the verb 'allasso' prefixed by the preposition 'kata.' 'Allasso' means "to change; to transform; to alter; to make other than it was." Thus, on offer is my rendering, "we were suddenly fully changed from enmity to friendship BY God, and transformed to be wholly other than we were so as to be in line, consistent and compatible IN God (or: conciliated to God)." The word "God" is in the dative case, and so, on offer are the functions "BY," "IN," and "to." The conflation, "in line, consistent and compatible" derives from the semantic range of 'kata.' 'Kata' can also be seen as an intensifier (fully; wholly), and can indicate that the verb to which it is prefixed carries the sense of "accordingly," or "following the pattern." Christ being seen as the Pattern, I capitalized this term.

Again, this was wholly the work of God ("BY God"), and it refers to the new creation sphere that is "IN God." It includes being eschatologically delivered and placed into the Way pointed out (Christ) which at the same time transformed us to be other than we were. Consider this: we branches are a part of the Vine (Jn. 15), and many of us were grafted (the divine passive, i.e., by God) into Israel's "olive tree" (Rom. 11:1). That makes us a part of this tree, too.

11. And not only that, but further, we also are now folks constantly celebrating, speaking loudly and boasting within, and in union with, God, THROUGH our Owner (or: Lord; Master), Jesus Christ - through Whom we NOW receive (or: actively seize; grasp; take-down and hold by hand) the action of being transformed; this change from enmity to friendship (or: this full exchange of being changed to be in line, consistent and compatible, where we are totally other, than we were; the reconciliation; this commensurate exchange; the change, [induced by the action of God,] which came down [upon us]).

He now repeats the joyous celebrating which he stated in vs. 3, above, here stating that this is "within, and in union with, God, through our Owner (Lord; Master), Jesus Christ, through Whom we NOW receive the action of being transformed to be totally other than we were." This is another synopsis of the Good News... the Gospel which informs us about what God, in Christ, has done. Following this passage, in Rom. 5:12-21, is a history of how this all came to be, and the wonderful results of the work of Christ.

Jonathan

Return To Jonathan Mitchell's Page