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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - Romans 5:6 - 5:6
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Rom 5:6. Ἔτι, as yet) This is to be construed with ὄντων, when we were.-γὰρ, for) The marvellous love of God is set forth.-ἀσθενῶν, powerless [without strength]) Ἀσθένεια is that [want of strength] powerlessness which characterises a mind when made ashamed (comp. the beginning of Rom 5:5) which [powerlessness] is opposed to glorying [Rom 5:2-3] (comp. notes on 2Co 11:30); we have the antithetic word at Rom 5:11, [we glory (joy) in God] where this paragraph also, which begins with the words, being without strength, returns in a circle to the point, from which it started. There was powerlessness, and that a deadly powerlessness (comp. 1Co 15:43), on the part of-
The ungodly, } the opposite of whom, respectively, are
Sinners, The righteous
Enemies, The reconciled.
See on the powerlessness and on the strength of glorying [i.e., the powerlessness of the ungodly, and the strength of glorying of the righteous] Psa 68:2, and the following verses; [Psa 71:16, Psa 104:35] Isa 33:24, Isa 45:24; 1Co 1:31; Heb 2:15. Add the verbal parallelism, 2Co 11:21.-κατὰ καιρὸν ἀπέθανε, in due time died) בעתה , κατὰ καιρὸν, Isa 60:22. When our powerlessness had reached its highest point, then Christ died, at the time which God had previously determined, and in such a manner, that He died neither too soon nor too late (comp. the expression in the time that now is [at this time] ch. 4:26), and was not held too long [longer than was needful] under the power of death. Paul fixes the limits [of the due time] and he cannot speak in this passage of the death of Christ, without, at the same time, thinking of the counsel of GOD, and of the resurrection of Christ, Rom 5:10, ch. Rom 4:25, Rom 8:34. The question, why Christ did not come sooner, is not an idle question; see Heb 9:26; Gal 4:4; Eph 1:10; Mar 1:15; Mar 12:6, just as also the question, why the law was not given sooner, is no idle question, Rom 5:14.Good men.{