Romans 5:7

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

For {G1063} scarcely {G3433} for {G5228} a righteous man {G1342} will {G599} one {G5100} die {G599}: yet {G1063} peradventure {G5029} for {G5228} a good man {G18} some {G5100} would {G5111} even {G2532} dare {G5111} to die {G599}.

Now it is a rare event when someone gives up his life even for the sake of somebody righteous, although possibly for a truly good person one might have the courage to die.

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: for peradventure for the good man some one would even dare to die.

Commentary

This verse is part of Paul's exploration in Romans 5 of the incredible results of being justified by faith. Having established the peace and access to God's grace believers have (Romans 5:1-2), he moves to demonstrate the depth of God's love shown through Christ's sacrifice.

Context

Romans chapter 5 transitions from discussing how we are justified (Romans 1-4) to what happens now that we are justified. Paul highlights peace with God, access to grace, hope in suffering, and the certainty of God's love. Verse 7 sets up a human example of sacrifice—dying for someone—to contrast it with the divine act of Christ dying for humanity, which is far greater.

Key Themes

  • Human Sacrifice Limits: The verse points out the rarity and conditions of human sacrifice. People might consider dying for someone deemed exceptionally "good," highlighting a human standard based on perceived worth or benefit.
  • Contrast with Divine Love: This verse serves as a setup for the profound truth in the following verse (Romans 5:8), where God's love is demonstrated by Christ dying for us while we were still sinners, not merely "righteous" or "good."
  • Degrees of Human Worth: The distinction between a "righteous" man and a "good" man suggests different levels of human value or respect in the eyes of others, influencing the likelihood of someone sacrificing for them.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV translates two distinct Greek words: "righteous" is from dikaiou (δικαίου), which often refers to someone who is just, upright, or adheres to law or divine standards. "Good" is from agathou (ἀγαθοῦ), which implies someone who is benevolent, kind, beneficial, or virtuous in character. While dying for a merely "righteous" (just) person is rare, perhaps someone exceptionally "good" (kind, beneficial) might inspire such a sacrifice.

Reflection

Romans 5:7 highlights the exceptional nature of self-sacrificial love from a human perspective. It makes the point that even in the noblest human acts, the recipient is usually someone deemed worthy in some way (righteous, good). This underscores the astonishing nature of God's love demonstrated in Christ's death – a sacrifice made not for the worthy, but for the utterly unworthy and ungodly. It challenges our understanding of love and value, pointing to God's unconditional grace.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
Understanding Romans 7: The Struggle with Sin An Introduction to Romans: The Power of the Gospel The "Romans Road" to Salvation: An Exposition The Fall and Original Sin: An Exposition of Romans 5:12-21 What the Bible Says About Hope

Cross-References

  • John 15:13

    Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

  • Romans 16:4

    Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

  • 1 John 3:16

    Hereby 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.

  • Acts 11:24

    For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

  • 2 Samuel 18:27

    And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He [is] a good man, and cometh with good tidings.

  • Psalms 112:5

    A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

  • 2 Samuel 18:3

    But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now [thou art] worth ten thousand of us: therefore now [it is] better that thou succour us out of the city.
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