Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
a. NLT: But God showed his great
love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
b. NIV: But God demonstrates his
own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
c. YLT: And God doth commend His
own love to us, that, in our being still sinners, Christ did die for us;
d. Amplified Bible Classic: But
God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that
while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.
e. Peshitta Eastern Text: God has
here manifested his love toward us, in that , while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us.
1. “But God commendeth his love toward us…”
a. But [Strong: 1161 de deh
a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and,
but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]
b. God [Strong: 2316 theos theh'-os
of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity;
figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly,
-ward).]
c. commended [Strong: 4921 sunistao
soon-is-tah'-o, or (strengthened) sunistano soon-is-tan'-o, or
sunistemi soon-is'-tay-mee from 4862 and 2476 (including its collateral forms);
to set together, i.e. (by implication) to introduce (favorably), or
(figuratively) to exhibit; intransitively, to stand near, or (figuratively) to
constitute:--approve, commend, consist, make, stand (with).]
d. his [Strong: 1438 heautou
heh-ow-too' from a reflexive pronoun otherwise obsolete and the genitive
case (dative case or accusative case) of 846; him- (her-, it-, them-, also (in
conjunction with the personal pronoun of the other persons) my-, thy-, our-,
your-) self (selves), etc.:--alone, her (own, -self), (he) himself, his (own),
itself, one (to) another, our (thine) own(-selves), + that she had, their (own,
own selves), (of) them(-selves), they, thyself, you, your (own, own conceits,
own selves, -selves).]
e. love [Strong: 26 agape ag-ah'-pay
from 25; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a
love-feast:--(feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love.
f. toward [Strong: 1519 eis
ice a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or
entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in
adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before,
by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore,
+ forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one
mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that,
therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to),
...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general
import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or
figuratively).]
g. us [Strong: 2248 hemas hay-mas'
accusative case plural of 1473; us:--our, us, we.]
1). John 3:16 For God so loved the
world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.
2). Ephesians 2:4-6 But God, who is
rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
2:5 Even when we were dead in sins,
hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
2:6 And hath raised us up together,
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
3). 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.
2. “…in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
a. in that [Strong: 3754 hoti
hot'-ee neuter of 3748 as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes
redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that),
for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.]
b. [while] we [Strong: 2257 hemon
hay-mone' genitive case plural of 1473; of (or from) us:--our (company),
us, we.]
c. were [Strong: 5607 on oan,
including the feminine ousa oo'-sah; and the neuter on on present
participle of 1510; being:--be, come, have.]
d. yet [Strong: 2089 eti et'-ee
perhaps akin to 2094; "yet," still (of time or degree):--after that,
also, ever, (any) further, (t-)henceforth (more), hereafter, (any) longer,
(any) more(-one), now, still, yet.] [Thayer: of a thing which went on formerly, whereas now
a different state of things exists or has begun to exist:] [Vine: the adverb eti,
implying addition or duration.]
1). Most translations have the
state of being a “sinner” as past tense. The Greek dictionaries that I have are
as follows. Strong’s is the general
definition. Thayer is the more explicit, how it is used in this exact verse. He
clearly means it as a state that formerly existed but no longer does.
e. sinners [Strong: 268 hamartolos
ham-ar-to-los' from 264; sinful, i.e. a sinner:--sinful, sinner.]
f. Christ [Strong: 5547 Christos
khris-tos' from 5548; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of
Jesus:--Christ.]
g. died [Strong: 599 apothnesko
ap-oth-nace'-ko from 575 and 2348; to die off (literally or
figuratively):--be dead, death, die, lie a-dying, be slain (X with).]
h. for [Strong: 5228 huper hoop-er'
a primary preposition; "over", i.e. (with the genitive case) of
place, above, beyond, across, or causal, for the sake of, instead, regarding;
with the accusative case superior to, more than:--(+ exceeding, abundantly)
above, in (on) behalf of, beyond, by, + very chiefest, concerning, exceeding
(above, -ly), for, + very highly, more (than), of, over, on the part of, for
sake of, in stead, than, to(-ward), very. In the comparative, it retains many
of the above applications.]
i. us [Strong: 2257 hemon hay-mone'
genitive case plural of 1473; of (or from) us:--our (company), us, we.]