Fathers

Romans 5

Tap a verse to read the Fathers. Press and hold, then drag, to make a card.

Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die. But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life. Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Therefore as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; so death passed to all men, because all sinned. For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those whose sins weren’t like Adam’s disobedience, who is a foreshadowing of him who was to come. But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not as through one who sinned; for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses to justification. For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life. For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous. The law came in that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly; that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

About · Privacy · Credits · Support VRSZ

What the Fathers say

Romans 5:2

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

If then He hath brought us near to Himself, when we were far off, much more will He keep us now that we are near. And let me beg you to consider how he everywhere sets down these two points; His part, and our part. On His part, however, there be things varied and numerous and diverse. For He died for us, and farther reconciled us, and brought us to Himself, and gave us grace unspeakable. But we brought faith only as our contribution. And so he says, "by faith, unto this grace." What grace is this? tell me. …

Homily on Romans IX ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

For through Him "we have obtained access to this grace." If He brought near those who were far off, how much more will He keep close those who are already near. And He brought us "to this grace." In what way? "By faith," that is, when we brought faith. And what is this grace? The receiving of all the good things that are bestowed upon us through baptism. "In which we stand," having firmness and steadfastness. For divine blessings always stand and never fall away. …

Commentary on Romans ↗

Cyprian

That afflictions and persecutions arise for the sake of our being proved. In Deuteronomy, "The Lord your God proveth you, that He may know if ye love the Lord. your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength." And again, Solomon: "The furnace proveth the potter's vessel, and righteous men the trial of tribulation." Paul also testifies similar things, and speaks, saying: "We glory in the hope of the glory of God. …

Treatise XI Exhortation to Martyrdom Addressed to Fortunatus ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Hence he continues, by whom, namely, Christ, we have access as through a mediator: one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim 2:5); through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father (Eph 2:18). Access, I say, into this grace, i.e., to the state of grace: grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17). …

Commentary on Romans ↗

Bonaventure

The first fruit of grace is the remission of guilt. Whence the Apostle to the Romans: "Justified by faith, let us have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace, in which we stand and glory in the hope of the glory of the sons of God." As the Philosopher holds, one is not changed from viciousness to virtues except through habituation to the contrary habit; so guilt will never be remitted except through grace. …

Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 1 ↗