The Context-To begin at 5:1 turns 5:1-11into a random collection of pious thoughts unrelated to their context; however, a transition at 4:23 provides internal coherence.

• The Structure-Three themes: righteousness (4:23-5:5); Christ’s death for sins (5:6-8); and Christ’s resurrection for righteousness (5:9-11).

 

Vs. 1-2 = statement of peace and confidence (inferred from 4:23-25);

Vs 11 = enclosure statement of confidence (v 1 & 2 with v. 11 form a chiasm “x”.)

• The Point: Paul has carefully organized his teaching by using a chiasm device in order to contrast the significance of human sin and God’s grace for the present.

• The Theology: Now that we have been set right with God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (4:25) and thus are at peace with God (5:1), we can now enjoy along with that peace, confidence in our hope for the future (5:2).

• Quotation-

If Christ’s death means God made peace with us even though we were his enemies, surely Christ’s resurrection means God will save us now that we are his friends (vs. 10)! It is just that friendship, that love, that reconciliation which we have because of Christ, that is the basis for the confidence we have in God (v.11).  [1]

• It would be useful to review the basic pauline components of the salvation package: justification (how Paul understood this word), faith, peace with God, “access,” and grace. Such are the terms that pack the first two verses.

• Origen on Romans 5:

Peace reigns when nobody complains, nobody disagrees, nobody is hostile and nobody misbehaves. Therefore, we who once were enemies of God, following the devil, now, if we have thrown down his weapons and in their place taken up the sign of Christ and the standard of his cross, have peace with God. [2]

• Calvin on Romans 5:1:

Peace . . . is an assurance that renders the conscience calm and peaceful before God’s judgment . . . without it the conscience is almost torn to pieces. [3]

 

• Please refer to the homily for this week that is based on sin/grace theme in Romans, “Telling it Straight.”

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[1] Interpretation: Romans, Paul Achtemeier, commentator (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1985), page 91.
[2] Origen in Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans.
[3] John Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book III, Chapter 16, Section 16.