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Lent · Second Sunday in Lent · Year B

Romans 5:1-11

Peace and Joy

February 21, 2027

The Lance (Coup de Lance), Peter Paul Rubens
The Lance (Coup de Lance), Peter Paul Rubens, 1620Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA)
Painted for a Dominican church in Antwerp. The whole canvas turns on the diagonal of the lance going in, with Mary Magdalene reaching up at the foot of the cross.While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly: Romans 5 is the argument, and this is the moment it rests on.Peter Paul RubensRubens (1577-1640) ran the busiest workshop in Europe from Antwerp and was a working diplomat besides. His religious painting carries the same physical energy as his hunts and his mythologies.Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA)Antwerp's great collection, strongest in the Flemish primitives and in Rubens, reopened in 2022 after an eleven-year rebuilding.Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA)
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelMark 8:27-38Mk 8:27-38
EpistleRom. 5:1-11Rom 5:1-11
Old TestamentGen. 17:1-7, 15-16Gn 17:1-7, 15-16
PsalterPs. 22:23-31Ps 22:23-31

Overview & Insights

“Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

Romans 5 has been much debated in terms of its context: does it belong with 1:18–4:25, or does it begin a new unit?1Most scholars today believe that although chapter 5 does connect back to 1:18–4:25 (since the topic of justification so pervasive there occurs also in 5:1, 9, 16–19, 21), it most likely begins a new unit that concludes in 8:39. Several arguments indicate that this is the case. First, the opening words of 5:1, “Since we have been justified by faith,” summarize the theme of 1:18–4:25 while preparing the way for a new topic. Second, the polemical tone of 1:18–4:25 is replaced in chapter 5 with one of camaraderie, signaled by Paul’s use of the first-person plural. Third, the prevalence of key vocabulary from Romans 1:17—“the righteous will live by faith”—indicates that a shift in focus occurs between 1:18–4:25 and 5:1–8:39.

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Take it further: Romans 5:1-11

Commentary

Commentary on Romans 5:1-11Commentary on Rom 5:1-11 Working Preacher

The RCL commentary from Luther Seminary on peace with God and hope that does not disappoint, the exact verses read here.

Romans 5:1-11 - Center for Excellence in PreachingRom 5:1-11 - Center for Excellence in Preaching Center for Excellence in Preaching

Scott Hoezee's Reformed preaching commentary on justification by faith, suffering that produces hope, and reconciliation.

Romans 5 Commentary: Benefits of Being Justified through FaithRom 5 Commentary: Benefits of Being Justified through Faith Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik works through peace with God, the chain from suffering to hope, and Christ dying for the ungodly.

Romans 5:1 CommentariesRom 5:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators compared side by side on 'being justified by faith, we have peace with God.'

Background & Word Study

Romans 5:1 InterlinearRom 5:1 Interlinear BibleHub

The Greek of 'we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ' word by word with parsing.

Book of Romans Overview (Part 2)Book of Rom Overview (Part 2) BibleProject

BibleProject's overview of Romans 5-16 sets the new life in Christ within Paul's argument.

The Church Fathers

Romans 5 - Catena Bible & CommentariesRom 5 - Catena Bible & Commentaries Catena

Patristic comment on peace with God and Adam-and-Christ gathered verse by verse from the early church.

Questions preachers ask

What does justification by faith give?

Being justified, we have peace with God, and even suffering produces hope, for God shows his love in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

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