In Romans 5:6–8 Paul shows how God’s love preceded our faith: God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us
(Romans 5:8). This is striking for two reasons. First, because Christ’s death occurred while we were still weak (Romans 5:6) and second, because Christ willingly died for people who were not righteous and good, but godless and sinful (Romans 5:7).
Christ died for the godless (Greek: asebeis). In Romans 5:6 this word is rendered as while we were still weak.
The word asebeis specifically refers to the guilt of people who refuse to glorify God, either because they simply refuse to acknowledge his presence in creation or because they live as though his holy commandments are not binding for their own lives (Romans 2:3). God’s wrath rests upon such godlessness on the part of both the Greeks and the Jews (Romans 1:18). Christ died for a humanity that distances itself from the Creator.
This happened while were still weak.
Humanity was weak and powerless (asthenès). We are not even capable of bringing about a change in our own condition and as such are given over to death (Romans 1:32).
Bible translations (including the ESV) typically include the word still
in Romans 5:6, i.e. while we were still weak.
This word still
(eti) is missing from the majority of manuscripts, however. The text here does not compare a past phase of helplessness with a later phase where people gained more strength. The focus here is contrasting a completely helpless humanity with a Saviour who is their only hope of deliverance. The New Century Version of the Bible even translates Romans 5:6b as at the moment of our need, Christ died for us,
thereby connecting the word still
with at that moment
(kata kairon
). However, kata kairon
does not refer to a specific moment in the past, but rather to being right on time. Thus, the translation should read: For when we were helpless, Christ still died on time for the ungodly.
1
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.