Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans John Calvin (continued)
Commentary on Romans
He says further, that the Spirit is given, that is, bestowed through the gratuitous goodness of God, and not conferred for our merits; according to what Augustine has well observed, who, though he is mistaken in his view of the love of God, gives this explanation, — that we courageously bear adversities, and are thus confirmed in our hope, because we, having been regenerated by the Spirit, do love God. It is indeed a pious sentiment, but not what Paul means: for love is not to be taken here in an active but a passive sense. And certain it is, that no other thing is taught by Paul than that the true fountain of all love is, when the faithful are convinced that they are loved by God, and that they are not slightly touched with this conviction, but have their souls thoroughly imbued with it.
Romans 5:6-9
Romans 5:6-9
6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
6. Christus enim, quum adhuc essemus infirmi secundum rationem Temporis, pro impiis mortuus est:
7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
7. Vix sane pro justo quis moriatur; nam pro bono forsan aliquis etiam mori audeat.
8. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
8. Confirmat autem erga nos charitatem Deus quod peccatores quum Adhuc essemus, Christus pro nobis mortuus est:
9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
9. Multo igitur magis, justificati nunc per sanguinem ejus, servabimur per ipsum ab ira.
6. For Christ, etc. I ventured not in my version to allow myself so much liberty as to give this rendering, "In the time in which we were weak;" and yet I prefer this sense. An argument begins here, which is from the greater to the less, and which he afterwards pursues more at large: and though he has not woven the thread of his discourse so very distinctly, yet its irregular structure does not disturb the meaning. "If Christ," he says, "had mercy on the ungodly, if he reconciled enemies to his Father, if he has done this by the virtue of his death, much more easily will he save them when justified, and keep those restored to favor in the possession of it, especially when the influence of his life is added to the virtue of his death." 158 The time of weakness some
158On the argument of this verse, and on what follows to the tenth verse, Professor Stuart makes this remark, — "The passage before us seems to be more direct, in respect to the perseverance of the saints, than almost any other passage in the Scriptures which I can find. The sentiment here is not dependent on the form of a particular expression, (as it appears