Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 5:7

"For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: for peradventure for the good man some one would even dare to die." — Romans 5:7 (ASV)

For scarcely, etc. The purpose of this verse and the following is to illustrate the great love of God by comparing it with what humans are willing to do. It is an unusual occurrence, an event that is all we can hope for from the highest human benevolence and the purest friendship, that one would be willing to die for a good person. No one would be willing to die for a person who was seeking to do us injury, to slander our character, or to destroy our happiness or property. But Christ was willing to die for bitter enemies.

Scarcely. With difficulty. It is an event that cannot be expected to occur often. An instance in which it would happen would scarcely be found.

A righteous man. A just man; a man distinguished simply for integrity of conduct; one who has no remarkable claims to amiability of character, benevolence, or personal friendship. Much as we may admire such a man and applaud him, he still does not have the characteristics that would appeal to our hearts to induce us to lay down our lives for him. Accordingly, it is not known that any instance has occurred where one would be willing to die for such a man.

For a righteous man. That is, in his place, or as his substitute. One would scarcely lay down one's own life to save that of a righteous man.

Will one die. Would one be willing to die.

Yet peradventure. Perhaps; implying that this was an event that might be expected to occur.

For a good man. That is, not merely a man who is coldly just, but a man whose characteristic is kindness, amiability, and tenderness. It is evident that the case of such a man would be much more likely to appeal to our feelings than that of one who is merely a man of integrity. Such a man is capable of tender friendship, and probably the apostle intended to refer to such a case—a case where we would be willing to risk our lives for a kind, tender, faithful friend.

Some would even dare to die. Some would have the courage to give their lives. Instances of this kind, though not many, have occurred. The affecting case of Damon and Pythias is one. Damon had been condemned to death by the tyrant Dionysius of Sicily and obtained permission to go and settle his domestic affairs on the promise of returning at a designated hour to the place of execution.

Pythias pledged himself to undergo the punishment if Damon should not return in time and deliver himself into the hands of the tyrant. Damon returned at the appointed moment, just as the sentence was about to be executed on Pythias. Dionysius was so struck with the fidelity of the two friends that he cancelled the punishment and entreated them to permit him to share their friendship.

(Val. Max. iv. 7.) This case stands almost alone. Our Savior says that it is the highest expression of love among humans: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). The friendship of David and Jonathan also seems to have been of this character, where one would have been willing to lay down his life for the other.