Charles Ellicott Commentary Romans 5:6

"For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly." — Romans 5:6 (ASV)

For when we were yet . . .—The reading at the beginning of this verse is doubtful. The reading of the Vatican manuscript is very attractive, “If at least,” “If, as we know to be the fact, Christ died,” etc. But, unfortunately, this has not much further external support. If we keep the common reading we must either translate “For, moreover,” or we may suppose that there is some confusion between two constructions, and the word translated “yet” came to be repeated.

Without strength.—Powerless to work out our own salvation.

In due time.—Or, in due season. So the Authorized Version, rightly. Just at the moment when the forbearance of God (Romans 3:25) had come to an end, His love interposed, through the death of Christ, to save sinners from their merited destruction.

For the ungodly.—The force of the preposition here is “for the benefit of,” not “instead of.” St. Paul, it is true, holds the doctrine of the vicarious sacrifice of Christ, but this is expressed by such terms as the “propitiation” of Romans 3:25, or the “offering, and sacrifice for us” of Ephesians 5:2, and especially the “ransom for all” of 1 Timothy 2:6, not by the use of the preposition.

On verses 6-11:

Exposition showing how the love of God comes to have this convincing force. That love was evidenced in the death of Christ.

And consider what that death was. It is rare enough for one man to die for another—even for a good man.

Christ died not for good men, but for sinners, and while they were sinners. If then His death had the power to save us from punishment, it is an easy thing to believe that His life will lead us to glory.