Charles Ellicott Commentary Romans 5:8

"But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." — Romans 5:8 (ASV)

Commends.—The English word aptly covers the double meaning of the Greek. The same word is used:

1. of things in the sense of “prove” or “establish,” here and in Romans 3:5;
2. of persons in the sense of “recommend,” in Romans 16:1.

His love.—Strictly, His own love. The love both of God and of Christ is involved in the atonement. Its ultimate cause is the love of God, which is under discussion here. The love of Christ is evidenced by the fact of His death; the love of God is evidenced by the love of Christ.

Toward us.—The question of whether these words should be taken as in the English version, “His love to, or toward, us,” or whether they should instead be joined with “commends”—“commends to us”—is chiefly a matter of textual reading, as the words are placed differently in the various authorities. The balance of evidence is close, but perhaps the translation may be allowed to remain as it is.

Sinners.—There is, of course, a stress upon this word in contrast to “the righteous man” and “the good man” of the preceding verse.