Charles Spurgeon 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 for a righteous man will one die:

However upright and just a man may be, nobody thinks of dying for him.

Yet perhaps for a good man some would even dare to die.

That is to say, for a generous, kind, noble-hearted man, some might dare to die.

For scarcely-

Now the apostle goes away from his theme, carried away by the still greater subject of the love of God in Christ Jesus, and the way of reconciliation by Christ, he goes on to that theme: For scarcely—

For a righteous man will one die:

However "just" Aristides might be, nobody would die for him.

However "righteous" a man might be, he would not, by his justice or righteousness, win enough affection to induce anybody to die for him.

Yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

There might possibly be some who would die for a John Howard, or a man of that kind.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die:

For a merely just man, scarcely would anybody die.

Yet peradventure for a good man–

For a benevolent man–

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die:

If a man is known to be sternly just, like Aristides, nobody would care enough for him to die for him.

Yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

For a benevolent man, a true philanthropist, a lover of his race, there are some who might say that they would die for him. Yet the apostle only says, Peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. It is not very likely, but it is just possible.

for scarcely for a righteous man will one die:

He is very righteous, but he is very stern; nobody cares much about him.

Yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

He is "a good man" – benevolent, kind, and tender.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die:

Though he were as just as Aristides, though he were renowned for justice, nobody would die for him. There is no such attraction in the virtue as would win anyone's love, so as to die for the man who displays it.

Yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

For a benevolent, large-hearted, kindly-disposed man some might dare to die. Such a thing is not likely; but it is possible.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

Nobody would feel impelled to die for a man who is only severely and strictly just; he may command our admiration, but not our affection. Aristides the Just was, indeed, at last banished; men cannot bear a man whose whole character is mere justice, for they are themselves usually so unjust. But "a good man," he commands our love, a man of that character who is gratuitously kind, and gracious, and benevolent, perhaps—and it is only a perhaps—somebody might be found to die for such a person. It is not, however, very probable.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die:

For a man who is perfectly just, – there are few who would be willing to die for him.

Yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

For a generous, noble-hearted man, some might be willing to die; yet there is an uncertainty even about that.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man

A benevolent, loving-spirited man.