Devine Scripture

Romans 5:1

What does Romans 5:1 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 5:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 5:1 means

Paul declares the result of the doctrine he has been teaching: since God counts us righteous by faith, we truly possess peace with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ. This peace is objective reconciliation, not just a feeling. The hostility caused by sin and the threat of judgment are removed, because Christ has made atonement. Faith is the means that receives what Christ secured; it does not add to His work. Therefore the believer stands before God under a new status—accepted and no longer condemned. This sets the foundation for every other blessing in the chapter: access to grace, rejoicing in hope, endurance in trials, and the unwavering certainty of God’s favor in Christ.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For which reason, because we have righteousness through faith, let us be at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Having been declared righteous, then, by faith, we have peace toward God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Being justified therefore by faith, let us have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Therefore having been justified on the principle of faith, we have peace towardsGod through our Lord Jesus Christ;

Context

Romans 1–4 established the need for righteousness and its provision by faith apart from works, with Abraham as the chief example. Now Paul turns from how we are justified to what justification gives. Verse 1 opens a chain of blessings that flow from being right with God. The peace it announces frames the next verses, where Paul will speak of standing in grace (v2), rejoicing in hope (v2), and even finding purpose in tribulations (vv3–4), all grounded in God’s love and the work of Jesus Christ.

v.1This passage

v.2through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Romans 4:24

    but for our sake also, unto whom it shall be reckoned, who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

  • John 14:27

    Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

  • John 5:24

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life.

  • Galatians 5:4

    Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.

  • Romans 5:18

    So then as through one trespass the judgment came unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men to justification of life.

  • Habakkuk 2:4

    Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous shall live by his faith.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Romans 5

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Romans 5.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Romans 5:1.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary