through 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.
Verse 2. We have access. . "I am the way," etc. Doddridge renders it, "by whom we have been introduced," etc. It means, by whom we have the privilege of obtaining the favour of God which we enjoy when we are justified. The word rendered "access" occurs but in two other places in the New Testament, .
Sin breeds the quarrel between us and God; justification removes the guilt and so makes way for peace. God's benignity is such that immediately upon removing this obstacle, peace is made. This is friendship and loving-kindness, not merely a ceasing of enmity, and all of it comes through Christ, the blessed Mediator and Peacemaker between God and man.
AI summary
Commenting on Romans 5:1-5
2. Through whom we have access, Calvin leaves out καὶ, “also.” Griesbach retains it. The omission is only in one MS., and in the Syriac and Ethiopic versions: it is rendered νυν by Theodoret But its meaning here seems not to be “also,” but “even” or “yea:” for this verse contains in part the same truth as the former.