Romans 5:1 (KJV)

What does Romans 5:1 mean?

Romans 5:1 says that people who have been accepted as right before God through faith now have peace with him. Paul presents that peace as something they have through Jesus Christ, rather than something they establish by their own efforts.

The word “Therefore” links Paul’s statement to his preceding discussion of faith, including the reference to Jesus being raised in Romans 4:25. The phrase “peace with God” describes a relationship between people and God, rather than simply a calm feeling.

The Greek behind Romans 5:1

• “justified” — δικαιόω (dikaioō): The word can carry the sense of declaring someone to be in the right. In Romans 5:1, it suggests the language of a verdict, not merely a description of someone’s behavior.
• “faith” — πίστις (pistis): The word often means trust or belief. Here, it names the means by which people are justified, rather than a deed Paul lists among their accomplishments.
• “peace” — εἰρήνη (eirēnē): The word can mean peace between parties. The phrase “with God” gives that peace a particular direction: it concerns people’s relationship with him.

Why Romans 5:1 matters

• Paul connects his statement to an argument already underway. “Therefore” points back to his discussion of Abraham and faith in Romans 4, rather than introducing an unrelated thought.
• Jesus has a central place in Paul’s sentence. The peace Paul describes is “through our Lord Jesus Christ,” connecting the present relationship with God to the Jesus mentioned at the end of Romans 4.
• Paul includes himself among those he describes. The words “we have peace” present the statement as shared by Paul and those addressed in the letter.