Disinterested Friendship
Romans 5:7-8
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.…


Edwin, one of the best and greatest of the Anglo-Saxon kings, flourished in the beginning of the seventh century. He was in imminent danger of perishing by the hand of an assassin, who had gained access to him under the guise of an ambassador. In the midst of his address the villain pulled out a dagger and aimed a violent blow at the king. But Edwin was preserved from danger by the generous and heroic conduct of Tilla, one of his courtiers, who intercepted the blow with his own body, and fell down dead on the spot. Thus did he cheerfully resign his own life to preserve that of his sovereign, whom he loved. But this instance of disinterested friendship loses all its charms, and sinks into insignificance when contrasted with the love wherewith Christ hath loved us. For "God commendeth His love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."



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

WEB: For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die.




Christ and the Martyrs
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