ROMANS 5 - Annotated Notes
Romans 5:1 [AV]
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
ANNOTATED NOTES:
Therefore: indicates a result; as a result of being justified by believing in the finished work of Jesus Christ, we have fruitful results of justification to enjoy, the first mentioned here being “peace with God”. This verse begins a series of results that a believer can enjoy, listed from v1-11.
being justified=dikaioo: made righteous according to God’s standard of justice; This verb is in the aorist tense, meaning a one time event in the past - so could accurately be translated “having been justified”, in essence, “now that we have been put right with God”. Christ was the “once for all” sacrifice (Heb 10:10), the “one sacrifice for sins for ever” (Heb 10:12). When one meets God’s requirement for new birth salvation (Rom 10:9-10; 1 Pet 1:23), they are born-again of God’s spirit, a one time event that takes us from being dead in trespasses and sins to being alive in Christ (Eph 2:1-5). Now, having been made righteous as a born again child of His, we have peace with God through the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Isa 32:17: "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” [AV]) (also see Ps 85:10; Rom 14:17)
faith=pistis: believing; in the context, believing regarding Jesus Christ
peace with God: these words are not declaring a guaranteed mental state that a believer will have as a result of justification, but rather are referring to the spiritual state one enjoys. By virtue of standing righteous in God’s presence, every justified one has peace with God, and therefore, “let us enjoy peace". If a believer so renews his mind to God’s Word, as directed in Rom 12:2, his mental state will reflect the spiritual reality, and his walk will be one of peace with God. Oftentimes, believers don’t feel at peace with God, but people’s feelings don’t nullify the accomplished reality declared here: we HAVE peace with God. Peace with God through reconciliation has replaced the enmity we had with Him (Rom 5:10; 8:7; Col 1:20-22). Through the work of Christ, all hostilities have ceased, all causes of enmity between us and God have been removed. And yet peace with God is more than just the absence of strife - it provides a depth of quality in our relationship with Him. We can sit down with God, with a still heart, a glad heart, and enjoy the sweetest of fellowship. We can have an inner quietness and assurance in His presence, and know that it is not momentary, but eternal. It is to know we are forever safe in the hand of God, never to be plucked out (John 10:28-29), assured of protection in the everlasting arms of God our refuge, Who shall thrust out and destroy the enemy before us (Deut 33:27).
through our Lord Jesus Christ: all that we are, all that we have, is through the finished work of our Lord; This sub-section of Rom 5:1-11 is set off by 2 occurrences of this phrase (see v11), establishing the causal source of the blessings we enjoy - the result of our Lord’s work, not our own.
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS:
Romans 5:1 [NLT]
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
Romans 5:1 [AMP]
Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
Romans 5:2 [AV]
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
ANNOTATED NOTES:
By whom also: the “whom” refers back to the last phrase of v1, “through our Lord Jesus Christ”;
have=echo: this Gr verb is in the perfect tense, meaning that the action was completed in the past but it produced a state of being or a result that exists in the present. The emphasis of the perfect tense is not the past action, but the present state of affairs resulting from the past action. In the perfect tense it means “we HAVE access (right NOW!, because of the past completed work of our Lord Jesus Christ)"
access=prosagoge: a bringing near, introduction, entree; the term was commonly used for the right of approach granted into the presence of a monarch (only other NT uses are Eph 2:18; 3:12). The Gr. word from which it is derived, prosago, is used in 1 Pet 3:18: “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring [prosago] us to God…” Heb 10:19 and 22 declares that we have boldness to enter into the presence of God by the blood of Jesus Christ, enabling us to draw near with a true heart in full assurance of believing. (also see Eph 2:13) Because of Jesus Christ’s completed work on the cross, we now enjoy access into an indescribable position of favor with God. We are accepted in the Beloved (Eph 1:6), therefore as near and dear to God as His own beloved Son.
faith=pistis: believing, i.e. regarding Jesus Christ; It must always be kept in mind that this “believing” in Christ’s finished work is in contrast to putting trust in our own works, made clear in chapters 3 & 4. Any delusional self-image of being good enough to earn access to God’s grace has repetitively been refuted in Romans thus far, and the series of benefits being presented in 5:1-11 are merely the present result of Christ’s past work - not a result of our present walk.
grace=charis: unmerited, undeserved divine favor; in 3:24 it stated that we are “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”; But here in 5:2 it's not talking about the means by which we were justified - it’s talking about the present result of that justification, which includes full and permanent access to God’s undeserved favor. That’s where we stand - that’s where we are to walk.
wherein we stand: as was the case with “have”, in the Gr the verb “stand” is in the perfect tense, meaning an action was completed in the past with its effects in the present. Our standing in God’s grace is a permanent present tense reality because of Christ's completed action in the past, in which we believed. God would have us bask in this benefit every moment of every day. This grace embraces every aspect of our position before God, a position that is as perfect and permanent as Christ’s. The carnal mind refutes such a position of privilege - the spiritual mind humbly accepts it and walks in the light of it. If not a single person on the face of the earth believes the magnitude of this verse, it’s still True.
rejoice=kauchaomai: same Gr word translated “boast” or “glory” elsewhere. In 3:27, it was made clear that boasting on the basis of works is excluded for all. In 4:2 it said even Abraham could in no wise boast before God based on anything he had done. In chapter 5 it will clarify some of what we can boast in: in hope of the glory of God (v2), in tribulations (v3), and in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have received reconciliation (v11).
in hope of the glory of God: could accurately read “in God’s glorious hope”; God would have us to keep on exulting in the glorious hope He has set before us. Col 3:4 “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS:
Romans 5:2 [WUEST]
through whom also our entree we have as a permanent possession into this unmerited favor in which we have been placed permanently, and rejoice upon the basis of hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:2 [WUEST]
Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.
Romans 5:3 [AV]
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
ANNOTATED NOTES:
glory: same Gr. word translated “rejoice” in v2; to boast, glory, exult, rejoice; AV translates it as boast or glory in most occurrences
tribulations=thlipsis: pressing together, a squeezing pressure, affliction; From God’s perspective these are but temporal circumstances we face, light afflictions compared to the eternal truth of the glorious hope of Christ’s return (2 Cor 4:17-18). In Jn 16:33 Christ taught: “These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation (thlipsis): but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Rom 8:35, 37 asks and answers the question: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation (thlipsis), or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...NO, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Tribulation is but an environment, a storm that tests, but need never move us from the strong tower of God’s provision and protection. Without God’s peace, God’s grace, and the hope of Christ’s return to rejoice in, a person can grow hardened and embittered by the incessant pressures they face. But when one knows who they are and what they have in Christ, they can stand tall in the grace, with peace in their heart, and endure with patience - keeping their eyes upon The Day that’s coming when they’ll be rewarded throughout all eternity for their faithful stand. (see 1 Thes 1:4-6 and 3:3) But until Christ returns, every believer will face circumstantial pressure, sometimes even beyond their mere human capabilities to handle - but God's power within them will enable them to be victorious. Ps 34:17,19: “The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles...Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” (see 2 Cor 4:7-9; 2 Tim 3:11; 4:17-18) It is one thing to endure tribulations without complaint, but quite another to find grounds for glorying or exulting in the midst of them. Afflictions, the squeezing pressure of circumstances, need not bring discouragement, but rather a glorying in their beneficial effect. It is our hand-in-hand relationship with our heavenly Father, and His faithfulness to fulfill His Word, that empowers us to rejoice in the midst of the pressures of this life.
worketh=katergazomai: to cause to be, to result in, to bring about, produce
patience=hupomone: steadfastness, patient continuance, perseverance, endurance; (Rom 12:12: “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer”) (also see James 5:7-8)
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS:
Romans 5:3 [NASB]
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
Romans 5:3 [HCSB]
And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance,
Romans 5:4 [AV]
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
ANNOTATED NOTES:
patience=hupomone: see note on v3
experience (twice)=dokime: proof of integrity, proof of worth, a process of testing to determine the genuineness of something (see James 1:3-4 for how the proving or testing of our believing produces patience) (also see 2 Cor 8:2 for how believers experienced victory “in a great trial (dokime) of affliction (thlipsis) . From the previous verse, when we go through pressures or afflictions by looking to God for strength, believing He will bring His Word to pass as we act on it with believing, it produces patient endurance - and that patient endurance produces proof of the genuineness of God’s power and trustworthiness. That in turn brings an enduring hope in our lives (Rom 15:13: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”) (see 2 Cor 1:8-10 for how Paul, in the midst of extreme pressure, trusted in He who raises the dead, just as Abraham had done according to Rom 4) The verb form of dokime is used in Rom 12:2, where the exhortation is given to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove (dokimazo) what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” That proving of God’s will (revealed in His Word) produces hope in God’s future and final deliverance, "preserved unto his heavenly kingdom” (2 Tim 4:17-18).
patience..hope: there is a close connection between patience and hope; 1 Thes 1:3: “your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience in hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” The man who has hope in his heart will not be so concerned with the ups and downs of life. Gains or losses, successes or failures, can have a dramatic affect on a man without hope. But those ups and downs are seen to be of small consequence to the man who is rooted in his eternal destination yet unseen. The hope of Christ’s return is the anchor of our souls (Heb 6:18-19), giving us stability and steadfastness in the midst of the turbulence of trials and tribulations. Changing circumstances are calmed with God’s unchanging promises, and His promise of eternal life is our ever-present anchor as we navigate the temporal up-and-down waves of this earthly life.
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATION:
Romans 5:4 [ASV]
and stedfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope:
Romans 5:4 [LIT]
and perseverence produces a proven integrity, and proven integrity produces hope.
Romans 5:5 [AV]
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
ANNOTATED NOTES:
hope maketh not ashamed: when someone believes in a lie or false hope, they feel ashamed, disgraced, disappointed in their expectations. When our lives are based on eternal truth and the hope of Christ’s return, our expectations will not bring disappointment. Our expectations will be exceeded far beyond what we can conceive, similar to what is spoken of in 1 Cor 2:9: “…Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (also, in Rom 10:11: “The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed.” - AMP)
love of God: the first specific mention of "the love of God" in the Church Epistles, and it’s talking about God’s love for us, not our love for Him. This love is shed abroad in our hearts when we receive the gift of holy spirit. The same God who has given us hope, promising to send His Son back to gather us together at some time in the future, has given us His love to have and to live in the light of right now. This love that God poured out to us will be expanded on in the following verses.
is shed abroad=ekcheo: to pour out, shed forth, distribute largely; this Gr word is used elsewhere of the pouring out of the holy spirit (see Acts 2:17,18,33; 10:45; Titus 3:6); Here, in the perfect tense, it accurately reads “was shed abroad”, carrying an understanding of “was shed abroad and still floods our hearts"
hearts: “heart(s)”, as it is often used in the scriptures, is referring to the innermost part of a person's mind and life, the seat of one’s personal life; The love of God fills the innermost part of our being, to the point that absolutely nothing can separate us from that love (Rom 8:38-39). Being poured into our hearts, it can permeate every aspect of our lives. It’s a spiritual reality within us - we have it, and we can live in the light of it (see Ezek 11:19-20; John 17:23-26; 2 Cor 3:3)
Holy Ghost: referring to the gift of holy spirit, which a person receives from God when they confess Jesus Christ as Lord and believe that God raised him from the dead (see Rom 10:9-10; Eph 1:13-14)
which is given: accurately "which was given”, i.e. at the time we believed
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATION:
Romans 5:5 [GSP]
and hope will not disappoint us. For, through the holy spirit that has been given us, God’s love has flooded our hearts.
Romans 5:5 [NLT]
And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Romans 5:6 [AV]
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
ANNOTATED NOTES:
without strength: it’s not talking about being "without enough strength" – we had NO strength, completely powerless, totally helpless, with zero ability to rectify our ungodly sin nature and earn righteousness, right standing with God; Rom 1:18-3:20 declared the details of our state of being “without strength” and “ungodly” - these verses in Rom 5 are declaring the love God had for us in giving His Son, in spite of our previous state of being
due time: proper time, the fullness of the time (Gal 4:4: “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman…”)
for=huper: in place of, on behalf of (see Jn 11:50; Gal 3:3); clearly, Christ’s death was a substitutionary death, a death in place of others, redemptive (also see 1 Pet 3:18)
ungodly: that label is accurate for how we all were before believing rightly regarding Jesus Christ, as is the label “sinners” in 5:8 and “enemies” in 5:10; Other accurately descriptive labels would include “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1), “children of wrath” (Eph 2:3), “having no hope, and without God” (Eph 2:12). BUT, just at the right time, Christ died for us, the ungodly - to give us righteousness, peace, grace, hope, love, etc., etc., etc.
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS:
Romans 5:6 [GSP]
For when we were still helpless, at the decisive moment Christ died for us godless men.
Romans 5:6 [TLB]
When we were utterly helpless, with no way of escape, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners who had no use for him.
Romans 5:7 [AV]
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
ANNOTATED NOTES:
scarcely=molos: very rarely
righteous man=dikaios: as it’s used in this verse and its context, it’s referring to someone who is moral, who does strictly what the law or justice requires, giving others what is due them
good man=agathos: truly kind and benevolent; a “good man" does more than what is morally right or what he ought to do by law - he does as much as he possibly can, above and beyond; agathos is preceded by the Gr article ho, which makes it read “the good man”, pointing to a person of rare and special exception to the norm; The point being made is that very, very rarely would someone die for a merely upright or strictly just man, and even for THE uniquely warmhearted man one wouldn’t likely - but might, maybe, perhaps, possibly - be willing to die. v7 is laying the groundwork for the magnitude of v8.
dare=tolmao: to be so bold as to challenge or defy possible danger; (see other uses at Mk 12:34; 15:43; Jude 9)
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS:
Romans 5:7 [AMP]
Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble and lovable and generous benefactor someone might even dare to die.
Romans 5:7 [NLT]
Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.
Romans 5:8 [AV]
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
ANNOTATED NOTES:
commendeth=sunistemi: literally “to place together”; a setting one person with another by way of introducing or presenting him, and hence “commend”; to put together with a view of proving, demonstrating, showing; this Gr verb is in the present tense
died: this is in the aorist tense, meaning a one time action in the past; When we were without strength, ungodly, sinners, enemies of God, dead in trespasses and sins, children of wrath, without God and without hope...Christ died, once and for all, in our place. Christ’s sacrificial death on our behalf is without parallel in demonstrating the love God had for us, has for us, and always will have for us. Jn 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…" 1 John 4:9-10: “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation [payment, atoning sacrifice] for our sins.”
for us: in behalf of us, on account of us; Christ died for “us", and v6 has already stated he died for the ungodly – that was “us”. Because of who and what we were, he died on account of us, and in behalf of us. That is LOVE.
** When we believed rightly regarding Jesus Christ and thus received holy spirit, the very LOVE that caused God to give His dearly beloved Son was poured out into our hearts. When a man receives God's gift of holy spirit, he becomes a new creation, loved and capable of loving like never before. A man filled with the spirit of God goes from being without strength, to being endued with power from on high, able to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. He goes from being an ungodly sinner, a slave to the old sin nature, to having a new nature, a sinless divine nature that gives him victory over the bondage of sin. He goes from being enemies with God, to being one with God through Christ within, accepted in the Beloved. He goes from being dead in trespasses and sins, to being alive in Christ, justified and righteous before God with newness of resurrection life. He goes from being a child of wrath, to being a born-again child of God who has full access to his Father, Who is Love. He goes from being without God and without hope, to having the everlasting God as his Father, filled with the hope of all that the Father has in store for him throughout all eternity. This spiritual transformation that the doctrinal section of Romans is laying out, becomes a living reality in a person’s day-to-day life when they claim it according to Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS:
Romans 5:8 [WST]
But God is constantly proving His own love to us, because while we were yet sinners, Christ in behalf of us died.
Romans 5:8 [NEB]
but Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, and that is God’s own proof of His love towards us.
Romans 5:9 [AV]
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
ANNOTATED NOTES:
Much more=polys mallon: these Gr words appear 4x in this chapter (v9,10,15,17) (also see v21); The deliverance we enjoy now in our earthly life through Jesus Christ’s blood-shedding sacrifice on the cross, is exceeded in greatness by the deliverance we’ll enjoy throughout all eternity - because of being saved from wrath through him.
by his blood: the requirement set forth in the law (and indicated even before the law), was that “without shedding of blood there is no remission” of sins (Heb 9:22) (also see Lev 4:20,26,35; 5:10,12,18; 17:11)
saved=sozo: to make whole, save, deliver, to rescue from danger or destruction; it’s used of physical salvation/wholeness (Mk 5:34; 10:52; Acts 4:9), of new birth salvation and deliverance (Rom 10:9-10; Acts 2:21; 11:14), and of future deliverance from wrath to come, as used here
wrath=ho orge: with the Gr article, ho, it is referring to THE wrath of God, i.e. the final and eternal judgment against the unjust (see notes on Rom 1:18) (also see 1 Thes 1:10); Due to the sin nature we inherited from Adam at birth, we were all legally guilty before God and could only await the execution of the sentence of death that was upon us, the wrath of God at the final judgment. But then, at just the right time, God did something for us that we could never do for ourselves: He gave His Son to die on the cross, paying the full, and just price for our sin. When we believe rightly regarding Jesus Christ, we are justiified before Him by grace, set free from the sentence of sin and death. Henceforth, we NEVER need fear the wrath of God again. We have been rescued from eternal death and destruction. (see 1 Thes 5:9-10)
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS:
Romans 5:9 [PHILIPS]
Moreover, if he did that for us while we were sinners, now that we are men justified by the shedding of his blood, what reason have we to fear the wrath of God?
Romans 5:9 [NLT]
And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.
Romans 5:9 [CEV]
But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood, we will also be kept safe from God’s anger.
Romans 5:10 [AV]
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
ANNOTATED NOTES:
enemies: hostile, hateful, at enmity, in opposition
reconciled=katallasso: to change or exchange, to restore to favor with, to receive one into favor; This is a miraculous 180° turn-around, from enemies to reconciled, from death to life. Only by God’s grace and mercy can such a change take place. No matter how many prayers a man says, no matter how many alms he gives, sacrifices he makes, worship services he attends, so-called good works he does - he could NEVER reconcile himself back to God. Trying to earn one’s way back to God through religious activities may make a man feel better, feel like he has some worth, but they don’t meet God’s requirements. Trusting in “good works” is rebellion against God’s provision in Christ. We were dead in trespasses and sins, and dead men can’t do good works. Only God could restore the broken relationship, and it was done through the death of His innocent Son. Jesus Christ had done nothing to deserve to die. Fallen man could do nothing to deserve to live. Reconciliation came only through Christ’s perfect and finished work. 2 Cor 5:19: “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself…that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself…” [ESV]. (also see Eph 2:15-16; Col 1:21-22)
much more: see note on v9; We have blessings in this life, through Christ, that we’ll never exhaust. Rom 8:32: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall He not with him also freely give us all things?”. But much more in greatness is the eternal life that lies ahead, where we will be delivered from the wrath to come, from the final judgment upon the unjust, saved from death to enjoy eternal life with God through the work of His Son. If God’s love went out to us when we were His ungodly enemies, will He not much more preserve us eternally now that we belong to Him?! If God paid the highest price to bring us back to Him, will He ever let us go?! If Christ’s death had such power to save us, how much more will his life have power to keep us!!
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS:
Romans 5:10 [GW]
If the death of his Son restored our relationship with God while we were still his enemies, we are even more certain that, because of this restored relationship, the life his Son lived will save us.
Romans 5:10 [PHILIPS]
If, while we were his enemies, Christ reconciled us to God by dying for us, surely now that we are reconciled we may be perfectly certain of our salvation through his living in us.
Romans 5:11 [AV]
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
ANNOTATED NOTES:
joy=kauchaomai: same Gr word translated “rejoice" in v2, and “glory" in v3
through our Lord Jesus Christ: that’s the phrase 5:1 used in beginning this sub-section (v1-11), and here it reiterates the phrase to close it out before launching into the next (v12-21). All that we are, all that we have, is through the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is through his birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension that the gift of holy spirit could be poured out on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Beginning on that day, man, totally apart from Law, and purely by grace, could be born again, receiving the righteousness of God, justification, the peace of God, the full access to God’s grace, a standing before God, the hope of the glory of God, the love of God shed abroad in his heart, saved from wrath, and reconciled to God by the death of His Son. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, our salvation is complete, covering the past, the present, and the future. Christ died for us - Christ lives for us - Christ is coming back for us! We have reason to joy and rejoice, not just in the gift, but the Giver Himself! "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”. And now, we are His and He is ours!!
now: NOW, in contrast to future glory
atonement=katallage: reconciliation, restoration to favor, the making of two estranged parties as one; it’s the noun form of the Gr verb translated "reconciled" twice in v10; translating it “atonement” points to the means by which the reconciliation was accomplished, which was through the blood of Christ.
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATION:
Romans 5:11 [NEB]
But that is not all: we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now been granted reconciliation.
Romans 5:11 [AMP]
Not only so, but we also rejoice and exultingly glory in God [in His love and perfection] through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received and enjoy [our] reconciliation. [Jer. 9:24.]
Romans 5:12-21
PRELIMINARY NOTES:
When someone is examining the minute details of something large, it’s often said: “It’s hard to see the forest for the trees." In Romans, 5:12-21, God has us step back to get a full and synoptic view of the “forest”. These 10 verses contain an articulate "in-a-nutshell" scope of the history of mankind, from the origins of sin and death at the hands of Adam, to the grace-filled victory we have in the second Adam (man), Jesus Christ. It provides a detailed explanation of how man lost his relationship with God and how God provided a means to restore it. This section will speak of the consequences of the severed relationship, which resulted from the disobedience of the one man, Adam - and contrast them with the blessings of the restored relationship, resulting from the obedience of the one man, Jesus Christ. This view of the “forest" makes it clear that man's dilemma resulted from Adam's disobedience long before the law was given to Moses. The law dealt with sins but could not remedy the root cause, sin, i.e. the sin nature that man inherited from Adam. Man's sin nature is at enmity against God, rebellious at it’s root. Man's failure to keep the law wasn't the cause of man’s sin problem, and adherence to the law could never resolve the sin problem, only incite it. It is through the finished work of Christ that we are set free from sin and death (Rom 8:2). These verses, 12-21, deal with the root (sin), not the fruit (sins). Sins will be dealt with later in Romans.
Romans 5:12 [AV]
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
ANNOTATED NOTES:
Wherefore: “Therefore", or "For this reason"; This word introduces the next section (v12-21) and ties it back to the previous verses dealing with man’s reconciliation and salvation. Verses 12-21 summarize why reconciliation and salvation were needed (because of "one man"), and by whom they came (also by "one man”)
as: just as; this word/phrase sets up a comparison
one: the significance of this word “one” is magnified by it appearing 12x in 8 verses. “one” indicates unity, and its repetition demands our attention. Being born as men of body and soul, we have a unity with Adam through the bloodline of our first birth. As men born again of God’s spirit, made possible by the work of Jesus Christ, we have a unity with Christ through the new birth. While reading v12-21, note the consequences brought upon all men because of one man's disobedience: sin, death, judgment, condemnation. But much more, note the blessings that the believer has because of one man’s obedience: grace, gift, justification, abundance, righteousness, eternal life.
one man: this “one man” is referring to Adam, who was the head of all races of men, the human race (Acts 17:26: “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth”). Adam had originally been created in God’s image, which is spirit (see Gen 1:1-2, 27 and Jn 4:24). When Adam sinned, he lost the spirit of God, thus died spiritually, leaving him just body and soul (see 1 Thes 5:23). Gen 5:3 says that Adam’s son, Seth, was after Adam’s likeness, in Adam’s image. Adam’s image after the fall was body and soul, with no spirit of God, spiritually dead (Eph 2:1,5). So every man born out of the lineage of Adam was subsequently and consequently born with that sin nature within, having just body and soul.
sin..death: Through the one man, sin became universal to the whole human race, and sin is the root cause of death. The very day Adam sinned by disobeying the command of God, he died (spiritually), just as God had warned him (Gen 2:16-17). As a result, years later he died physically (Gen 5:5). The death Adam experienced and thus brought upon man was 3-fold: immediate spiritual death, eventual physical death, and alienation and separation from God while living. Any biblical reference to “death” involves either 1, 2 or all 3 aspects of that death Adam brought, with the context of each reference detemining the exact meaning. (see Rom 8:6 for an example of the 3rd aspect)
by sin: by means of sin
all have sinned: not talking about the personal sins of every person born, but the sin of one man, Adam. In Adam we all have sinned, him being the origin and representative of all those born through his bloodline. Ps 51:5 indicates every man is conceived in sin. It being our state upon conception (which precedes birth), our sin can’t be attributed to our personal sins or acts of disobedience. Death passed upon all as a result of all being born with a sin nature, spiritually dead, by way of the one man, Adam.
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATION:
Romans 5:12 [PHILIPS]
This, then, is what has happened. Sin made its entry into the world through one man, and through sin, death. The entail of sin and death passed on to the whole human race, and no one could break it for no one was himself free from sin.
Romans 5:13 [AV]
(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
ANNOTATED NOTES:
until the law: referring to the period between the entrance of sin into the world by the one man, Adam (v12), and the entrance of the law through Moses
imputed=ellogeo: laid to one’s charge
no law: talking about the legal code of the Mosiac law; where there is no law, sin is not laid to one’s charge, not legally charged to one’s account with due penalty. According to Rom 4:15, “...where no law is, there is no transgression”. It's still sin, but it’s not legally reckoned against the one who sins - it was the law that made sin a legal transgression.
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS:
Romans 5:13 [AMP]
[To be sure] sin was in the world before ever the Law was given, but sin is not charged to men’s account where there is no law [to transgress].
Romans 5:13 [WEY]
For prior to the Law sin was already in the world; only it is not entered in the account against us when no Law exists.
Romans 5:14 [AV]
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
ANNOTATED NOTES:
Adam: referring to Adam after his sin and resultant spiritual death
Moses: referring to the giving of the Law via Moses; That period - from the instant of the fall of man right on up to when the Law was given to Moses thousands of years later - represents an entire administration or dispensation of time in God’s Word (often referred to as the Patriarchal Administration). Though every man born during that period was conceived in sin and spiritually dead, God did not give an express command to them like He had given to Adam - hence there were no legal transgressions. However, when Israel was given the Law, they could legally transgress those commands, similar to Adam’s transgression. Regardless of the absence of transgressions, "death reigned" during that time in that every man born was subject to the consequences of Adam’s sin: born spiritually dead, destined to physical death (Heb 9:27), and subject to alienation and separation from God due to the sin nature (see note on “death” in 5:12).
similitude: likeness; during that time period they did not disobey a direct command like Adam had
figure=tupos: type, pattern, pre-figure of something future, an image or mark caused by a blow or impression; In John 20:25, this word is used of the “print” (tupos) of the nails that were driven into Jesus’ hands. Adam was a type, an image, a foreshadowing figure of the one to come.
him that was to come: could read “The Coming One”, which was a well-known Hebraism for the Messiah; It’s talking about Jesus Christ, who the Scriptures call the “last Adam” and the “second man” (1 Cor 15:45,47). The first Adam was a foreshadowing pattern of The Coming One, Jesus Christ, the “last Adam”. The first man brought death to mankind, while the “second man” was required to die in order to bring life and victory over death. Both Adam and Jesus Christ are representatives of mankind, as both were heads of a newly created race – Adam in the initial creation of man (Gen 1:26-27), and Jesus Christ in the “new creation” via the new birth (2 Cor 5:17-18). A federal head represents and acts for all those who are under him. For example, when the President of a country signs a bill into law, he is acting for all citizens of that country. If Adam as our representative could make a decision and take an action that brought death, Jesus Christ as our representative could make a decision and take an action that brought life. Adam’s sin was a representative act. Jesus Christ’s willful sacrifice on the cross was also a representative act. Men may be ungodly (v6), sinners (v8), and enemies with God (v10), but man’s crowning guilt is if he rejects the provision which God has made for salvation, His son, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:16-19, 36). 1 Cor 15:21 speaks of the same parallel: “So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.” [NLT]
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS:
Romans 5:14 [AMP]
Yet death held sway from Adam to Moses [the Lawgiver], even over those who did not themselves transgress [a positive command] as Adam did. Adam was a type (prefigure) of the One Who was to come [in reverse, the former destructive, the Latter saving].
Romans 5:14 [MSG]
Even those who didn’t sin precisely as Adam did by disobeying a specific command of God still had to experience this termination of life, this separation from God. But Adam, who got us into this, also points ahead to the One who will get us out of it.
Romans 5:15 [AV]
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
ANNOTATED NOTES:
gift: the 1st occurrence of gift, “free gift”, is translated from the Gr charisma, meaning an undeserved gift by God’s grace, freely given merely because of God’s kind favor; charisma emphasizes the grace of the Giver in His giving of a gift; the 2nd occurrence of “gift” is translated from the Gr dorea, meaning a gift or present; With the phrase “by grace” following dorea, it obviously is a gift given by the grace (charis) of God, but the word dorea is pointing out the gift itself, which is of benefit to the recipient, the one who believes to receive. The gift being spoken of here is the same gift of holy spirit as referred to in Acts 2:38; 10:45; 11:17.
one=ho heis: in both occurrences, it’s with the Gr article, ho, and should read "the one”; the 1st one referring to Adam, the 2nd to Jesus Christ
many=ho polys: in both occurrences it’s used with the article, ho, so both would accurately read "the many”. The 1st use is referring to all who are of the line of Adam by natural birth (the “all men” of v12). The 2nd use refers to all who believe regarding Jesus Christ, who are now of divine lineage by supernatural new birth. All born of the line of Adam have had the grace of God extended to them to receive the free gift by believing (Jn 3:16!). And yet, not all believe (Jn 3:36), even though Jesus Christ's finished work of redemption is available for everyone (Heb 2:9: “…that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”)
be dead: died; this is referring to the death (the loss of spirit life) that was spoken of in v12, which entered the world when Adam sinned and consequently passed to all mankind (see 2 Cor 5:14)
much more: the 3rd of 5 occurrences of this phrase in 5:9-20; The work of Christ far outweighs in restorative blessings what the work of Adam did in bringing loss and misery. We regained in Christ all that we lost in Adam, plus an abundance more. Our redemption and salvation in Christ Jesus is bigger, more powerful than the fall in Adam. Our divine nature we received through Christ trumps the sin-nature we received through Adam. Sadly, in much of Christendom, the sin-nature we have in Adam has been magnified, and the magnitude of the deliverance we have in Christ’s finished work has been marginalized.
grace=charis: undeserved, unmerited favor; this word is used 5x in v12-21. The closely related word, charisma, meaning a gift by grace, is used twice in this section. The emphatic truth being conveyed: all that we have in Christ is by God’s grace, not because of us, but in spite of us. In v12, Adam was spoken of in a sense as the head of the human race. Here the “one man”, Jesus Christ, is spoken of as the head of the race of all those born again of God’s spirit, the spiritual race of men by believing. Adam had spirit upon a condition. The believer has spirit born within, by believing, never to be lost under any condition. That alone qualifies as MUCH MORE! All men, at birth, share in all the consequences of the fall because Adam was our representative. At the new birth, all who believe share in all the “much more” abundant spiritual blessings of the grace of God because Jesus Christ has become our representative as the second Adam. The consequences did not come to us because of our own works – nor do the “much more” blessings. It’s BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS:
Romans 5:15 [WEY]
But God's free gift immeasurably outweighs the transgression. For if through the transgression of the one individual the mass of mankind have died, infinitely greater is the generosity with which God's grace, and the gift given in His grace which found expression in the one man Jesus Christ, have been bestowed on the mass of mankind.
Romans 5:15 [GSP]
But there is no comparison between God’s gift and that offense. For if one man’s offense made the mass of mankind die, God’s mercy and his gift given through the favor of the one man Jesus Christ have far more powerfully affected mankind.
Romans 5:15 [PHILIPS]
But the gift of God through Christ is a very different matter from the "account rendered" through the sin of Adam. For while as a result of one man's sin death by natural consequence became the common lot of men, it was by the generosity of God, the free giving of the grace of the one man Jesus Christ, that the love of God overflowed for the benefit of all men.
Romans 5:16 [AV]
And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
ANNOTATED NOTES:
And not as..so: sets up a contrast; the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin. Adam’s one sin brought condemnation, but the gift of God’s grace not only deals with Adam's sin but also the countless "many offenses" which have followed. The contrast continues between the deserved legal verdict of “condemnation", and the undeserved legal verdict, by grace, of “justification".
gift: the 1st occurrence of “gift” in this verse is the Gr word dorema, meaning a gift or present, a synonym of dorea from v15; it’s referring to the same gift of holy spirit alluded to in v15, which was “by grace”; the 2nd occurrence of “gift” is from the Gr charisma, emphasizing the grace of the Giver, the kind favor of God. The gift by grace, bestowed upon us as undeserving ones, is so beyond full comprehension it's declared in 2 Cor 9:15 as unspeakable, indescribable - too wonderful for words.
judgment=krima: a decree, judgment, the sentence of a judge
condemnation=katakrima: judgment against someone, damnatory sentence, condemnation; only appears 3x – here, v18, and Rom 8:1. In the context, it’s referring to the judgment brought against Adam, the damnatory sentence of death, as stated by God in Gen 2:16-17, which passed upon all men born of Adam's lineage.
justification=dikaioma: a judicial decision according to God’s just standard, declaring a person righteous, fully acquitted and accepted before God, the just Judge.
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS:
Romans 5:16 [PHILIPS]
Nor is the effect of God's gift the same as the effect of that one man's sin. For in the one case one man's sin brought its inevitable judgement, and the result was condemnation. But, in the other, countless men's sins are met with the free gift of grace, and the result is justification before God.
Romans 5:16 [GNB]
And there is a difference between God’s gift and the sin of one man. After the one sin, came the judgement of “Guilty”; but after so many sins, comes the undeserved gift of “Not guilty!”
Romans 5:16 [WEY]
And it is not with the gift as it was with the results of one individual’s sin; for the judgment which one individual provoked resulted in condemnation, whereas the free gift after a multitude of transgressions results in acquittal.
Romans 5:17 [AV]
For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
ANNOTATED NOTES:
reigned=basileuo (twice): to be king, to exercise kingly power, to reign or have predominance, to exercise the highest influence; In the 1st use, by one man’s sin, death reigned as a cruel tyrant over us. In the 2nd use, through the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness that we have by Jesus Christ, we as believers shall exercise the kingly power of God’s deliverance in our lives. When Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, in our oneness with him we were raised with him. This oneness with Christ that we enjoy (which chapter 6 will reveal even further: baptized with him, crucified with him, dead with him, raised to life with him, walk in newness of life with him), allows us to reign as “more than conquerors" in the midst of any trials and tribulations (8:35-37). By Adam’s sin "death reigned”, but the 1st thing listed in 8:38 that shall never be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord is “death”. (see Heb 2:14-15) Jesus Christ is the King of kings (Rev 19:16), and it’s by him we reign in life!
much more: the 4th of 5 occurrences of this phrase in 5:9-20; In terms of power and duration, the effects of God’s gift by grace far exceed the effects of Adam's sin which brought death. The power it takes to bring death from life is far exceeded by the power it takes to produce life out of death. The duration of the effects of death beginning from the time of a man’s birth is but a brief moment compared to the effects of life that he enjoys from the instant he is born again - the duration being NOW to ETERNITY.
receive=lambano: receive into manifestation, into evidence, into actual usage; it is in the present tense, referring to those who continue receiving it, using it, walking in the light of the abundance of God's grace and the gift of righteousness. A believer spiritually receives new life once and for all at the time of the new birth, but he must take what has been given to him and live it, walking in the light of it day by day, moment by moment. That’s when he "shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” in the here and now. We are not only delivered from death’s reign as a tyrant over us, but we reign as kings, enjoying life now and eternally.
abundance=ho perisseia: superabundance, an exceeding measure, overflowing above and beyond; with the Gr article “ho”, it could read "the overflowing super-abundance"
grace=ho charis: undeserved, unmerited favor (see note on “grace” in v15); with the Gr article “ho", it would read “the grace”
gift=dorea: a gift or present (see note on “gift” in v15)
one=ho heis: the combination of Gr words “ho heis” appears 3x in this verse; with the definite article “ho” in the Gr, it would accurately read “the one”. With 6 other uses of “ho” in this verse being used as a definite article preceding a noun, the verse could emphatically be rendered: “For if by THE offence of THE one man THE death reigned by THE one; much more they which receive into manifestation THE super-abundance of THE grace and of THE gift of THE righteousness shall reign in life by THE one, Jesus Christ.” This is definitive Truth, with definitive triumph in victory: “Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” [2 Cor 2:14 - NASB]
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS:
Romans 5:17 [PHILIPS]
For if one man's offence meant that men should be slaves to death all their lives, it is a far greater thing that through another man, Jesus Christ, men by their acceptance of his more than sufficient grace and righteousness, should live their lives victoriously.
Romans 5:17 [MSG]
If death got the upper hand through one man’s wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides?
Romans 5:17 [NCV]
One man sinned, and so death ruled all people because of that one man. But now those people who accept God’s full grace and the great gift of being made right with him will surely have true life and rule through the one man, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:17 [AMP]
For if because of one man’s trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God’s] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
Romans 5:18 [AV]
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
ANNOTATED NOTES:
by the offence of one: accurately translated “by one offence”, or “by one act of transgression"; It wasn’t that Adam repeatedly broke the commandment of God stated in Gen 2:16-17 - he broke it just once, and then he and Eve were promptly expelled from the garden where the tree was located (Gen 3:23-24). It was by that one single transgression, “one offence”, that death entered the world (v12) and condemnation came upon all men.
condemnation=katakrima: judgment against someone, damnatory sentence of condemnation (see note on v16)
by the righteousness of one: accurately translated “by one act of righteousness”; The "one act of righteousness” is set in contrast to the "one offence". In the next verse the word "disobedience” will give definition to the “one offence”, and the word "obedience" will be used as a synoptic description of the “one act of righteousness”.
came upon all men to condemnation: this “all men” refers to all who are in Adam, all without exception who are born of Adam’s bloodline (v12); The damnatory sentence of death that was rightfully pronounced against Adam (v16) passed upon all men in his lineage. Every man in Adam’s bloodline was born dead in trespasses and sins, without the spirit life that Adam was created with back in Gen 1 (which he lost in Gen 3). Adam was initially created in God’s likeness, God’s image (Gen 1:26) which is spirit (Jn 4:24). When he lost the spirit of God, he died spiritually, leaving him with just body and soul. Every man born of his bloodline after that point was born after Adam’s likeness, not God’s likeness (Gen 5:1-3!).
came upon all men unto justification of life: this “all men”, within the context, refers to all who are in Christ, every man who believes regarding Jesus Christ, which is the “they” of v17 who “receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness". Each one who believes is legally justified and free from guilt in God’s sight - acquitted from sin and given right standing with God according to His established standard of justice.
justification of life: it’s the genitive of origin, meaning “justification which gives life”. This “justification which gives life” does not come by any good work(s) we might do, or by any level of obedience to God we display in our lives. Not just any display of obedience could bring justification - not just any so-called “good work” would qualify as the “one act of righteousness”. Moses’ willingness to have his name blotted out of the book of life (Ex 32:30-33) as an offering to purchase forgiveness for Israel’s sin - as sacrificially unselfish as that was - could never qualify as the “one act of righteousness”, for Moses was an unrighteous sinner himself. Abraham’s act of obedience in fulfilling God’s request for him to literally sacrifice Isaac, his only son, whom he loved (Gen 22), may be obedience so magnanimous that it defies comprehension - but it could never qualify as "the one act of righteousness”, for Isaac was already dead in trespasses and sins. Phil 2:8 speaks of the only obedience that would qualify as “the one act of righteousness” - concerning Jesus Christ, who had sinless blood: “…he became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”. 2 Cor 5:21: “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” [NLT] (also see 1 Pet 1:18-19; 2:22-24; 3:18) All the good works done by all men of all time could never accomplish what Christ accomplished in being obedient unto death on the cross - that "one act of righteousness” brought justification, which gives us LIFE!
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS:
Romans 5:18 [PHILIPS]
We see, then, that as one act of sin exposed the whole race of men to God's judgment and condemnation, so one act of perfect righteousness presents all men freely acquitted in the sight of God.
Romans 5:18 [HCSB]
So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is life-giving justification for everyone.
Romans 5:18 [AMP]
Well then, as one man’s trespass [one man’s false step and falling away led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man’s act of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for all men.
Romans 5:19 [AV]
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
ANNOTATED NOTES:
disobedience: a one-word description of the “one offence” spoken of in v18. Adam disobeyed a direct command of God (Gen 2:16-17; 3:17).
obedience: a one-word description of the “one act of righteousness” spoken of in v18; Jesus Christ “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil 2:18); (also see Mtt 26:39,42; Jn 6:38; 14:31; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet 2:24; 3:18); Though his life was lived sinlessly - in full obedience to God and replete with signs, miracles and wonders - it was not his sinless life that redeemed mankind. It was the single act of obedience in shedding his sinless blood on the cross that paid the legal price of redemption and salvation for anyone who believes. From early in his earthly ministry, it was declared that his sacrifice as the Passover lamb, the “Lamb of God”, would take away the sins of the world (Jn 1:29,36) (also see Jn 10:11; 1 Cor 5:7; 15:3; 1 Pet 1:18-19)
many (twice): as was the case in v15, both occurrences use the article and thus could accurately read "the many", referring to the entire group spoken of. Through Adam’s disobedience the entire group of those born of his line were made sinners. Through Jesus Christ’s obedience the entire group of those who believe on him are made righteous.
made=kathistemi: from Gr kata, meaning down, and histemi, meaning to set, place, stand; hence to set, to constitute in a place, position, or condition; Through Adam’s disobedience, we were “made” or placed in a position and condition as sinners. But through Jesus Christ’s obedience in that one act of righteousness, we were “made”, or set in the position before God as righteous, which is how we stand in His presence.
righteous=dikaios: just, righteous according to God’s established standard for justice
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS:
Romans 5:19 [PHILIPS]
One man's disobedience placed all men under the threat of condemnation, but one man's obedience has the power to present all men righteous before God.
Romans 5:19 [AMP]
For just as by one man’s disobedience (failing to hear, heedlessness, and carelessness) the many were constituted sinners, so by one Man’s obedience the many will be constituted righteous (made acceptable to God, brought into right standing with Him).
Romans 5:20 [AV]
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
ANNOTATED NOTES:
entered: come in beside; implies something else was already present (sin) and the law simply came in along side it
that: in order that
abound: multiply, increase; The law was given to Israel, not in order that trespasses could be eradicated, but in order to point out the pervasive presence of sin within man. In that regard, it caused sin to multiply, to increase. The law could never save man from sin - rather, it served the purpose of exposing the vast extent of sin, the fullness of man’s sinfulness, and man's absolute need for a Savior outside himself. Such a truth would come as a jolt to any Judean who felt that everything revolved around his pursuit of righteousness from the law. What the Judean (or anyone following a works-based system of self-righteousness) has to come to realize is that both sin and salvation are not centered in the law, but rather are centered in the two Adams as heads of created races. The law could never eliminate sin - it caused sin to increase, it defined sin (Rom 7:7) and it even excited sin (Rom 7:8).
abounded: was multiplied
did much more abound=hyperperisseuo: superabound, abound beyond measure; No matter how much sin was multiplied, grace multiplied exponentially beyond that. The reign of sin and death no longer exercises power over the believer. The grace and love of God now holds our hearts, that we might reign as royalty in all of life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Victory is ours, NOW and throughout all ETERNITY. 1 Cor 15:55-57: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”!
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS:
Romans 5:20 [PHILIPS]
Now we find that the Law keeps slipping into the picture to point the vast extent of sin. Yet, though sin is shown to be wide and deep, thank God his grace is wider and deeper still!
Romans 5:20 [AMP]
But then Law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God’s unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded,
Romans 5:21 [AV]
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
ANNOTATED NOTES:
hath: omitted in text
reigned=basileuo (twice): to be king, to exercise kingly power, to reign or have predominance, to exercise the highest influence
unto death: more accurately “in death”, or “in the death”; referring to the death, the loss of spirit life, that Adam brought upon all men when he sinned with the one act of disobedience - all men born of his lineage are born with a sin nature, spiritually dead
grace=charis: undeserved, unmerited favor, from God to man; The magnitude of this grace can hardly be overstated. This grace originated the plan of salvation, for He “sent the Son to be the Savior of the world” (1 Jn 4:14), who was made “to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor 5:21). In describing God’s grace, Eph 1:7..2:7 states, “He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins…So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.” [NLT]
righteousness=dikaiosune: justness or righteousness according to God’s established standard; the righteousness or right standing with God that He imputes to us through Jesus Christ’s finished work
eternal life=aionios zoe: this life is different than the mere mortal life that an unsaved man lives; this life, which is eternal, which we already have and can live in the light of - it comes by Jesus Christ our Lord, and is set in contrast to the death that Adam brought into the world. One act of sin issued in death. One act of righteousness issued in eternal life. In the 1st Adam we all became dead IN sin. In the 2nd Adam we who believe all became dead TO sin. The 1st Adam sinned, and in sinning, he died. The 2nd Adam never sinned, yet after dying to pay the legal price of our redemption, he was made alive, and we with him. In the 1st Adam’s sin, we all died. In the 2nd Adam’s death, all who believe have eternal life. By the 1st Adam’s one act of disobedience, we all are under condemnation. By the 2nd Adam’s one act of obedience (death on the cross), all who believe are no longer under condemnation but under grace. Men die because of sin, the root, not because of sins, the fruit. Jesus Christ has remedied the sin problem. If a child is born and dies, never having the opportunity to commit sins, it still had sin nature through Adam. The root of sins, sin, has been righteously dealt with by God through Jesus Christ our Lord (2 Cor 5:21).
** Many have asked the familiar question, “Why did God allow sin to enter the world?” A critical part of the answer lies in the truth that God gave man free will to choose to believe or not to believe, to obey or not to obey, to go God’s way or his own way (Isa 53:6; Prov 1:31; Acts 14:15-16; Jn 14:6). There is only one alternative to man having free will, and it’s not an acceptable alternative: possession. It should not be forgotten that God, in His wisdom and foreknowledge, foresaw the fall of man and the Redemption of man - with both coming by the free will act of “one man". As we view it in broad hindsight, as Romans 5:12-21 so simply and precisely presents it, we see that we are better off in the risen Christ than we ever could have been in an unfallen Adam (“much more”!). We have more blessings in the new birth than Adam had in Eden. Because of all that has been given to us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, man’s Redeemer, we have been delivered from sin’s penalty, we have been delivered from sin’s power, and we shall ultimately be delivered from sin’s presence for all eternity. As it is written in Rom 11:33: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”
ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS:
Romans 5:21 [AMP]
So that, [just] as sin has reigned in death, [so] grace (His unearned and undeserved favor) might reign also through righteousness (right standing with God) which issues in eternal life through Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) our Lord.
Romans 5:21 [PHILIPS]
The whole outlook changes--sin used to be the master of men and in the end handed them over to death; now grace is the ruling factor, with its purpose making men right with God and its end the bringing of them to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
PERSONAL NOTE:
Having just finished the core section of Romans (5:12-21), I thought you might be blessed with a poem I wrote. It was inspired by my pursuit of endeavoring to take the revelation of Romans from being words on a page (as magnificent as they are) to being living and real in my life - where my thoughts about me, about you, about us, and most importantly about He Who has called us, are overflowing with His GRACE each day.
It Cost ME Nothing At All
If God says it’s so, then it is,
If He says it’s not so, then it’s not.
If God says it’s doable, then I can.
But if He says “No way”, then I cannot.
Well...God says none were able to DO good, no not one,
He says that within my flesh IS no good.
I personally don’t get that,
and don’t even want to,
Which shows I can’t even THINK the good that I should.
Yet into my lowness God speaks from on high,
He leads me to deliverance from distress.
He says, “If you’ll believe,
you’ll surely receive…
Because My Son is the sole way out of your mess”.
God says it’s not what I’ve done, or ever will,
That can bring bright light to my dark life.
It’s what He HAS done,
through His only-begotten Son,
His GRACE can erase my fears and strife.
And get this...GRACE cost me nothing at all,
Which is good, because I had less than nothing to give.
So with no good within,
and no good thing to give,
His GRACE through Christ allows me to truly live.
Living not just to eat, sleep, and play,
But to be filled to the fullest each day.
Since He spared not His Son,
and my redemption is now done,
I’ll never again live another day only halfway.
Pure GRACE gave me all that I now have,
By His GRACE I am who I am.
Not by my works but His,
the life I’m now privileged to live
Is through the precious shed blood of the Lamb.
By Walter C. Manthey III
