Romans 5:12

The Amplification of Justification

5:12 So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all people ¹  because ²  all sinned –

Romans 5:15-17

5:15 But the gracious gift is not like the transgression. ³  For if the many died through the transgression of the one man, ⁴  how much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man Jesus Christ multiply to the many! 5:16 And the gift is not like the one who sinned. ⁵  For judgment, resulting from the one transgression, ⁶  led to condemnation, but ⁷  the gracious gift from the many failures ⁸  led to justification. 5:17 For if, by the transgression of the one man, ⁹  death reigned through the one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ!

¹ tn Here ἀνθρώπους (anqrwpou") has been translated as a generic (“people”) since both men and women are clearly intended in this context.

² tn The translation of the phrase ἐφ᾿ ᾧ (ef Jw) has been heavily debated. For a discussion of all the possibilities, see C. E. B. Cranfield, “On Some of the Problems in the Interpretation of Romans 5.12,” SJT 22 (1969): 324-41. Only a few of the major options can be mentioned here: (1) the phrase can be taken as a relative clause in which the pronoun refers to Adam, “death spread to all people in whom [Adam] all sinned.” (2) The phrase can be taken with consecutive (resultative) force, meaning “death spread to all people with the result that all sinned.” (3) Others take the phrase as causal in force: “death spread to all people because all sinned.”

³ tn Grk “but not as the transgression, so also [is] the gracious gift.”

⁴ sn Here the one man refers to Adam (cf. 5:14).

⁵ tn Grk “and not as through the one who sinned [is] the gift.”

⁶ tn The word “transgression” is not in the Greek text at this point, but has been supplied for clarity.

⁷ tn Greek emphasizes the contrast between these two clauses more than can be easily expressed in English.

⁸ tn Or “falls, trespasses,” the same word used in vv. 15, 17, 18, 20.

⁷ sn Here the one man refers to Adam (cf. 5:14).