Romans 5:18-21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 5:6-21

The apostle here describes the fountain and foundation of justification, laid in the death of the Lord Jesus. The streams are very sweet, but, if you run them up to the spring-head, you will find it to be Christ's dying for us; it is in the precious stream of Christ's blood that all these privileges come flowing to us: and therefore he enlarges upon this instance of the love of God which is shed abroad. Three things he takes notice of for the explication and illustration of this doctrine:?1.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 5:12-21

5:12-21 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and, through sin, death entered into the world, and so death spread to all men, in that they had sinned; for up to the coming of the law sin was in the world, but sin was not debited against men because the law did not yet exist; but death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses even over those who had not sinned in the way that Adam had, Adam, who was the symbol of the one who was to come. But the gift of free... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 5:18

Therefore as by the offence of one ,.... Or by one offence, as before, the guilt of which is imputed to, and judgment came upon all men to condemnation ; which word is used in a legal sense, and intends condemnation to eternal death, as appears from the antithesis in the text; for if "justification of life", means an adjudging to eternal life, as it certainly does, the judgment or guilt, which is unto condemnation, must design a condemnation to eternal death, the just wages of sin: and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 5:19

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners ,.... Agreeably to this the Jews say F7 Tzeror Hammor, fol. 97. 1. , that "for the sin of the first man, all that are born of him, יהיו רשעים , "become wicked".' This is the sum of what is said in the foregoing verses, that as by Adam's sin all his posterity are made sinners, and so are brought under a sentence of condemnation; in like manner by the obedience of Christ, all his seed are made righteous, and come under a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 5:20

Moreover, the law entered ,.... By "the law" is meant, not the law of nature, much less the law of sin; rather the ceremonial law, which came in over and above the moral law; it entered but for a time; by which sin abounded, and appeared very sinful; and through it the grace of God much more abounded, in the sacrifice of Christ prefigured by it: but the moral law, as it came by Moses, is here intended; which entered with great pomp and solemnity on Mount Sinai; and intervened, or came... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 5:21

That as sin hath reigned unto death ,.... This is another end of the law's entrance, or rather an illustration of the grace of God, by comparing the reigns of sin and grace together: sin has such a power over man in a state of nature, as amounts to a dominion; it has not only an enticing, ensnaring power, to draw into a compliance with it, and an obstructive power to hinder that which is good, and an operative one of that which is evil, and a captivating, enslaving one to the same; but it... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 5:18

Therefore, as by the offense of one, etc. - The Greek text of this verse is as follows: - Αρα ουν, ὡς δι ' ἑνος παραπτωματος, εις παντας ανθρωπους εις κατακριμα· αυτω και ἑνος δικαιωματος, εις παντας ανθρωπους, εις δικαιωσιν ζωης ; which literally rendered stands thus: - Therefore, as by one offense unto all men, unto condemnation; so likewise, by one righteousness unto all men, to justification of life. This is evidently an elliptical sentence, and its full meaning can be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 5:19

For, as by one man's disobedience, etc. - The explanation of this verse has been anticipated in the foregoing. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 5:20

The law entered that ( ἱνα ) the offense might abound - After considering various opinions concerning the true meaning of this verse, (see under Romans 5:12 ; (note)), I am induced to prefer my own, as being the most simple. By law I understand the Mosaic law. By entering in, παρεισηλθεν , or, rather, coming in privily, see Galatians 2:4 , (the only place where it occurs besides), I understand the temporary or limited use of that law, which was, as far as its rites and ceremonies... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 5:21

That as sin hath reigned unto death - As extensively, as deeply, as universally, as sin, whether implying the act of transgression or the impure principle from which the act proceeds, or both. Hath reigned, subjected the whole earth and all its inhabitants; the whole soul, and all its powers and faculties, unto death, temporal of the body, spiritual of the soul, and eternal of both; even so, as extensively, deeply, and universally might grace reign - filling the whole earth, and pervading,... read more

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