Romans 5:20-21

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 5:20

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 5:20

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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 5:20

Verse 20 20.But the law intervened, etc. This subject depends on what he had said before — that there was sin before the law was published. This being the case, then follows immediately this question — For what purpose was the law given? It was therefore necessary to solve this difficulty; but as a longer digression was not suitable, he deferred the subject and handled it in another place: and now by the way he only says, that the law entered, (178) that sin might abound; for he describes not... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 5:21

Verse 21 21.That as sin has reigned, etc. As sin is said to be the sting of death, and as death has no power over men, except on account of sin; so sin executes its power by death: it is hence said to exercise thereby its dominion. In the last clause the order of the words is deranged, but yet not without reason. The simple contrast might have been thus formed, — “That righteousness may reign through Christ.” But Paul was not content to oppose what is contrary to what is contrary, but adds the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 5:1-21

(6) The results of the revelation of the righteousness of God, as affecting (a) the consciousness and hopes of believers; (b) the position of mankind before God. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 5:12-21

(b) From consideration of the blessed effects on believers of faith in the reconciliation through Christ, the apostle now passes to the effects of that reconciliation as the position of the whole human race before God. His drift is that the reconciliation corresponds to the original transgression; both proceeded from one , and both include all mankind in their results; as the one introduced sin into the world, and, as its consequence, death, so the other introduced righteousness, ... read more

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