Romans 5:12-21

KING JAMES:

Rom 5:12  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: 

Rom 5:13  (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 

Rom 5:14  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. 

Rom 5:15  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. 

Rom 5:16  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. 

Rom 5:17  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.) 

Rom 5:18  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. 

Rom 5:19  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 

Rom 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 

Rom 5:21  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Main Points: After dealing with the Abrahamic connection, Paul pivots all the way back to Adam and the point at which sin enters into the human psyche. It was the action of one man that brought that calamity to man. It took the action of one man to give mankind a path to reconciliation. Jesus is the antithesis to Adam as far as results go…though they share the position of a “one-man-catalyst.”

5. How did sin come into the world? What was the result of sin? Why did death spread to all people?
    Adam opened the door to sin and its consequences.  The consequence is death. That consequence affects everyone because everyone sins.

6. Explain verse 14. Why is it important to notice that death reigned from Adam to Moses? What is the point?
   Paul’s point is that Adam’s sin affected everybody. Even without the specter of law to convict sin, death still was a consequence. Adam’s one act had a universal consequence. Likewise God, through Jesus causes His own consequences. In this sense Adam is like Jesus….that is where the similarity stops.

7. How is the free gift not like the trespass?  The trespass led to sin, which led to death for everyone. See chart below: Note the context is one man affects the AVAILABILITY and SCOPE (Everyone)

Sin/ Results of Sin		Free Gift (Grace)/Results of Grace
Trespass	Death to Many	Grace/Free Gift	Given to Many
Trespass	Judgment/Condemnation	Free Gift	Justification
Trespass	Death reigned	Free Gift/Grace	Righteousness Reigns
Tresspass	Condemnation	Act of Righteousness	Justification/Life
Disobedience	Many Sinners	Obedience	Many Righteous
Final analysis	DEATH	Final Analysis	Eternal Life
LAW		GRACE

8. Explain verses 20-21. What hope is Paul giving?
  Paul extends his earlier thought that without law there is no imputing of sin. Death was (and still is) a consequence of sin. However, the LAW DID NOT make matters any better . Under the law, (which is merely a revelation of sin in this context) magnified or INCREASED man’s consciousness of sin. This is the paradox of relying on law….it simply has no avenue to make the subject righteous. Paul explains that God’s solution (antithetical to law) leads man in the opposite direction of law. From sin/death to righteousness/life

Additional:

(14) Reigned:  G936 βασιλεύω basileuō bas-il-yoo'-o From G935; to rule (literally or figuratively): - king

Note Paul is still addressing the division found against the Gentiles. He is STILL using terms like ALL MEN to carry the thought that they need to be unified because they are all in the same boat.