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Death in Adam, Life in Christ
Romans 5:12–21 compares Adam and Jesus Christ. It explains how sin and death are linked with one man’s trespass, and how God’s grace, righteousness and life come through Jesus Christ.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In this part of the letter, the writer traces the spread of sin and death, then contrasts that with the free gift of grace. The passage mentions Adam, Moses and the law, and repeats that judgement came through one trespass while justification and life come through Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:12–21Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Adam’s trespass brought condemnation and death, but God’s grace in Jesus Christ brings a greater gift of righteousness and life.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Sin entered and death spreadThe passage begins with a sequence: sin entered into the world through one man, death came through sin, and death passed to all people because all sinned.
Explanation
The passage begins with a sequence: sin entered into the world through one man, death came through sin, and death passed to all people because all sinned. This opening explains the reach of sin and death and prepares for the later contrast with Jesus Christ.
02Death reigned before the lawThe writer says sin was in the world until the law, though sin is not charged where there is no law.
Explanation
The writer says sin was in the world until the law, though sin is not charged where there is no law. Even so, death reigned from Adam until Moses, including over people whose sins were not like Adam’s disobedience. Adam is then called a foreshadowing of the one to come.
03The gift is unlike the trespassThe comparison now sharpens. The trespass of one led to many dying. By contrast, the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.
Explanation
The comparison now sharpens. The trespass of one led to many dying. By contrast, the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. Judgement from one sin brought condemnation, but the free gift after many trespasses brought justification.
04One act and one obedienceThe passage repeats the contrast in parallel lines. Through one trespass came condemnation for all people.
Explanation
The passage repeats the contrast in parallel lines. Through one trespass came condemnation for all people. Through one act of righteousness came justification to life. Through one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, and through the obedience of the one many will be made righteous.
05Where sin increased, grace increased moreThe law came in so that the trespass might abound. Yet the passage does not end with sin. Where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly.
Explanation
The law came in so that the trespass might abound. Yet the passage does not end with sin. Where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly. Sin reigned in death, but grace reigns through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What results are linked with the trespass, and what results are linked with the gift?
List the words the passage uses on each side of the comparison, including death and condemnation, then grace, justification, righteousness and life.
02What does this passage say about the time before the law?
Notice the statements about sin being in the world, sin not being charged where there is no law, and death reigning from Adam until Moses.
03How do the final verses describe grace in relation to sin?
Look for the phrases about sin abounding, grace abounding more exceedingly, and grace reigning through righteousness to eternal life.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Romans 5:12–21
12Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death passed to all men because all sinned.
13For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law.
14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those whose sins weren’t like Adam’s disobedience, who is a foreshadowing of him who was to come.
15But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.
16The gift is not as through one who sinned; for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift followed many trespasses to justification.
17For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.
18So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life.
19For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous.
20The law came in that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly,
21that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.