Bible Commentaries
Romans 5

Verse 7

righteous

See Romans 1:1; Romans 1:19 (See Scofield "Romans 1:19- :") .

Verse 10

Reconciliation

See Romans 5:10,Romans 5:11 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Colossians 1:21.

Verse 12

The "wherefore" relates back to Romans 3:19-23 and may be regarded as a continuation of the discussion of the universality of sin, interrupted ; Romans 3:24-11; by the passage on justification and its results.

have sinned

The first sin wrought the moral ruin of the race. The demonstration is simple.

(1) Death is universal (Romans 4:12; Romans 4:14), all die: sinless infants, moral people, religious people, equally with the depraved. For a universal effect there must be a universal cause; that cause is a state of universal sin (Romans 5:12).

(2) But this universal state must have had a cause. It did. The consequence of Adam's sin was that "the many were made sinners" (Romans 5:19)--"By the offence of one judgment came upon all men unto condemnation" (Romans 5:18).

(3) Personal sins are not meant here. From Adam to Moses death reigned (Romans 5:14), although, there being no law, personal guilt was not imputed (Romans 5:13). Accordingly, from Genesis 4:7 to Exodus 29:14 the sin-offering is not once mentioned. Then, since physical death from Adam to Moses was not due to the sinful acts of those who die (Romans 5:13), it follows that it was due to a universal sinful state, or nature, and that state is declared to be out inheritance from Adam.

(4) the moral state of fallen man is described in Scripture Genesis 6:5; 1 Kings 8:46; Psalms 14:1-3; Psalms 39:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 18:11; Mark 7:20; Mark 7:23; Romans 1:21; Romans 2:1-29; Romans 3:9-19 ; Romans 7:24; Romans 8:7; John 3:6; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 3:14; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 2:1-3; Ephesians 2:11; Ephesians 2:12; Ephesians 4:18-22; Colossians 1:21; Hebrews 3:13; James 4:14; 1 Corinthians 15:22.

Verse 14

Adam to Moses

Broadly, the contrast is: Adam: sin, death; Christ: righteousness, life. Adam drew down into his ruin the old creation Romans 8:19-22 of which he was lord and head. Christ brings into moral unity with God, and into eternal life, the new creation of which he is Lord and Head. Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 1:23. Even the animal and material creation, cursed for man's sake. Genesis 3:17 will be delivered by Christ. ; Isaiah 11:6-9; Romans 8:19-22.

Verse 15

one many

the one the many died.

Verse 16

offences

Sin. (See Scofield " :-") .

Verse 17

offence Sin. (See Scofield " :-") .

righteousness See Romans 5:17; Romans 5:18; Romans 5:21. (See Scofield "Romans 5:21- :") .

Verse 18

offence

Sin. (See Scofield " :-") .

Verse 19

sinners

Sin. (See Scofield " :-") .

Verse 21

sin

"Sin" in Romans 6:0; Romans 7:0Romans 6:0is the nature in distinction from "sins," which are manifestations of that nature.

Compare (1 John 1:8) with (1 John 1:10), where this distinction also appears.

grace

Grace (in salvation). (Romans 5:2); (Romans 5:15-21); (Romans 11:5-6); (Romans 3:24).

(See Scofield Joh 1:17).