Romans 5:17-18

5:17 For if, by the transgression of the one man, death reigned through the one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ!

5:18 Consequently, just as condemnation for all people came through one transgression, so too through the one righteous act came righteousness leading to life for all people.


sn Here the one man refers to Adam (cf. 5:14).

tn There is a double connective here that cannot be easily preserved in English: “consequently therefore,” emphasizing the conclusion of what he has been arguing.

tn Grk “[it is] unto condemnation for all people.”

tn Here ἀνθρώπους (anqrwpou") has been translated as a generic (“people”) since both men and women are clearly intended in this context.

tn There are no verbs in the Greek text of v. 18, forcing translators to supply phrases like “came through one transgression,” “resulted from one transgression,” etc.

sn One transgression refers to the sin of Adam in Gen 3:1-24.

sn The one righteous act refers to Jesus’ death on the cross.

tn Grk “righteousness of life.”