So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life.
Parallel translations
- KJV 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.
- BSB So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men.
- NKJV Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
- NASB So then, as through one offense the result was condemnation to all mankind, so also through one act of righteousness the result was justification of life to all mankind.
- NLT Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
As one trespass brought condemnation to all, one act of righteousness brings justification and life. Christ's obedience answers Adam's sin.
Overview
Paul restates the parallel in summary form: Adam's single trespass led to condemnation for all connected to him, while Christ's one righteous act brings justification and life. The 'all' in each case refers to those united to the respective head, all in Adam and all in Christ. The verse displays the gospel's logic of representation, with Christ undoing in his people what Adam did.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 1 Cor 15:22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
- Rom 5:12Therefore as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned.
- Rom 5:15But 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.
- Rom 5:19For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous.
- Acts 13:39and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
- Rom 4:25who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.
- Heb 2:9But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.
- 1 Tim 2:4–6who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth.
- Rom 3:19–22Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.
- John 1:7The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.
- John 12:32And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
- John 3:26They came to John, and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.”
- 1 Jn 2:20You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.
- 2 Pet 1:1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 5:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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