¹⁸ If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.

¹³ To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law.^{(A) 14} Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam,^(B) who is a pattern of the one to come.^(C)

¹⁵ But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man,^(D) how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ,^(E) overflow to the many! ¹⁶ Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. ¹⁷ For if, by the trespass of the one man, death^(F) reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life^(G) through the one man, Jesus Christ!

¹⁸ Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people,^(H) so also one righteous act resulted in justification^(I) and life^(J) for all people. ¹⁹ For just as through the disobedience of the one man^(K) the many were made sinners,^(L) so also through the obedience^(M) of the one man the many will be made righteous.

²⁰ The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase.^(N) But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,^(O)

The Law and Sin

⁷ What shall we say, then?^(A) Is the law sinful? Certainly not!^(B) Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.^(C) For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”^[a](D)