Romans 5
Lexham English Bible
Reconciliation with God through Faith in Christ
5 Therefore, because we[a] have been declared righteous by faith, we have[b] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we[c] know that affliction produces patient endurance, 4 and patient endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For while[d] we were still helpless, yet at the proper time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For only rarely will someone die on behalf of a righteous person (for on behalf of a good person possibly someone might even dare to die), 8 but God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while[e] we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Therefore, by much more, because we[f] have been declared righteous now by his blood, we will be saved through him from the wrath. 10 For if, while we[g] were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, by much more, having been reconciled, we will be saved by his life. 11 And not only this, but also we are boasting in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Death Came through Adam but Life Comes through Christ
12 Because of this, just as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death spread to all people because all sinned. 13 For until the law, sin was in the world, but sin is not charged to one’s account when there[h] is no law. 14 But death reigned from Adam until Moses even over those who did not sin in the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who is to come. 15 But the gift is not like the trespass[i], for if by the trespass of the one, the many died, by much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, multiply to the many. 16 And the gift is not as through the one who sinned, for on the one hand, judgment from the one sin led to condemnation, but the gift, from many trespasses, led to justification. 17 For if by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through the one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. 18 Consequently therefore, as through one trespass came condemnation to all people, so also through one righteous deed came justification of life to all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man, the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one, the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in as a side issue, in order that the trespass could increase, but where sin increased, grace was present in greater abundance, 21 so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Footnotes
- Romans 5:1 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have been declared righteous”) which is understood as causal
- Romans 5:1 Although a number of important manuscripts read the subjunctive mood here (“let us have”), almost all English versions prefer the indicative mood (“we have”) which is supported by many other manuscripts
- Romans 5:3 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as causal
- Romans 5:6 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were”) which is understood as temporal
- Romans 5:8 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were”) which is understood as temporal
- Romans 5:9 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have been declared righteous”) which is understood as causal
- Romans 5:10 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were”) which is understood as temporal
- Romans 5:13 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“is”) which is understood as temporal
- Romans 5:15 Literally “but not like the trespass so also the gift”
Romans 5
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 5
Faith, Hope, and Love.[a] 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace[b] with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,(A) 2 through whom we have gained access [by faith] to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God.(B) 3 Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, 4 and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope,(C) 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.(D) 6 For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. 7 Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.[c] 8 But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.(E) 9 How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath.(F) 10 Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life.(G) 11 Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Humanity’s Sin Through Adam. 12 [d]Therefore, just as through one person sin entered the world,(H) and through sin, death, and thus death came to all, inasmuch as all sinned[e]— 13 for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world, though sin is not accounted when there is no law.(I) 14 But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin after the pattern of the trespass of Adam, who is the type of the one who was to come.(J)
Grace and Life Through Christ. 15 But the gift is not like the transgression. For if by that one person’s transgression the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one person Jesus Christ overflow for the many. 16 And the gift is not like the result of the one person’s sinning. For after one sin there was the judgment that brought condemnation; but the gift, after many transgressions, brought acquittal. 17 For if, by the transgression of one person, death came to reign through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one person Jesus Christ. 18 In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all.(K) 19 For just as through the disobedience of one person the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one the many will be made righteous.(L) 20 The law entered in[f] so that transgression might increase but, where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more,(M) 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through justification for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.(N)
Footnotes
- 5:1–11 Popular piety frequently construed reverses and troubles as punishment for sin; cf. Jn 9:2. Paul therefore assures believers that God’s justifying action in Jesus Christ is a declaration of peace. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ displays God’s initiative in certifying humanity for unimpeded access into the divine presence. Reconciliation is God’s gift of pardon to the entire human race. Through faith one benefits personally from this pardon or, in Paul’s term, is justified. The ultimate aim of God is to liberate believers from the pre-Christian self as described in Rom 1–3. Since this liberation will first find completion in the believer’s resurrection, salvation is described as future in Rom 5:10. Because this fullness of salvation belongs to the future it is called the Christian hope. Paul’s Greek term for hope does not, however, suggest a note of uncertainty, to the effect: “I wonder whether God really means it.” Rather, God’s promise in the gospel fills believers with expectation and anticipation for the climactic gift of unalloyed commitment in the holy Spirit to the performance of the will of God. The persecutions that attend Christian commitment are to teach believers patience and to strengthen this hope, which will not disappoint them because the holy Spirit dwells in their hearts and imbues them with God’s love (Rom 5:5).
- 5:1 We have peace: a number of manuscripts, versions, and church Fathers read “Let us have peace”; cf. Rom 14:19.
- 5:7 In the world of Paul’s time the good person is especially one who is magnanimous to others.
- 5:12–21 Paul reflects on the sin of Adam (Gn 3:1–13) in the light of the redemptive mystery of Christ. Sin, as used in the singular by Paul, refers to the dreadful power that has gripped humanity, which is now in revolt against the Creator and engaged in the exaltation of its own desires and interests. But no one has a right to say, “Adam made me do it,” for all are culpable (Rom 5:12): Gentiles under the demands of the law written in their hearts (Rom 2:14–15), and Jews under the Mosaic covenant. Through the Old Testament law, the sinfulness of humanity that was operative from the beginning (Rom 5:13) found further stimulation, with the result that sins were generated in even greater abundance. According to Rom 5:15–21, God’s act in Christ is in total contrast to the disastrous effects of the virus of sin that invaded humanity through Adam’s crime.
- 5:12 Inasmuch as all sinned: others translate “because all sinned,” and understand Rom 5:13 as a parenthetical remark. Unlike Wis 2:24, Paul does not ascribe the entry of death to the devil.
- 5:20 The law entered in: sin had made its entrance (Rom 5:12); now the law comes in alongside sin. See notes on Rom 1:18–32; 5:12–21. Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more: Paul declares that grace outmatches the productivity of sin.
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.