Passage

Romans 5

Romans 5 is the hinge of Paul's letter. The first eleven verses describe the experience of the justified believer (peace with God, access to grace, hope, the love of God poured out by the Spirit, reconciliation through the blood of Christ). The last ten verses deliver the Adam-Christ typology that grounds the whole structure of redemption: as one man's trespass brought condemnation to all, one man's act of righteousness brings justification to all who are in him. The chapter is the single most concentrated treatment of original sin, federal headship, and the logic of substitutionary atonement in the New Testament.

Key verses

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1, NASB95)

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, NASB95)

"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned." (Romans 5:12, NASB95)

"For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:19, NASB95)

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; 2. through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3. And not only so, but we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh stedfastness; 4. and stedfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope: 5. and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us. 6. For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly. 7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: for peradventure for the good man some one would even dare to die. 8. But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath of God through him. 10. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life; 11. and not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 12. Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned:, 13. for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come. 15. But not as the trespass, so also is the free gift. 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 unto the many. 16. And not as through one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment came of one unto condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses unto justification. 17. For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ. 18. So then as through one trespass the judgment came unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men to justification of life. 19. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous. 20. And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly: 21. that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:1-21, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; 2. through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3. Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; 4. and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: 5. and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6. For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7. For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die. 8. But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 10. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life. 11. Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 12. Therefore as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned. 13. For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law. 14. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those whose sins weren’t like Adam’s disobedience, who is a foreshadowing of him who was to come. 15. But 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. 16. The gift is not as through one who sinned: for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses to justification. 17. For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so 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. So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life. 19. For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous. 20. The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly; 21. that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:1-21, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4. And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ^{in due time: or, according to the time} 7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. ^{atonement: or, reconciliation} 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: ^{for that: or, in whom} 13. (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) ^{by one man's: or, by one offence} 18. 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. ^{by the offence: or, by one offence} ^{by the righteousness: or, by one righteousness} 19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:1-21, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. Having been declared righteous, then, by faith, we have peace toward God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2. through whom also we have the access by the faith into this grace in which we have stood, and we boast on the hope of the glory of God. 3. And not only [so], but we also boast in the tribulations, knowing that the tribulation doth work endurance; 4. and the endurance, experience; and the experience, hope; 5. and the hope doth not make ashamed, because the love of God hath been poured forth in our hearts through the Holy Spirit that hath been given to us. 6. For in our being still ailing, Christ in due time did die for the impious; 7. for scarcely for a righteous man will any one die, for for the good man perhaps some one also doth dare to die; 8. and God doth commend His own love to us, that, in our being still sinners, Christ did die for us; 9. much more, then, having been declared righteous now in his blood, we shall be saved through him from the wrath; 10. for if, being enemies, we have been reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved in his life. 11. And not only [so], but we are also boasting in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom now we did receive the reconciliation; 12. because of this, even as through one man the sin did enter into the world, and through the sin the death; and thus to all men the death did pass through, for that all did sin; 13. for till law sin was in the world: and sin is not reckoned when there is not law; 14. but the death did reign from Adam till Moses, even upon those not having sinned in the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is a type of him who is coming. 15. But, not as the offence so also [is] the free gift; for if by the offence of the one the many did die, much more did the grace of God, and the free gift in grace of the one man Jesus Christ, abound to the many; 16. and not as through one who did sin [is] the free gift, for the judgment indeed [is] of one to condemnation, but the gift [is] of many offences to a declaration of 'Righteous,' 17. for if by the offence of the one the death did reign through the one, much more those, who the abundance of the grace and of the free gift of the righteousness are receiving, in life shall reign through the one, Jesus Christ. 18. So, then, as through one offence to all men [it is] to condemnation, so also through one declaration of 'Righteous' [it is] to all men to justification of life; 19. for as through the disobedience of the one man, the many were constituted sinners: so also through the obedience of the one, shall the many be constituted righteous. 20. And law came in, that the offence might abound, and where the sin did abound, the grace did overabound, 21. that even as the sin did reign in the death, so also the grace may reign, through righteousness, to life age-during, through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:1-21, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: Paul the Apostle.
Audience: Christian believers in Rome, a mixed Jewish and Gentile congregation.
Location: composed in Corinth during Paul's third missionary journey; addressed to Rome.
Time period: composed c. AD 57.

Theological reading

Romans 5 falls into two halves that together state Paul's gospel diagnosis and cure. Verses 1-11 describe what it is to be on the gospel's far side. "Justified by faith" (v. 1) is a forensic verdict: the believer is declared righteous before God's court not on the basis of works but on the basis of trust in the work of Christ. From that verdict five things flow: peace with God, standing in grace, hope of glory, the love of God poured out in the heart by the Spirit, and reconciliation through the blood of the Son. Paul then doubles the a fortiori argument: if God justified us while we were enemies, how much more will he keep us, now that we are friends?

Verses 12-21 step backward to ground all of the above. Paul argues that humanity stands under two federal heads. Adam's one trespass brought sin into the world, and through sin, death; "death spread to all men, because all sinned" (v. 12). What Paul means by "all sinned" has been the most-debated clause in the chapter. Augustinian and Reformed readings take it as a statement of original sin: all sinned in Adam, as their representative, so condemnation and death are inherited. Eastern Orthodox and many Wesleyan readings take it as a statement of inherited mortality and corruption that issues in personal sin, without inherited guilt. Either way, the structure Paul builds requires Adam to be a historical individual whose action had universal effect, because that is the only thing that lets Christ function as the parallel head.

The Adam-Christ typology in vv. 14-19 is the architecture. Adam is "a type of him who was to come" (v. 14). One trespass brought condemnation; one act of righteousness brings justification (v. 18). One disobedience constituted many sinners; one obedience will constitute many righteous (v. 19). The parallel is not mathematical but climactic: grace overflows. Where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more (v. 20). This is the structural argument for imputed righteousness in Reformed soteriology: just as Adam's trespass is reckoned to those in Adam, Christ's obedience is reckoned to those in Christ.

The chapter is also load-bearing for the doctrine of peace with God (v. 1). Paul does not say believers are at peace with their circumstances; he says the cosmic and judicial hostility between God and the sinner is ended. The fork in human destiny is which Adam one is in: the first, dying; or the second, alive. This is also where Paul links suffering to formation (vv. 3-4): tribulation produces endurance, endurance proven character, character hope, and hope does not disappoint because of the present pledge of the Spirit's love.

Key words

G1344 - dikaioo, to "justify / declare righteous"; the forensic verb in v. 1.
G5485 - charis, "grace"; the operative principle from v. 2 on.
G0026 - agape, "love"; the love of God poured out in v. 5.
G0266 - hamartia, "sin"; the personified power that enters in v. 12.
G2288 - thanatos, "death"; the consequence reigning from Adam to Moses.

Theological themes

Justification by faith. Vv. 1-2 are the canonical statement of the forensic verdict.
Original sin / federal headship. Adam's representative function is the chapter's structural premise.
Reconciliation. The relational dimension of the atonement (vv. 10-11), distinct from but inseparable from justification.
Christ as second Adam. The typology that makes Christ's obedience extend to "the many."
Hope through suffering. The pastoral pattern of vv. 3-5 tied to the gift of the Spirit.

Cross-references

Romans 5.12-21, the focused Adam-Christ unit.
1 Corinthians 15.21-22, Paul's parallel statement: "in Adam all die, in Christ all will be made alive."
Genesis 3, the historical event Paul reads as the entry of sin and death.
Romans 3.25-26, the propitiation verses that the "justified by his blood" of 5:9 presupposes.
Philippians 2.5-8, the "obedience of the One" Paul names in 5:19.

Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.