A Study of Romans (19)
Understanding
Adam
Offense. This word occurs six times in the passage in verses 15 (twice), 16, 17, 18, 20. The Greek word so translated carries a twofold idea involving a fall and a contradiction of the right. Trench suggests it carries the idea of falling back from goodness already experienced.
Death. These verses emphasize again (cf. verses 12–14, above) that death is the consequence of sin for all, just as it was for Adam. Note verses 15, 17, and 21 where the point is thrice made.
Sin. The noun “sin” occurs twice (verses 20, 21), the verb “sin” once (verse 16), and the noun “sinner” once (verse 19).
Judgment. This word occurs once, in verse 16, (supplied in verse 18) and looks back to the reckoning Adam had with God as a consequence of sin.
Condemnation. This word is used twice (verses 16, 18). It is a compound in Greek built on the same root as “judgment.”
Disobedience. This word is used once, in verse 19, and again in reference to Adam’s “original” sin. The Greek word means to go contrary to what one has heard, thus to substitute one’s own way for God’s direction.
We note that three of these words refer to Adam’s (and our) sin: offence, sin, disobedience; three to Adam’s (and our) penalty: judgment (sentence), condemnation, death. Such is the legacy passed on to all the human race from Adam and by reason of his sin.
Jesus
Free gift. The word so translated is used twice in verses 15, 16 (and supplied in verse 18).
Grace. This word, which refers to the general quality of undeserved favor from God to man, occurs five times in this section, in verses 15 (twice), 17, 20, 21.
Gift. This word appears three times, in verses 15, 16, 17, and sees a gift as an act of generosity, freely given, without price or return favor expected.
Justification-righteousness. We have already learned that these two are the same at heart. In verses 16, 18 we have (in English) “justification”; in verses 17, 18, “righteousness”; and in verse 19 “righteous.”
Life. This occurs in verses 17, 18, 21. It looks back to Christ’s resurrection, then on to our own spiritual regeneration, and finally to our eternal life.
Obedience. This word occurs once, in verse 19. In contrast to “disobedience” (above), it pictures submission to what one has heard, following the directions of God.
Truths
Thus each verse makes one statement about the effect of Adam’s sin on the whole race: (15) “through the offence of one many be dead”; (16) “the judgment was by one to condemnation”; (17) “by one man’s offence death reigned”; (18) “by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation”; (19) “by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners.”
Likewise each verse presents the contrast by making another affirmation about the effect of Christ’s work for the whole spiritual race made up of those who believe in Him: (15) “the grace of God … by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many”; (16) “the free gift is of many offences [all laid on Christ] unto justification”; (17) “they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one”; (18) “by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life”; (19) “by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”