Romans 5:17

Then when he says, for if by one man's offense, he proves what he has said, namely, that Christ's grace passes from many sins to justice. First, he proves this from something later; second, from something earlier, at for as by the disobedience. In regard …

If because one man ate from the forbidden tree, death came to reign, then how much more shall we, who have received the abundance and surplus of grace and have been justified, live and reign "through the one Jesus Christ," whose brethren we are, with …

There is a difference between grace and the gift. Grace is opposed to the offense; the gift, to death, being the gift of life.

God in Christ forgives all trespasses, Col. ii. By Adam's sin death reigned; but by Christ's righteousness there is not only a period put to the reign of death, but believers are preferred to reign of life,

In and by the righteousness of Christ we have not only a charter of pardon, but a patent of honour, are not only freed from our chains, but, like Joseph, advanced to the second chariot, and made unto our God kings and priests--not only pardoned, but preferred.

The sentence was by one offense to Adam's condemnation - Occasioning the sentence of death to pass upon him, which, by consequence, overwhelmed his posterity. But the free gift is of many offenses unto justification - Unto the purchasing it for all men, notwithstanding many offenses.

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one,.... It may be rendered, "by one offence death reigned by one"; for it was the single sin of Adam, the first sin that was committed by him, which gave death its reigning power over the sons of men: "Adam, say (f) the Jewish doctors, transgressed, על פקודא חד דאורייתא, one commandment of the law,'' and was the cause of death to himself, and to all the world.

God's goodness is, of all his attributes, in a special manner his glory, and it is that grace that is the root (his favour to us in Christ), and the gift is by grace.

Nor does he say Life reigns in us, which would have been a scriptural enough idea; but, which is much more pregnant, "We shall reign in life." While freedom and might are implied in the figure of "reigning," "life" is represented as the glorious territory or atmosphere of that reign.

Death reigned by one - Death is here personified, and is represented as reigning over the human race; and death, of course, reigns unto death; he is known as reigning, by the destruction of his subjects. Shall reign in life - Those who receive, retain, and improve the abundant grace offered by Jesus Christ, shall be redeemed from the empire of death, and exalted to the throne of God, to live and reign with him ever, world without end. See Rev 1:5, Rev 1:6; Rev 2:7, Rev 2:10, Rev 2:11; Rev 3:21. If we carefully compare Rom 5:15 with Rom 5:17, we shall find that there is a correspondence between περισσειαν, the abounding, Rom 5:17, and επερισευσε hath abounded, Rom 5:15; between της δωρεας της δικαιοσυνης, the gift of righteousness, i.e. justification, Rom 5:17, and ἡ δωρεα εν χαριτι, the gift by grace, Rom 5:15; therefore, if we understand the abounding of grace, and the gift of justification, Rom 5:17, we shall understand the grace of God, and the gift by grace which hath abounded unto the many, Rom 5:15. But the abounding of grace, and the gift of justification, Rom 5:17, is that grace and gift which is Received by those who shall reign in eternal life. Reigning in life is the consequence of receiving the grace and gift. Therefore, receiving the grace is a necessary qualification on our part for reigning in life; and this necessarily implies our believing in Christ Jesus, as having died for our offenses, receiving the grace so freely offered us; using the means in order to get more grace, and bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit. Receive must here have the same sense as in Mat 13:20: He heareth the word, and anon with joy Receiveth it. Joh 1:12: But as many as Received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God. Joh 3:11: Ye Receive not our witness. - See also Joh 3:32, Joh 3:33. Joh 5:43: I am come in my Father’s name, and ye Receive me not. […]

For if - This verse contains the same idea as before presented, but in a varied form. It is condensing the whole subject, and presenting it in a single view. By one man’s offence - Or, by one offence. Margin.