Romans 5:15
What does Romans 5:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 5:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 5:15 means
Paul contrasts Adam’s trespass with Christ’s gift and argues for the superiority of grace. If by the one man’s trespass the many died, much more has the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded to the many. The harm from Adam was vast, but the remedy in Christ exceeds it in power and reach. The “free gift” underscores that salvation is not earned; it is given through Jesus Christ. Grace does not merely balance the scales; it overflows. Where Adam’s act spread death, Christ’s act brings a superabundance of life-giving favor to those who receive it.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But the free giving of God is not like the wrongdoing of man. For if, by the wrongdoing of one man death came to numbers of men, much more did the grace of God, and the free giving by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ, come to men.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862But, not as the offence so also <FI>is<Fi> 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;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But not as the offence, so also the gift. For if by the offence of one, many died: much more the grace of God and the gift, by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But [shall] not the act of favour [be] as the offence? For if by the offence of one the many have died, much rather has the grace ofGod, and the free gift in grace, which [is] by the one man Jesus Christ, abounded unto the many.
Context
Having established Adam as a type (v14), Paul begins a series of contrasts. Verse 15 insists the two are not equal and opposite: the gift is not like the trespass. The emphasis falls on the superabundance of grace through Jesus Christ. The next verse (v16) will contrast outcomes—condemnation versus justification—showing that Christ’s gift addresses not only one sin but many. Then v17 will speak of reigning: death’s reign through Adam versus believers reigning in life through Christ.
v.14Nevertheless 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.
v.15This passage
v.16And 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.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 20:28
even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
- Romans 5:12
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:—
- 1 John 5:11
And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
- Acts 15:11
But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they.
- John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
- Daniel 12:2
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
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