Keraia
Romans 5

Romans 5:12

Death in Adam, Life in Christ · Romans 5:12–21
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Translations

Modern
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.
Traditional
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:
Literal
Because of this, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, so also death passed through to all men, because all sinned.
Latin
Propterea sicut per unum hominem peccatum in hunc mundum intravit, et per peccatum mors, et ita in omnes homines mors pertransiit, in quo omnes peccaverunt.

Original

Greek
English
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.

Notes

Romans 5:12

  • Adam is both the name of the first man and a Hebrew word that means "human." Paul emphasizes Adam's connection with the human race.

  • sin entered the world: The importance Paul gives to this act, and the way he compares Adam’s sin with Christ’s obedience on the cross, shows that Paul understood Adam and the sin in the garden of Eden as real events in history.

  • all sinned: Death affects everyone because sin affects everyone. It is uncertain when or how all sinned. But Paul later attributes the condemnation of all people to the sin of Adam, their representative (5:18).

  • Jewish tradition is not united on how Adam’s sin relates to the sin and death of all human beings. Different Jewish texts explain this relationship in different ways.

    Some texts teach a strong connection between Adam and all other people. These writings say that Adam’s sin brought death to the whole human family. One example says, “when Adam sinned, a death was decreed for those yet to be born” (2 Baruch 23:4). Other texts place responsibility on each individual person. These writings say that people die because of their own sin, not because of Adam’s sin. One text states, “Adam is not the cause, except for himself; each of us has become our own Adam” (2 Baruch 54:19).

Parallels

Genesis 3:1–7

Glossary

Adam (Person) Atonement Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Church Crucifixion Death Eschatology Evil Imputation Incarnation Last Judgment Letter to the Romans Man Man, Old and New New Creation, New Creature Righteousness Second Adam Sin

Topics

Babies Going to Heaven Being Born in Sin Being Born in to Sin Condemnation: Universal, Caused by the Offense of Adam Creation Groans Death: Spiritual Death: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Disabled People Effects of Sin Evil in the World Fall of Man: General Scriptures Concerning Gap Theory Heredity: General Scriptures Concerning Imputed Sin Justification: General Scriptures Concerning Man: Involved Posterity in his Ruin Natural Death: Consequence of Sin Original Sin Separation from God Sin: Consequences of, Entailed Upon Children Sin: Entered Into the World by Adam Sin: Fruits of Sin: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To, Defining and Illustrating The Consequences of Sin The Fall The Fall of Man by the Disobedience of Adam The Fall of Man: Punishment Consequent Upon: Temporal Death The Law of God: Given: To Adam The Punishment of the Wicked: Future Described as Death What is Sin