Romans 5:16
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.
Here Paul presented a second contrasting parallelism; this one is different in kind. He began by emphasizing the contrast: Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin. Literally, the Greek is, “Also not as through the one who sinned is the gift.” Obviously here a noun paralleling “the gift” is missing in the text. Some suggest “the judgment” from what follows; others the transgression, or the death, or the condemnation. It seems best to leave it indefinite as does the Greek text and to translate it by “the result” (as does the niv) of that which happened.
Paul continued, The judgment followed (“was out of”) one sin (lit., “one,” i.e., Adam) and brought condemnation. God passed judgment (krima) on Adam and he (and the entire human race) received condemnation (katakrima, “punishment”; katakrima occurs elsewhere only in v. 18 and 8:1). But, by contrast, the gift (charisma, “grace-gift,” i.e., righteousness, 5:17; cf. v. 15) followed (“was out of”) many trespasses and brought justification (dikaioma, “a declaration of righteousness,” also used in 1:32, 2:26; 5:18; 8:4). God’s grace, as Paul stated repeatedly, beginning in 3:24, is the basis of a person’s being justified, declared righteous. And this was in the face of “many trespasses” (paraptomaton; cf. 5:15, 17-18, 20). One man (Adam) trespassed (v. 15) God’s command, and everyone since has repeatedly overstepped God’s instructions.
Excerpt from:
Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
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