Some Key Words (8/2/00-8/5/00)

Sin (hamartia [266]):

missing the true purpose of our lives, an offense in relation to God - emphasizing the guilt; to be without a share in, to miss the mark, to err, to wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to violate God's law, a violation of divine law in thought or act; a sin

World (kosmos [2889]):

that which pertains to space and not time, all of the material universe, all people living in the world; a harmonious arrangement, order, government, the stars as the ornament of the heavens, the universe, the earth, the human race, the ungodly, worldly goods, a general collection of any sort - Gentiles, believers, nonbelievers, etc; the world and or its inhabitants

Spread (dierchomai [1330]):

to pass through, to walk, journey, to travel a road which leads through, to go different places, to go abroad, to spread abroad - as a report; to traverse

Law (nomos [3551]):

law - as distributing and assigning each his own, or as administering all things, general law, divine law, the law of faith, a principle of equivalent force to a law; any established custom or law, God's law, a precept or injunction, reasonable rule of action, Mosaic law, the law of faith and love; a law or principle

Imputed (ellogeo [1677]):

to charge, take into account, to take into consideration; to lay to one's charge, reckon in; to attribute to

Death (thanatos [2288]):

natural death, spiritual death, eternal death, pestilence; the death of the body, separation of the soul, the power of death, the misery of the soul arising from sin - which lasts past this life, the state of the dead in hell, sin's miseries along with physical death comprising the loss of life consecrated and blessed; literal or figurative death

Reigned (basileuo [936]):

to be king, to have predominance; to be king, governor, Messiah, a millennial Christian, to exercise the highest influence, to control; to rule

Adam (Adam [76]):

the first man, the parent of the human race; the first man, a type of Jesus, from (Adam [OT: 120]): ruddy

Moses (Moseus [3475]):

"drawing out", the legislator of the Jewish people, author of the first five books of the Bible; the Hebrew lawgiver. From (Mosheh [OT:4872]): drawing out, rescued

Offense (parabasis [3847]):

transgression, an excessive act, a more serious sin as it is the breaking of a known commandment; a going over, a disregarding or violating of command; violation

Type (tupos [5179]):

a constituent element of a parable, a prototype, a mark or impression, a form, figure or image, a pattern, example, a representative type, a form of doctrine; the mark of a blow, a print, a figure formed by impression, form, an example, the pattern after which a thing is made, an example to be imitated or avoided, a person or thing prefiguring a future person or thing; a stamp or scar, a shape, a statue, a style or resemblance, a model

Free gift (charisma [5486]):

a gift of grace, an undeserved benefit from God, the result of grace; a favor received without merit, the gift of divine grace, of faith, knowledge, holiness, virtue, the ways of divine grace whereby sins are pardoned and salvation is appointed, extraordinary powers given to some Christians to enable them to serve, the reception of that which is due to the power of God's grace operating by the Holy Spirit; a divine gratuity, a spiritual endowment, a miraculous faculty

Transgression (paraptoma [3900]):

fault, purposely stepping over, a somewhat lesser sin than parabasis. Paraptoma refers to the guilt and suffering of the transgressor, where parabasis refers to the purposefulness of the act.; to fall beside or near, to deviate from truth and uprightness, a sin or misdeed; a side-slip, a lapse, an error or transgression

Grace (charis [5485]):

to rejoice, favor, acceptance, a benefit, gratitude, a favor done without expectation of return; that which affords pleasure, delight, sweetness, loveliness, the merciful kindness of God in turning us to Christ and keeping us in faith, the spiritual condition of one governed by divine grace, the benefits of grace; graciousness of manner or act, the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life

Gift (dorea [1431]):

a free gift, a spiritual or supernatural gift; a gift; a gratuity

Abound (perisseuo [4052]):

to exceed a fixed measure, left over, to be over, to remain, to be at hand in abundance, something which comes in abundance and overflows to one, to abound, to overflow, to have in abundance, to be pre-eminent, to excel more than, to cause to abound; to super-abound in quantity or quality, to be in excess, to cause to super-abound or excel

Many (polus [4183]):

many, much, large; much in any respect, many, largely, often, mostly

Judgement (krima [2917]):

the result of being judged, a solemn judgement, a pronouncement of sentence, being sentenced to punishment; a decree, a judgement, a condemnation of wrong, the sentence of a judge, the punishment with which one is sentenced, a judicial matter, a lawsuit; a decision - its function or effect

Condemnation (katakrima [2631]):

to divide, separate, judge, to decide against, a condemnatory judgement; condemnation, damning sentence; an adverse verdict

Justification (dikaioma [1345]):

the result of being justified by God, the rights of the saints before God, legal rights; what has been deemed right, and carries the force of law, what has been established by law, a judicial decision by God - favorable or not, a righteous act or deed; an equitable deed, a statute or decision

Abundance (perisseia [4050]):

an exceeding measure, overflowing, above the ordinary; superabundantly, superiority, pre-eminence, gain, profit, residue, the excess wax in the ear(?!); surplus

Righteousness (dikaiosune [1343]):

the essence of that which is just, the fulfilling of God's claims upon the believer, conformity with the claims of authority, the state commanded by God and standing His judgement, conformity to all He commands, God's standard, God's right upon man; the state of him who is as he ought to be, the doctrine concerning how we may be approved of God, integrity, virtue, purity of life, justice; equity of character or act, Christian justification

Life (zoe [2222]):

the principle of life in the spirit and soul, the highest and best of life which Christ is, the highest blessedness of the creature; the state of one who is animate, the absolute fullness of life in both essence and ethic - which belongs to God and Christ, real and genuine life devoted to God and destined to eternal life; literal or figurative life

One (heis [1520]):

one in essence (vs. one in number) - this due to the spelling in these particular places (v17, 18). The word can mean either depending on its usage; one; a primary numeral, one

Resulted (eis [1519]):

motion into some place or thing, towards, upon, with the intent or purpose of - note that this is closely related to 1520 (although I'm unclear as to how); into, unto, toward, for, among; to or into a place, time, or purpose

All (pas [3956]):

every, all, anyone and everyone, each and every thing; everyone, everything, each and every, some of all types; all, any, every, the whole

Disobedience (parakoe [3876]):

a failing to hear, hearing amiss - with accompanying active disobedience due to careless hearing; a hearing amiss, disobedience; inattention leading to disobedience

Obedience (hupakoe [5218]):

obedience, to obey, listen to something, hearken, obedience to God's will, willing subjection to that which is right, subjection to the saving will of God, obedience unto faith; obedience, compliance, submission, obedience to anyone's counsels, obedience in observing the requirements of Christianity

 

Paraphrase: (8/2/00)

12 Through one man's sin, sin and death came and spread to all men, because all men have sinned 13 although prior to the Law these sins were not imputed to them, yet sin was present. 14 In spite of the Law's absence, death [the product of sin] ruled all from Adam to Moses, even those who had not participated in Adam's particular sin. This Adam is a type of Christ who was to come. 15 But the free gift of Christ (the real) is not like the sin of Adam (the type), because Adam's sin brought death to many, and understanding that, we see how much more God's grace - and the gift of that grace in the one Man, Christ Jesus - applies abundantly to many. 16 And the result of the gift of Christ is not like the result of Adam's sin to us, for from Adam's one sin came judgement resulting in the condemnation of all. But the free gift of Christ came because of the sins of all, and resulted in justification. 17 For if death came to rule because of one man's sin, it is even more to be accepted that those who receive the gift of abundant grace and righteousness brought about in the One Christ will rule in life. 18 So, as Adam's one sin resulted in the condemnation of all men, in the same way Christ's one righteous act resulted in the justification of all men. 19 And, as one man's disobedience caused many men to be sinners, in the same way the One Man's obedience will cause many men to be righteous.

Key Verse: (8/2/00)

5:18 - In one man's act we all fell, in one Man's act we have been returned to the way we should be.

People Mentioned: (8/2/00)

Adam

the first man, Ge 2:20 - for whom no suitable helper was found for the work God had given him, Ge 3:17-19 - and in whom the earth was cursed for his disobedience, Ge 3:21 - and whom God clothed. Ge 4:25-26 - Adam bore Seth who bore Enosh in whom mankind began to seek return to God. Ge 5:1-5 - Adam's life is summarized, noting that he was created by God, bore Seth and others after him, and died at 930 years of age. [Interesting to note that Cain and Abel are not mentioned here in "the book of the generations of Adam."] Jos 3:16 - There was also a city by this name near Zarethan, whereat the waters of the Jordan were stopped so Israel could cross. 1Ch 1:1 - Adam is the beginning of every man's genealogy. Job 31:33 - Job reminds God that he has not hidden his sins as Adam tried to do. Hos 6:7 - Israel, like Adam before them, have broken their covenant with God. Lk 3:38 - Adam is noted as the son of God in the genealogy of Jesus, the Son of God. 1Co 15:22 - all die in Adam, all live in Christ. 1Co 15:45 - The first Adam was given a living soul, the last Adam is a life giving spirit. 1Ti 2:13-14 - Adam was created before Eve, and was deceived after her. Jude 14 - referring to Enoch's being of the seventh generation from Adam.

 

Some Parallel Verses (8/6/00)

5:12

Ge 2:17 - The command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is given. Ge 3:6 - Eve and Adam eat of the tree anyway. Ge 3:19 - And so, the curse: By sweat we eat bread from birth to death. 1Co 15:21 - It is fitting that resurrection came by a man, just as the fall did. Ro 6:23 - Sin leads to death, but God's free gift in Christ is eternal life. 1Co 15:56 - Death's sting is in sin, which is made powerful by the Law. Jas 1:15 - Lust leads to sin leads to death. 1Co 15:22 - In Adam, all die. In Christ all are made alive.

5:13

Ro 4:15 - Where there is no law, violation is not charged, but once the law comes, wrath follows.

5:14

Hos 6:7 - Just as Adam did, Israel has broken covenant with God, and turned against Him. 1Co 15:45 - In Adam, a living soul was created. In Christ, a life-giving spirit was found.

5:15

Ac 15:11 - Gentile and Jew, both are saved through the grace of Jesus.

5:16

1Co 11:32 - When God judges us, it is His discipline for us so that we need not be condemned with the rest of the world.

5:17

Ge 2:17 - "From the tree you are not to eat." Ge 3:6 - And yet they did, Ge 3:19 - and so were cursed. 1Co 15:21 - And in that act, death came to man, but in the act of Christ came resurrection from death. 2Ti 2:12 - If we endure we shall reign with Him, but if we deny Him, He will deny us. Rev 22:5 - At that time, our light will be from God Himself, and our reign will be forever.

5:18

Ro 3:25 - In His publicly accepting Christ as propitiation, God showed His own righteousness in passing over our prior sins. Ro 4:25 - He was delivered up for our sins, and raised for our justification.

5:19

Ro 11:32 - God has allowed all to fall into disobedience so that He might show mercy to all. Php 2:8 - Christ was obedient even when commanded to die on the cross.

 

New Thoughts (8/7/00-8/8/01)

8/7/00 There's a couple of things I'd like to pursue, here. First there's that question of many vs. all. Then, there's the other question of how it is we reign.
In v12, we see that the death brought on by sin spread to all men. In verses 15 through 19, we are getting comparisons between the effect of Adam and the effect of Christ on mankind.
15 - Adam's transgression is the death of the many, but the grace of Christ abounds to the many.
18 - Adam's transgression resulted in the condemnation of all, but Christ's righteousness resulted in justification of life to all.
19 - Adam's disobedience made the many sinners, but Christ's obedience makes the many righteous.
Where does this leave us? Sin spread to all, but led to death in the many. Yet it led to the condemnation of all, and only made the many sinners. The parallels here would lead me to require that 'the many' is somehow equivalent to 'all'. It won't make sense any other way. Given that, Christ's grace abounds to all, resulting in justification of life to all, and making all righteous. I think a better understanding of the distinction is needed, but that's what it looks like from here.

As to the issue of reigning, the key seems to reside in 'life'. I'm pretty comfortable in understanding that Paul is comparing life and death here - as opposed to suddenly shifting topic to earthly matters. Life, we have seen, indicates that life that is devoted to God's righteous ways. This is the victorious life we hear of so often. Why is it victorious? Because it is focused on God's ways and God's will. Does this mean we get to wander an easy path from here on out? Not by anything Scripture has to say. What it means - as seems reasonably clear from this passage - is that the life that is focused on God is no longer controlled by sin. The end of sin is death, thus death ruled or controlled our physical life and ultimately determined its course. The end of faith is life. Not just physical life, but 'the absolute fullness of life in essence and ethic', life in its highest form. And that life is as eternal as the death that sin brings to bear. So, eternal, full life becomes the ultimate direction of our physical life. The reign of death is broken and true life has come to rule in its place. That is the victory! That is the rulership we have in this present life on earth - the rulership of knowing life is our goal rather than death, the rulership of overpowering the sin that once overpowered us. Thank you, Lord, for that victory. Help me to live it, Lord! To live the victory You have brought me. Remind me daily, oh God, that You have provided the means to overcome. You have not promised me an easy path - indeed, quite the opposite - but You have promised to bring me through as I trust in You. Oh! Help me to cling to that realization, God. Help me not to lose my grasp upon Your very present help in my times of need! Help me to stand against the tides of sin that so easily overwhelm my day. Help me to stand against the old man within that so hates to have been bound and defeated. Break in me the rebelliousness of my youth that still asserts itself too often.

8/8/00 Well, I initially thought I was headed for another intermission here, regarding degrees of sin, but having pursued it, my first reaction was that it was a relatively fruitless thing - at least at this time. The words appear to be used all too interchangeably in the NT to try and pull any required meaning dependant upon the word used. So I ripped the stuff back out. Now, however, I do want to put back in one small bit of it, which was the simple comparison of the meanings of sin, transgression, and offense (as they are worded in this passage.) First, I want to look at the sequence of definitions from the Hebrew-Greek Study Key Bible, where we see:
sin - missing the true purpose of our lives, an emphasis on guilt
transgression - stronger than sin, but weaker than offense. Purposefully stepping over - with emphasis on the guilt and suffering of the sinner
offense - an excessive act, breaking of a known commandment

Now, from Thayer's:
sin - to miss the mark
transgression - to fall beside or near [the mark]
offense - a going over [the mark]

Both of these sequences illustrate an aspect of the progressive nature of sin. From the H-G Key series, we see the beginnings in having missed our true purpose - causing us some feelings of guilt at having done so. As our guilt rides us, we harden ourselves to endure the pain and, feeling that we have lost already, we begin to break the rules on purpose. Now our guilt is joined by suffering as we try futilely to quiet our conscience as we continue our fall. Having further hardened ourselves, we arrive at offense. Knowing the commandments and knowing the results, yet we drive ourselves to exceed our bounds, to break the rules, hoping to free ourselves from the chains of bad conscience, only to find the chains bound more tightly to us.

In Thayer's series, we see a similar beginning. We've missed the mark. We may have been trying, but we failed. Having failed, we thrash ourselves to try all the harder, yet we still haven't learned to trust our Redeemer, so - although we approach closer to the goal - still we fall short. Now we're mad. We're determined. We're men, and we can surely bull through to success if we just try hard enough. Off we go again, and this time we find we've overshot the target! We're so blinded by our need to get there on our own power that we go right past where God wanted us! Oh! What a dangerous place to find ourselves! At least before, we were approaching Him. We slipped, we slid, but the general tack of our wanderings was closer to Him. Now, we've tried to pass Him by, and we're out there on our own, moving farther and farther from what we wanted, what He wanted. Thank God that He cares enough for us to pull us back again and again. To reach out to us even as we go sailing by, and get us turned around again so that we can approach the goal once more. Thank God that He is persistent in His patience, that He will continue to remind us as we struggle along that we're not going to get there without Him, until we finally accept His yoke, and allow Him to lead us to the goal. God help me to accept that yoke today. Help me to let go of the reins and let You lead. Help me to stop trying to fix everything in my power, and allow You to work in Yours.