How does Romans 5:15 address the concept of original sin? Key Text “But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many!” — Romans 5:15 Definition of Original Sin Original sin is the inherited moral corruption and guilt transmitted to every human being through Adam’s first transgression (Genesis 3; Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:3). It entails both (1) a judicial aspect—imputed guilt before God, and (2) a moral aspect—an innate bent toward evil. Immediate Context in Romans 5 Romans 5:12-21 forms a tightly argued comparison between two historical persons: Adam (vv. 12, 14, 15, 17) and Jesus Christ (vv. 15-21). Paul’s flow of thought: 1. Adam’s single act (“paraptōma,” trespass) introduced sin and death to all (v. 12). 2. Death reigned even before the Law (v. 13-14), showing universal participation in Adam’s guilt. 3. Christ’s single act of obedience introduces justification and life (vv. 15-19). Exegesis of Romans 5:15 1. “The gift is not like the trespass.” The two acts are qualitatively different: Adam’s act is destructive; Christ’s is redemptive. 2. “For if the many died by the trespass of the one man…” “The many” (hoi polloi) is a Hebraism meaning “all connected to him”; Paul makes clear in v. 12 that this includes every human being. Physical death and spiritual alienation result. 3. “…how much more did God’s grace and the gift…abound to the many!” Christ’s atonement is not merely equal in scope to Adam’s fall; it overflows (“eperisseusen”) with super-abundant sufficiency for all who are united to Him by faith. Federal Headship and Imputation Romans 5:15 presupposes federal (covenantal) representation: Adam acts as humanity’s covenant head; therefore his guilt is imputed to his descendants (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:22). Likewise Christ, the “last Adam,” acts as the head of a new humanity; His righteousness is imputed to believers (vv. 17-19). Universality of Sin and Death Empirical observation confirms Scripture’s claim: every culture records mortality rates at 100%. Behavioral science corroborates a universal proclivity toward selfishness, violence, and deceit—findings consistent with the biblical diagnosis (Jeremiah 17:9). Romans 5:15 explains the cause: a historical, literal first man whose sin corrupted the race. Historical Adam: Textual and Archaeological Witness • Early manuscripts (𝔓46, c. AD 175-225; Codex Vaticanus, c. AD 325; Codex Sinaiticus, c. AD 330-360) contain an unbroken witness to Romans 5:12-21, underscoring textual stability. • The Genesis genealogies, affirmed by Christ (Luke 3:38) and Paul (1 Timothy 2:13-14), present Adam as a real individual, not myth. • Near-Eastern flood traditions and worldwide dispersion of Adam-to-Noah narratives corroborate a common historical memory, supporting a literal origin pair. Christ’s Super-Abounding Grace While Adam’s act imputed guilt, Christ’s work does more: • Provides justification (v. 16). • Grants righteousness (v. 17). • Secures eternal life (v. 21). The “much more” language shows that redemption is not a mere reset but an elevation—from dust-formed creatures to adopted heirs (Romans 8:15-17). Patristic Echoes Irenaeus (Against Heresies 3.22.1) cites Romans 5 to argue that Adam’s disobedience “bound” humanity, while Christ’s obedience “loosed” it. Augustine’s De Peccatorum Meritis develops the doctrine of inherited guilt directly from Romans 5:15-19. Practical Implications 1. Humility: we are sinners by birth, not merely by choice. 2. Urgency: only Christ’s gift reverses Adam’s curse; moral reform cannot. 3. Hope: where sin increased, grace increased all the more (v. 20). Common Objections Answered • “Inherited guilt is unjust.” Yet representation is common: heads of state sign treaties binding citizens; DNA defects pass to descendants. Federal headship is an established relational reality. • “Original sin is disproved by evolutionary theory.” Romans 5:12-15 demands a real pair at the fountainhead of humanity. Recent genetic studies showing low heterozygosity and mitochondrial Eve/Y-chromosomal Adam bottlenecks accord with a single-couple origin within a young timeframe. Conclusion Romans 5:15 addresses original sin by declaring that Adam’s one trespass brought death to all, establishing universal guilt; yet it simultaneously proclaims the surpassing, gracious remedy in Jesus Christ. The verse anchors the doctrine historically, theologically, and experientially, proving indispensable to a coherent understanding of sin, salvation, and the glory of God in redemption. |
    |