Romans 5 · Verse 17

Romans 5:17

For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Romans 5:17, King James Version

Romans 5:17 in other translations

BSB	For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive an abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
WEB	For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.
ASV	For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ.
YLT	for if by the offence of the one the death did reign through the one, much more those, who the abundance of the grace and of the free gift of the righteousness are receiving, in life shall reign through the one--Jesus Christ.
DARBY	For if by the offence of the one death reigned by the one, much rather shall those who receive the abundance of grace, and of the free gift of righteousness, reign in life by the one Jesus Christ:)
BBE	For, if by the wrongdoing of one, death was ruling through the one, much more will those to whom has come the wealth of grace and the giving of righteousness, be ruling in life through the one, even Jesus Christ.
Webster	For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they who receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

What does Romans 5:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

17. For if by--"the" one man's offence death reigned by one--"through the one." much more shall they which receive--"the" abundance of grace and of the gift of--justifying righteousness ... reign in life by one Jesus Christ--"through the one." We have here the two ideas of Ro 5:15 and Ro 5:16 sublimely combined into one, as if the subject had grown upon the apostle as he advanced in his comparison of the two cases. Here, for the first time in this section, he speaks of that LIFE which springs out of justification, in contrast with the death which springs from sin and follows condemnation. The proper idea of it therefore is, "Right to live"--"Righteous life"--life possessed and enjoyed with the good will, and in conformity with the eternal law, of "Him that sitteth on the Throne"; life therefore in its widest sense--life in the whole man and throughout the whole duration of human existence, the life of blissful and loving relationship to God in soul and body, for ever and ever. It is worthy of note, too, that while he says death "reigned over" us through Adam, he does not say Life "reigns over us" through Christ; lest he should seem to invest this new life with the very attribute of death--that of fell and malignant tyranny, of which we were the hapless victims. Nor does he say Life reigns in us, which would have been a scriptural enough idea; but, which is much more pregnant, "We shall reign in life." While freedom and might are implied in the figure of "reigning," "life" is represented as the glorious territory or atmosphere of that reign. And by recurring to the idea of Ro 5:16, as to the "many offenses" whose complete pardon shows "the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness," the whole statement is to this effect: "If one man's one offense let loose against us the tyrant power of Death, to hold us as its victims in helpless bondage, 'much more,' when we stand forth enriched with God's 'abounding grace' and in the beauty of a complete absolution from countless offenses, shall we expatiate in a life divinely owned and legally secured, 'reigning' in exultant freedom and unchallenged might, through that other matchless 'One,' Jesus Christ!" (On the import of the future tense in this last clause, see on Ro 5:19, and Ro 6:5).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 17. For if. This verse contains the same idea as before presented, but in a varied form. It is condensing the whole subject, and presenting it in a single view.

By one man's offence. Or, by one offence. Margin. The reading of the text is the more correct. "If, under the administration of a just and merciful Being, it has occurred, that by the offence of one, death has exerted so wide a dominion; we have reason much more to expect, under that administration, that they who are brought under his plan of saving mercy shall be brought under a dispensation of life."

Death reigned, Rom 5:14.

By one. By means of one man.

Much more. We have much more reason to expect it. It evidently accords much more with the administration of a Being of infinite goodness.

They which receive abundance of grace. The abundant favour; the mercy that shall counterbalance and surpass the evils introduced by the sin of Adam. That favour shall be more than sufficient to counterbalance all those evils. This is particularly true of the redeemed, of whom the apostle in this verse is speaking. The evils which they suffer in consequence of the sin of Adam bear no comparison with the mercies of eternal life that shall flow to them from the work of the Saviour.

The gift of righteousness. This stands opposed to the evils introduced by Adam. As the effect of his sin was to produce condemnation, so here the gift of righteousness refers to the opposite--to pardon, to justification, to acceptance with God: To show that men were thus justified by the gospel, was the leading design of the apostle; and the argument here is, that if by on e man's sin death reigned over those who were under condemnation in consequence of it, we have much more reason to suppose that they who are delivered from sin by the death of Christ, and accepted of God, shall reign with him in life.

Shall reign. The word reign is often applied to the condition of saints in heaven. 2Ti 2:12, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him." Rev 5:10, 20:6, 22:5. It means that they shall be exalted to a glorious state of happiness in heaven; that they shall be triumphant over all theft enemies; shah gain an ultimate victory; and shall partake with the Captain of their salvation in the splendours of his dominion above, Rev 3:21, Lk 22:30.

In life. This stands opposed to the death that reigned as the consequence of the sin of Adam. It denotes complete freedom from condemnation; from temporal death; from sickness, pain, and sin. It is the usual expression to denote the complete bliss of the saints in glory. Jn 3:36.

By one, Jesus Christ. As the consequence of his work. The apostle here does not state the mode or manner in which this was clone; nor does he say that it was perfectly parallel in the mode with the effects of the sin of Adam. He is comparing the results or consequences of the sin of the one and of the work of the other. There is a similarity in the consequences. The way in which the work of Christ had contributed to this he had stated in Rom 3:24,28.

(1) "one man's offence" or, "by one offence" (z) "receive abundance of grace" Jn 10:10 (a) "gift of righteousness" Rom 6:23

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 17 Death reigned by one - Death is here personified, and is represented as reigning over the human race; and death, of course, reigns unto death; he is known as reigning, by the destruction of his subjects. Shall reign in life - Those who receive, retain, and improve the abundant grace offered by Jesus Christ, shall be redeemed from the empire of death, and exalted to the throne of God, to live and reign with him ever, world without end. See Rev 1:5, Rev 1:6; Rev 2:7, Rev 2:10, Rev 2:11; Rev 3:21. If we carefully compare Rom 5:15 with Rom 5:17, we shall find that there is a correspondence between περισσειαν, the abounding, Rom 5:17, and επερισευσε hath abounded, Rom 5:15; between της δωρεας της δικαιοσυνης, the gift of righteousness, i.e. justification, Rom 5:17, and ἡ δωρεα εν χαριτι, the gift by grace, Rom 5:15; therefore, if we understand the abounding of grace, and the gift of justification, Rom 5:17, we shall understand the grace of God, and the gift by grace which hath abounded unto the many, Rom 5:15. But the abounding of grace, and the gift of justification, Rom 5:17, is that grace and gift which is Received by those who shall reign in eternal life. Reigning in life is the consequence of receiving the grace and gift. Therefore, receiving the grace is a necessary qualification on our part for reigning in life; and this necessarily implies our believing in Christ Jesus, as having died for our offenses, receiving the grace so freely offered us; using the means in order to get more grace, and bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit. Receive must here have the same sense as in Mat 13:20 : He heareth the word, and anon with joy Receiveth it. Joh 1:12 : But as many as Received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God. Joh 3:11 : Ye Receive not our witness. - See also Joh 3:32, Joh 3:33. Joh 5:43 : I am come in my Father's name, and ye Receive me not. Joh 12:48 : He that Receiveth not my words. Joh 13:20 : He that receiveth whomsoever I send, Receiveth me. Joh 14:17 : The Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot Receive. Joh 17:8 : I have given them the words which thou gavest me; and they have Received them. In all these passages it is evident that receiving and not receiving imply improving or not improving.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 5:15-19

Through one man's offence, all mankind are exposed to eternal condemnation. But the grace and mercy of God, and the free gift of righteousness and salvation, are through Jesus Christ, as man: yet the Lord from heaven has brought the multitude of believers into a more safe and exalted state than that from which they fell in Adam. This free gift did not place them anew in a state of trial, but fixed them in a state of…

Read the full comment on Romans 5:15-19 →

Romans 5:17 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΕἰEiIfG1487

γὰρgarforG1063

τῷtōby theG3588

τοῦtouof theG3588

ἑνὸςhenosoneG1520

παραπτώματιparaptōmatitrespassG3900

ὁho<the>G3588

θάνατοςthanatosdeathG2288

ἐβασίλευσενebasileusenreignedG936

διὰdiathroughG1223

τοῦtoutheG3588

ἑνός,henosone,G1520

πολλῷpollōhow muchG4183

μᾶλλονmallonmoreG3123

οἱhoithoseG3588

τὴνtēntheG3588

περισσείανperisseianexcessG4050

τῆςtēs<the>G3588

χάριτοςcharitosof graceG5485

καὶkaiandG2532

τῆςtēsof theG3588

δωρεᾶςdōreasgiftG1431

τῆςtēs<the>G3588

δικαιοσύνηςdikaiosunēsof righteousnessG1343

λαμβάνοντεςlambanontesreceivingG2983

ἐνeninG1722

ζωῇzōēalifeG2222

βασιλεύσουσινbasileusousinwill reignG936

διὰdiathroughG1223

τοῦtoutheG3588

ἑνὸςhenosoneG1520

ἸησοῦIēsouJesusG2424

Χριστοῦ.¶ChristouChrist!G5547

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 5:17

1 Corinthians 15:21-22
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:49
And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Romans 5:12
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:
John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
2 Timothy 2:12
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
Revelation 22:5
And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Genesis 3:6
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Philippians 3:9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Revelation 3:21
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Isaiah 61:10
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

For if.
12; Ge 3:6,19; 1Co 15:21,22,49
by one man's offence. or, by one offence. abundance.
20; Joh 10:10; 1Ti 1:14
gift.
6:23; Isa 61:10; Php 3:9
shall reign.
8:39; Mt 25:34; 1Co 4:8; 2Ti 2:12; Jas 2:5; 1Pe 2:9; Re 1:6; 3:21
Re 5:9,10; 20:4,6; 22:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

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.
Romans 5:17
For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Romans 5:18
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Read all of Romans 5

Romans 5:17 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Porque, si por un delito reinó la muerte por uno, mucho más reinarán en vida por un Jesucristo los que reciben la abundancia de la gracia, y del don de la justicia.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Car si, par la faute d’un seul, la mort a régné par un seul, beaucoup plutôt ceux qui reçoivent l’abondance de la grâce et du don de la justice, régneront-ils en vie par un seul, Jésus Christ);
German Elberfelder 1871	Denn wenn durch die Übertretung des Einen der Tod durch den Einen geherrscht hat, so werden vielmehr die, welche die Überschwenglichkeit der Gnade und der Gabe der Gerechtigkeit empfangen, im Leben herrschen durch den Einen, Jesum Christum;
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Si enim unius delicto mors regnavit per unum: multo magis abundantiam gratiæ, et donationis, et justitiæ accipientes, in vita regnabunt per unum Jesum Christum.