Romans 5: Romans 5:17-The Contrast Between the Consequences of Adam s Disobedience and Christ s Obedience

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1 Romans 5:17-18 Romans 5:17-The Contrast Between the Consequences of Adam s Disobedience and Christ s Obedience Romans 5:17 presents the contrast between the consequences of Adam s disobedience and Christ s obedience. Spiritual death reigned as king over the entire human race as a result of Adam s disobedience whereas eternal life will reign as king through Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17, For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. For is the explanatory use of the post-positive conjunction gar (gavr), which introduces a statement that explains Paul s statement in Romans 5:16. Romans 5:16 is divided into two sections: (1) Explanatory clause: Romans 5:16a, In fact, the condemnation through the one who sinned is absolutely not, as an eternal spiritual truth, like the gift itself. (2) Correlative clause: Romans 5:16b, On the one hand the verdict arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation while on the other hand, the gracious act arose from innumerable transgressions resulting in justification. In Romans 5:16a, Paul completes his thought presented in Romans 5:15. Romans 5:15, However, on the other hand, absolutely not like this transgression is, as an eternal spiritual truth, also, in the same way, the gracious act. For if and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that by means of this transgression committed by the one, the entire human race died. Of course, we know this is true. How much more then has the grace originating from God and the gracious gift on the basis of grace, which is specifically, on the basis of the obedience of the one Man, who is Jesus, who is the Christ been generously and graciously offered to the entire human race. Christ s act of obedience produced infinitely superior results than Adam s act of disobedience by explaining that entire human race was condemned because of Adam s transgression. However, Christ s act of obedience resulted in the forgiveness of the sins of every member of the human race-past, present and future. Christ s act was greater since it dealt with the sins of the entire world whereas Adam s bad decision was his own fault and affected his entire posterity. Thus, Christ s death is far greater than the power of Adam s single transgression. Adam s transgression can not compared to Christ s act of obedience. The judgment of God was the result of Adam s one act of sin whereas the gift of righteousness and the forgiveness of sins and justification was God s answer to the sins of the entire world. Adam s one transgression was followed by judgment 2008 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1

2 and brought condemnation. The many trespasses (of all who stem from Adam) was followed by the gift that brought justification. Therefore, Romans 5:16a teaches that there is no comparison between Adam s disobedience and Christ s obedience and the consequences that resulted from each act. Romans 5:16a, In fact, the condemnation through the one who sinned is absolutely not, as an eternal spiritual truth, like the gift itself. In Romans 5:16b, Paul employs a correlative clause and in the first statement, teaches that the guilty verdict that the Lord pronounced upon Adam and all of his posterity arose from Adam s act of disobeying the Lord s command to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Romans 5:16b, On the one hand the verdict arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation while on the other hand, the gracious act arose from innumerable transgressions resulting in justification. In the adversative clause of the correlative clause in Romans 5:16b, Paul teaches that the gracious act of Jesus Christ dying a substitutionary spiritual death on the Cross for each and every member of the human race arose from the sins committed by every person in human history-past, present and future. Therefore, in Romans 5:17, Paul employs the conjunction gar to introduce a statement that further explains the contrast between the condemnation and the justification mentioned in Romans 5:16b by presenting the contrast between Adam s act and Christ s from the perspective of the consequences. Romans 5:15b, For if and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that by means of this transgression committed by the one, the entire human race died. Of course, we know this is true. Also, Romans 5:17 reiterates the argument that appears in Romans 5:15b as indicated by the parallel structure in which both passages contained the protasis of a first class condition and the a fortiori argument. In Romans 5:12, Paul introduces the protasis of a first class condition and then breaks off from the protasis and instead employs a parenthesis in Romans 5:13-17 to develop the significance of Adam s disobedience and Christ s obedience. He resumes the protasis in Romans 5:18a and then completes the comparison in Romans 5:18b-19. Romans 5:17 completes this parenthesis, which addresses the significance of Adam s disobedience and Christ s act of obedience. Also, Romans 5:17 is taking up the thought of Romans 5:14 in that the former reiterates the latter by stating that spiritual death reigned as king over the entire human race because of Adam s disobedience. Romans 5:14, Yet, in spite of this, spiritual death reigned as king from the fall of Adam to the giving of the Law to Moses, specifically, over those who had not sinned according to the same exact transgression committed by 2008 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 2

3 Adam, who is, as an eternal spiritual truth, an illustration of the One destined to come. Therefore, Romans 5:17 is a summary and climax of Paul s statements that appear in Romans 5:13-16, which discusses the significance of Christ s act and Adam s. We will translate gar, for. Romans 5:17, For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. If is the conditional particle ei (ei)) (i), which introduces a protasis of a first class condition that indicates the assumption of truth for the sake of argument. The word is employed with the indicative mood of the verb basileuo, reigned. Together, they explicitly convey a protasis of a first class condition that indicates the assumption of truth for the sake of argument. However, the apodasis is introduced implicitly meaning without a structural marker, thus we will insert the word then into our translation before the apodasis statement in order to account for this. In Romans 5:17, the basic relation that the protasis has to the apodasis is evidence-inference. The evidence: If and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that through Adam s sin, spiritual death reigned over the entire human race. Of course, we know this is true! The inference: Then, how much more will those sinners who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. The idea behind the first class condition is not since but rather, if-and let us assume for the sake of argument, then... This would encourage Paul s Jewish audience to respond and come to the conclusion. The response to Paul s protasis by his Christian readership would be obvious. Of course they believe that through Adam s transgression spiritual death reigned as a cruel tyrant over the entire human race! They would agree emphatically with his protasis. Thus, we call this a responsive condition. He is not attempting to prove that his protasis is true rather he is saying with the first class condition that we agree that this is true that through Adam s transgression spiritual death reigned as a cruel tyrant over the entire human race. The first class condition would then persuade Paul s readers to respond to the conclusion found in the apodasis. This apodasis states that how much more then will those sinners who receive the grace of God in the form of the gift of righteousness through faith in Christ will reign as kings over spiritual death on account of possessing eternal life through Jesus Christ. If through an ordinary man s (Adam) sin, spiritual death reigned over the human race as a cruel tyrant, then how much more will those sinners who 2008 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 3

4 receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness through faith in Christ reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So the consequence of Adam s transgression was that spiritual death reigned as a cruel tyrant over his posterity, the entire human race. However, the consequence of Christ s obedience was redeemed and reconciled humanity reigning over spiritual death as well as physical death. Spiritual death, the absence of a relationship with a holy God and eternal life are the contrasting consequences of Adam s act and Christ s act. 1 Corinthians 15:22, For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. Therefore, we can see that Paul continues his reasoning from Romans 5:16 by arguing from the lesser ( transgression of the one [Adam]) to the greater ( (the obedience of) the One, Jesus Christ ). In Romans 5:17, the protasis is if and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that by the transgression of the one, spiritual death reigned through the one. Of course, we know this is true! The apodasis is (then) much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So, we will translate the conditional particle ei, if, and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument Of course we know this is true Then Corrected translation thus far of Romans 5:17: For if, and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that Of course, we know this is true then Romans 5:17, For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. By the transgression of the one is composed of the articular dative neuter singular form of the noun paraptoma (paravptwma) (para-ap-to-mah), by the transgression and the articular genitive masculine singular form of the cardinal number heis (ei!$), of the one. The cardinal number is an obvious reference to the first man, Adam since according to Genesis 3:1-14, the first sin in the human race was committed by him and this is confirmed by Romans 5: The definite article preceding word is anaphoric meaning that Adam was previously mentioned in Romans 5:16b. Also, the article emphasizes that Adam is in a class by himself since he is the progenitor of the human race who committed the first sin committed in the human race that plunged the entire human race into real spiritual death William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 4

5 The word functions as a genitive of production, which takes place when the genitive substantive produces the noun to which it stands related. In Romans 5:17, the articular cardinal number heis stands related to and produces the noun parabasis, transgression. The cardinal number heis expresses a relation to the verbal noun parabasis, transgression that is better translated as produced by or even committed by because of the meaning of parabasis. Therefore, as a genitive of production, the cardinal number heis indicates that this transgression was produced by Adam or we could say, committed by Adam. We will translate Adam, committed by the one. In Romans 5:17, the noun paraptoma is in the singular and the context clearly indicates that the word refers to Adam s deliberate and intentional violation of the Lord s prohibition in the Garden of Eden to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We noted in Romans 5:12a that the sin nature and spiritual death entered the human race through the disobedience of one man, Adam. In Romans 5:12b, we noted that each and every member of the human race received the imputation of Adam s sin at the moment of physical birth. In Romans 5:12c, we studied that Adam is the federal and seminal or natural head of the human race. Romans 5:12, Therefore, based on this (principle), just as, through one man, the sin nature entered into the human race so that spiritual death entered through this sin nature. Thus, in this manner, spiritual death spread to each and every member of the human race without exception because each and every member of the human race sinned (the moment Adam sinned). Through one man is an obvious reference to the first man, Adam, as indicated in that Paul states in Romans 5:12 that sin entered the world through this one man, which Genesis 3:1-14 identifies as Adam. Although, Adam s wife actually committed the first sin, Adam is mentioned here since he was in authority over his wife and thus responsible for his wife. The apostle Paul teaches Timothy that the Woman was deceived and fell into the transgression but that Adam disobeyed knowingly. 1 Timothy 2:9-15, Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 5

6 The noun paraptoma should be translated transgression since this English word accurately reflects the meaning of this Greek word. To transgress means, to pass over or go beyond a limit or boundary, to go beyond the limits imposed by a law or command, to break or violate a law, command, moral code. Adam s passed over and went beyond a boundary and limit imposed on him by the Lord s command to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He broke the Lord s command. The definite article preceding the noun paraptoma is anaphoric meaning that Adam s transgression is mentioned previously in Romans 5:16 where it is identified by the verb hamartano, sinned. Also, the article emphasizes that this transgression is in a class by itself since it was the first sin committed in the human race and that plunged the entire human race into real spiritual death and placed under God s righteous indignation. The noun paraptoma functions as a dative instrumental of means, which indicates the means by which the verbal action is accomplished. Therefore, it indicates that Adam s transgression was the means by which spiritual death reigned over the entire human race. Therefore, we will translate paraptoma, by means of the transgression. Corrected translation thus far of Romans 5:17: For if, and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that by means of the transgression committed by the one Of course, we know this is true then Romans 5:17, For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Death is the articular nominative masculine singular form of the noun thanatos (qavnato$) (than-at-os), which refers to real spiritual death. Real spiritual death means that each and every member of the human race without exception is separated from a holy God in that the human race has absolutely no merit with Him and has absolutely no capacity whatsoever to establish and experience a relationship and fellowship with Him as well. In the same way, a deadly contagious virus can spread completely throughout an entire population causing physical death so spiritual death spread throughout the entire human race resulting in physical death. Spiritual death infected the entire human race because each person receives a sin nature that is received through imputation at the moment of physical birth and is passed down by the male in copulation (sex). This sin nature is the result of Adam s original sin in the Garden of Eden and manifests itself through the function of human volition. Therefore, real spiritual death is result of the imputation of Adam s sin to our genetically formed old sin nature at the moment of physical birth resulting in spiritual death or the total inability to have a relationship with God in time (Gen William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 6

7 2:17; Prov. 14:12; Ezek. 18:20; Rom. 5:12; 6:23; 1 Cor. 15:22; Eph. 2:1, 5). Spiritual death manifests itself through mental, verbal and overt acts of sin. There are five major consequences for Spiritual death : (1) Slavery to the sin nature and the devil and his cosmic system. (2) Physical death (Genesis 5:5). (3) Imprisonment in Torments after physical death prior to the Great White Throne Judgment (Luke 16:19-31). (4) Eternal condemnation in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15). (5) Unique voluntary substitutionary spiritual death of the impeccable humanity of Christ in hypostatic union on the cross (Matt. 27:45-46; Mark 15:34; Phlp. 2:8; Hb. 2:9, 14). Spiritual death in the human race resulted in the Father sending His Son to die spiritually as a substitute for members of the human race in order to deliver them from spiritual death. The problem of real spiritual death is resolved when God gives life to those members of the human race who exercise faith alone in Christ alone (John 3:16-18). Although, in Romans 5:17, thanatos is used of spiritual death, we must be aware of the fact that spiritual death also resulted in three other categories of death: (1) Physical death is the separation of the human soul (and in the case of the believer, the human spirit also) from the body (Matt. 8:22; Rom. 8:38-39; 2 Cor. 5:1-8; Phil. 1:20-21; 2:27, 30). (2) Second death is the perpetuation of spiritual death into eternity or eternal separation from God and it is the final judgment of the unbelievers in the human race and fallen angels whereby they are cast in the Lake of Fire (Matt. 25:41; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 20:12-15). (3) Unique voluntary substitutionary spiritual death of the impeccable humanity of Christ in hypostatic union on the cross (Matt. 27:45-46; Mark 15:34; Phlp. 2:8; Hb. 2:9, 14). Christ s spiritual death was needed to resolve the first three categories of death since physical death and the second death are the result of spiritual death. The fact that the noun thanatos in Romans 5:12 and 14 is referring to spiritual death rather than physical death is indicated in that spiritual death is the root problem of the human race in relation to a holy God and not physical death since the spiritual death of Adam resulted in his physical death. Likewise, the spiritual death of Adam resulted in the spiritual death and eventual physical death of his posterity. Christ s spiritual death resolved the problem of spiritual death in the human race that was the result of the disobedience of their progenitor, Adam. As was the case in Romans 5:14, the noun thanatos, spiritual death resulting in physical death is being personified. Personification is the ascribing of human characteristics or actions to inanimate objects or ideas or to animals. In Romans 5:14 and now in verse 17, Paul ascribes the human action of a king reigning to spiritual death William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 7

8 The articular construction of the noun thanatos denotes that it functions grammatically as a nominative subject in the protasis of the first class condition. As a nominative subject, the word is performing the action of the verb basileuo, reigned. Not only is the article used as a grammatical function marker but also it has semantic value as well in that it indicates that this death denoted by thanatos is in a class by itself indicating the extreme of a particular class. As we have noted in previous studies, there are at least eight different categories of death mentioned in the Bible. One of these is related to the Lord Jesus Christ exclusively and rest are related the human race. (1) Spiritual death is the imputation of Adam s sin to our genetically formed old sin nature at the moment of physical birth resulting in spiritual death or the total inability to have a relationship with God in time (Gen. 2:17; Prov. 14:12; Ezek. 18:20; Rom. 5:12; 6:23; 1 Cor. 15:22; Eph. 2:1, 5). (2) Physical death is the separation of the human soul (and in the case of the believer, the human spirit also) from the body (Matt. 8:22; Rom. 8:38-39; 2 Cor. 5:1-8; Phil. 1:20-21; 2:27, 30). (3) Second death is the perpetuation of spiritual death into eternity or eternal separation from God and it is the final judgment of the unbelievers in the human race and fallen angels whereby they are cast in the Lake of Fire (Matt. 25:41; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 20:12-15). (4) Positional death is part of the Baptism of the Spirit, which identifies all believers with Christ in His death on the Cross and specifically with His rejection of human good and evil (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12; 3:3). (5) Operational death is failure to produce divine good on the part of the reversionistic believer under the influence of evil (James 2:26; 1 Tim. 5:6; Eph. 5:14; Rev. 3:1). (6) Temporal death is the status of carnality or the believer out of fellowship through personal sin (Rom. 8:6, 13; Eph. 5:14; 1 Tim. 5:6; James 1:15; Luke 15:24). (7) Sexual death is the inability to copulate (Rom. 4:17-21; Heb. 11:11-12). (8) Unique voluntary substitutionary spiritual death of the impeccable humanity of Christ in hypostatic union on the cross (Matt. 27:45-46; Mark 15:34; Phlp. 2:8; Hb. 2:9, 14). Therefore, in Romans 5:17, the articular construction of thanatos denotes the worst of these different categories of death in that it brought them all about. We will translate the articular form of the noun thanatos, spiritual death. Corrected translation thus far of Romans 5:17: For if, and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that by means of the transgression 2008 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 8

9 committed by the one, spiritual death Of course, we know this is true then Romans 5:17, For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Reigned is the third person singular aorist active indicative form of the verb basileuo (basileuvw) (bas-il-yoo-o), which means, to rule as a king. This verb is consistently understood in classical Greek to mean, to rule, reign in all kinds of Greek literature. It has an additional secondary causative meaning of to make or appoint as king. This meaning appears in the Septuagint where the verb translates four different Hebrew terms including various forms of these and most especially malakh. In the Septuagint, basileuo was used of political kings who rule (Genesis 36:31) or to the Lord who reigns forever and ever (Exodus 15:18). The verb appears 21 times in the Greek New Testament where it retains the sense of to reign, to rule as a king, to govern, with the implication of complete authority and right to control in an absolute manner. In Romans 5:14 and now in verse 17, the verb basileuo means, to rule as a king, reign with the implication of ruling with complete authority in an absolute manner. As we noted its subject is the noun thanatos, which refers to spiritual death. Together, the two paint a picture of spiritual death reigning over the entire human race as a cruel tyrant as a result of Adam s transgression in the Garden of Eden. The aorist tense of the verb is a constative aorist describing in summary fashion the period of time from the Fall of Adam up to the time of the Cross of Christ in which spiritual death reigned as a cruel tyrant over the entire human race. The active voice indicates that spiritual death as the subject performed the action of reigning as a cruel tyrant over the entire human race from the Fall of Adam up to the Cross of Christ. The indicative mood is declarative presenting this assertion as an unqualified statement of historical fact and Bible doctrine. We will translate the verb basileuo, reigned as king. Corrected translation thus far of Romans 5:17: For if, and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that by means of the transgression committed by the one, spiritual death reigned as king Of course, we know this is true then Romans 5:17, For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 9

10 Through the one is composed of the preposition dia (diav) (dee-ah), through and articular genitive masculine singular form of the cardinal number heis (ei!$), the one who. The cardinal number heis is an obvious reference once again to the first man, Adam since according to Genesis 3:1-14, the first sin in the human race was committed by him and this is confirmed by Romans 5:12. The definite article preceding word is anaphoric meaning that Adam was previously in verse 17. The preposition dia is used with the genitive form of the cardinal number heis, the one as a marker of personal intermediate agency. This indicates that the first man, Adam, was the personal intermediate agency through whom spiritual death reigned as a cruel tyrant over the entire human race since it was his transgression that infected his posterity with the spiritual death. As we noted earlier the dative instrumental form of the noun paraptoma emphasized that Adam s transgression was the means by which spiritual death reigned as a cruel tyrant over the entire human race. The prepositional phrase dia tou henos is emphasizing that spiritual death reigned as a cruel tyrant over the entire human race through the personal intermediate agency of Adam. Thus, the dative instrumental form of the noun paraptoma emphasizes the means by which spiritual death reigned as a cruel tyrant over the entire human race and the prepositional phrase dia tou henos emphasizes the personal intermediate agency through whom spiritual death reigned over the entire human race. In other words, paraptoma emphasizes Adam s transgression and dia tou henos emphasizes Adam himself. We will translate the prepositional phrase dia tou henos, through this one. Corrected translation thus far of Romans 5:17: For if, and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that by means of the transgression committed by the one, spiritual death reigned as king through this one. Of course, we know this is true. Then As we noted earlier in our study of the conditional particle ei (ei)) (i), introduces a protasis of a first class condition that indicates the assumption of truth for the sake of argument. The word is employed with the indicative mood of the verb basileuo, reigned as king. Together, they explicitly convey a protasis of a first class condition that indicates the assumption of truth for the sake of argument. However, the apodasis is introduced implicitly meaning without a structural marker, thus we will insert the word then into our translation before the apodasis statement in order to account for this. Corrected translation thus far of Romans 5:17: For if, and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that by means of the transgression 2008 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 10

11 committed by the one, spiritual death reigned as king through this one. Of course, we know this is true. Then Romans 5:17, For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Much more is composed of the dative neuter singular form of the adjective polus (poluv$) (po-loos), much and the comparative adverb mallon (ma~llon) (mal-lon), more. This is the fourth time that we have seen this expression in Romans chapter five. Romans 5:9, Therefore, because we have been justified on the basis of His blood, how much more will we be delivered from His righteous indignation through Him. Romans 5:10, For if and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that while, we were, as an eternal spiritual truth, enemies, we were reconciled to God (the Father) by means of the spiritual death of His Son? Of course, we believe that this is true! How much more then because, we have been reconciled will we be delivered on account of His life. Romans 5:15, However, on the other hand, absolutely not like this transgression is, as an eternal spiritual truth, also, in the same way, the gracious act. For if and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that by means of this transgression committed by the one, the entire human race died. Of course, we know this is true. How much more then has the grace originating from God and the gracious gift on the basis of grace, which is specifically, on the basis of the obedience of the one Man, who is Jesus, who is the Christ been generously and graciously offered to the entire human race. In Romans 5:17, the adjective polus, much is joined with the comparative adverb mallon, more in order to increase or intensify its comparative force. The word is used as a positive adjective of degree and is employed with the comparative adverb mallon denoting degree, increasing the adverb s comparative force. Mallon means more, to a greater degree, and denotes an increase, greater quantity, a larger measure, a higher degree. The positive adjective of degree polus functions grammatically as a dative of measure or degree of difference. This type of dative occurs when the dative substantive precedes or follows a comparative adjective or adverb as is the case in Romans 5:17 where polus precedes the comparative adverb mallon. This type of dative may be used to indicate the extent to which the comparison is true or the degree of difference that exists in the comparison. In Romans 5:17, the positive adjective of degree polus functions as a dative of measure indicating 2008 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 11

12 the extent to which the comparison between consequences of Adam s transgression with that of the consequences of Christ s obedience. The adjective of degree polus and the comparative adverb mallon form the logical argument called a fortiori, which is a Latin phrase meaning with stronger reason and is an idiom of greater degree. A fortiori has two parts: (1) The greater (2) The lesser. What requires a greater degree of effort is used as the basis for showing what requires less effort. It is a conclusion compared with some other conclusion or recognized fact, as inferred to be even more certain or inescapable than the two conclusions it combines. Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines a fortiori, with greater reason or more convincing force-used in drawing a conclusion that is inferred to be even more certain than another. A fortiori uses an inferential conclusion as being more conclusive than another reasoned conclusion. It is a system of argumentation or debate which takes an accepted fact and by a comparison produces an inescapable fact and confident conclusion. Therefore, in Romans 5:17, the adjective polus and the comparative adverb mallon form the principle of a fortiori. This expression introduces the grace policy of God towards sinners, which was expressed through the offer of the gift of righteousness to the sinner that is received through faith in Christ as Savior and was made available through the spiritual death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. So the logical argument of a fortiori emphasizes that the obedience of Christ not only cancelled the effects of Adam s transgression but also it provided infinitely more than Adam lost or even possessed when he disobeyed. Grace is all that God is free to do for sinners in imparting unmerited benefits to the sinners, both spiritual and temporal based solely upon the merits of Jesus Christ and His substitutionary spiritual death on the Cross. In Romans 5:17, God expressed His grace policy towards sinners by offering them the gift of righteousness through faith in His Son Jesus Christ as Savior. The expression pollo mallon, much more emphasizes that the obedience of Christ was infinitely more powerful than the disobedience of Adam in that it enabled God to offer the gift of righteousness to sinners, which is received by the sinner through faith in Jesus Christ as one s personal Savior. The results of Christ s obedience is superior to results produced by Adam s disobedience by virtue of the fact that the former was an act of total unselfishness and the latter was an act of total selfishness. Christ s act of obedience was one of total self-sacrifice. Adam thought only of himself whereas Christ was thinking of others. Thus, the very essence or nature of Christ s obedience is totally superior to that of Adam s disobedience William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 12

13 In Romans 5:17, this principle of a fortiori emphasizes the certainty that if Adam s disobedience resulted in his posterity being spiritually dead, then how much more certain must be the results of Christ s obedience, which were the result of unselfishness and self-sacrifice. And since Christ s act was an expression of the grace of God, then how much more effective is God s grace is than the consequences of Adam s transgression. This principle emphasizes that God s transcendent, incomparable generosity that He extends through the Person and Work of Jesus Christ on the Cross far outweighs the consequences of Adam s sin. Paul is reassuring his readers that if God condemned to death Adam s posterity due to his sin, then they can be absolutely certain that those who trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior will receive God s transcendent grace in the form of the gift of righteousness and will reign in life because of Christ s act of obedience. If one man s sin brought spiritual death resulting in physical death and a curse to not only the human race, how much more then will the unique God-Man s obedience result in the overwhelming generosity of God and the gift of righteousness and reigning in life through Christ. If an ordinary man s (Adam) sin brought death and condemnation to the entire human race, how much more will God s grace flow to the entire human race through the sinless God-Man, Jesus Christ s unselfish, self-sacrificial act of obedience on the Cross. So the act of the sinless, unselfish God-Man is infinitely superior and more powerful than the act of an ordinary selfish man. Therefore, the principle of a fortiori in Romans 5:17 emphasizes that Christ s act of obedience is infinitely greater for good for the entire human race than the death and condemnation resulting from Adam s transgression. Christ s act resulted in God expressing His transcendent grace in the form of the gift of righteousness, which is received by the sinner through faith alone in Christ alone. God s grace working through Christ s act of obedience at the Cross is much more powerful and has infinitely superior consequences than Adam s transgression. This expression pollo mallon, much more also emphasizes that if Adam s transgression resulted in spiritual death ruling as a cruel tyrant over him and his posterity, how much more then those who trust in Christ as Savior receive God s transcendent grace as expressed by the gift of righteousness will reign in life through Christ! Instead of spiritual death reigning over the sinner because of Adam s transgression, the sinner who trusts in Jesus Christ as Savior reigns over spiritual death through Christ and will in fact reign with Christ during His millennial reign. Christ s act restored mankind to the position that God designed for him originally, which was to rule over the works of His hands, i.e. creation whereas Adam s sin resulted in his posterity being subjugated to sin, Satan and death. Christ s act enables the sinner through faith in Him to rule over sin, Satan and death! 2008 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 13

14 The a fortiori statement by Paul in Romans 5:17 emphasizes if spiritual death reigned as a cruel tyrant over Adam s posterity because of his transgression, how much more certain it is that the justified sinner will reign with Christ because of Christ s obedience. We will translate the expression pollo mallon, how much more. Corrected translation thus far of Romans 5:17: For if, and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that by means of the transgression committed by the one, spiritual death reigned as king through this one. Of course, we know this is true. Then, how much more Romans 5:17, For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Those who receive is the articular nominative masculine plural present active participle form of the verb lambano (lambavnw) (lam-ban-o), which means, to receive. In Romans 5:17, the verb lambano means, to receive, acquire, obtain. The masculine plural form refers to those who have been declared justified by God the Father as a result of receiving the gift of righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. This is indicated by the active voice of the verb, which signifies that the subject performs the action of the verb. Therefore, the sinner must receive the grace of God and the gift of righteousness by performing an action. The action involved according to Romans 3:22, 26; 4:3, 5, 9 and 5:1 is to make the non-meritorious decision to trust in Jesus Christ as one s Savior. Romans 3:21-26, But now, independently of seeking to be justified by obedience to the Law, the righteousness originating from God is being manifested at the present time while simultaneously being attested to by the Law and the Prophets. Namely, the righteousness originating from God through faith in Jesus who is the Christ for the benefit of each and every person who does believe for there is, as an eternal spiritual truth, absolutely no distinction. For each and every person has sinned consequently, they are always failing to measure up to the glory originating from God with the result that they might, as an eternal spiritual truth, be undeservedly justified based upon His grace by means of the redemption, which is by means of the spiritual death of Christ who is Jesus whom God the Father offered publicly as a propitiatory gift through faith by means of His blood in order to demonstrate His righteousness because of the deliberate and temporary suspension of judgment of the sins, which have taken place in the past on the basis of the tolerance originating from the character and nature of God the Father. Correspondingly, in relation to the demonstration of His righteousness during this present distinct period of history, that He Himself is, as an eternal 2008 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 14

15 spiritual truth, inherently righteous, even while justifying anyone by means of faith in Jesus. Romans 4:3, For what does the Scripture say? Abraham had absolute confidence in (the Son of) God. Consequently, for his benefit, it was credited and regarded as righteousness. Romans 4:5, On the other hand, for the benefit of the one who does not work hard but does exercise absolute confidence in the One who, as an eternal spiritual truth, justifies the ungodly, his faith is, as an eternal spiritual truth, credited and regarded as righteousness. Romans 4:9, Then is, as an eternal spiritual truth, this blessing that produces a happiness that is divine in quality upon the circumcised, or also upon the uncircumcised? For we contend, Faith was credited and regarded as righteousness for the benefit of Abraham. Romans 5:1, Therefore, because we have been justified by means of faith as a source, we, as an eternal spiritual truth, always have peace in the presence of God through our Lord who is Jesus, who is the Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Galatians 2:16, nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. John 3:16-18, For God so loved the world, that He gave His uniquely born Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world (Christ would die in their place), but that the world should be saved through Him (faith alone in Christ alone). He who believes in Him (the Lord Jesus Christ) is not judged. He who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the uniquely born Son of God. John 3:36, He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not obey the Son shall not see eternal life, but the wrath of God abides on him. John 11:25, Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies. Therefore, the active voice of the verb lambano in Romans 5:17 and the various passages (and there are many more) emphasize that the grace of God and the gift of righteousness must be received through faith alone in Christ alone. It emphasizes that only those who respond to the grace of God by exercising the non-meritorious decision to trust in Jesus Christ as one s Savior will receive the grace of God and the gift of righteousness but will also reign in life through the Lord Jesus Christ William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 15

16 The present tense is a gnomic present, which describes something as true any time and does take place. Therefore, it indicates that a person who does believe in Jesus Christ as his Savior will receive the abundance of God s grace and the gift of righteousness and will reign in life through Jesus Christ. The definite article preceding the participle form of the verb functions as a substantiver meaning that it converts the participle into a substantive. Therefore, it indicates that the participle has a substantival function, which is reflected by translating the article with a relative pronoun phrase such as, the one who. We will translate lambano, those who do receive. Corrected translation thus far of Romans 5:17: For if, and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that by means of the transgression committed by the one, spiritual death reigned as king through this one. Of course, we know this is true. Then, how much more those who do receive Romans 5:17, For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. The abundance is the articular accusative feminine singular form of the noun perisseia (perisseiva) (per-is-si-ah). The noun perisseia is related to the verb perisseuo, to be over, to go beyond and means, surplus, abundance (Liddell-Scott, page 1387). The word is not used often in the Septuagint except in the book of Ecclesiastes where it usually means, gain or advantage (1:3; 3:19; 6:8; 7:12). The noun appears only four times in the Greek New Testament (Romans 5:17; 2 Corinthians 8:2; 10:15; James 1:21). Perisseia always refers to something above or beyond the normal. It suggests the element of excess and fullness that overflows the set bounds. In this process of overflowing, the existing standards and rules are transcended and what was comparable becomes incomparable (The New International Dictionary of the New Testament Theology, volume 1, page 729). The New Thayer s Greek-English Lexicon lists the following meanings for perisseia: (1) abundance; adverbially, superabundantly, superfluously (2) superiority; preference, pre-eminence (3) gain, profit (4) residue, remains (page 505). Bauer, Gingrich and Danker list the following New Testament meanings, surplus, abundance (A Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, page 650). Vine commenting on the word, writes, Perisseia, an exceeding measure, something above the ordinary, is used four times; Rom 5:17, of abundance of grace ; 2 Cor 8:2, of abundance of joy ; 2 Cor 10:15, of the extension of the apostle's sphere of service through the practical fellowship of the saints at Corinth; 2008 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 16

17 in James 1:21 it is rendered, metaphorically, overflowing, KJV superfluity, with reference to wickedness. Some would render it residuum, or what remains. (Vine s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (c)1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers). Louw and Nida list the following meanings for the word in the New Testament (Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains, volume 2): (1) that which exists in an abundance abundance, a great deal of (volume 2, page 600). (2) a degree which is considerably in excess of some point on an implied or explicit scale of extent very great, excessive, extremely, emphatic, surpassing, all the more, much greater (volume 2, page 688). In James 1:21, the word refers to the potential explosion of evil in a person s life unless it is firmly checked. The apostle Paul uses the word in relation to joy in 2 Corinthians 8:2. In 2 Corinthians 10:15 it describes the extension of the Paul s sphere of influence and service. In Romans 5:17, the noun perisseia is used of God s grace and means, transcendent since the word accurately reflects its meaning in this particular context. As we noted earlier, perisseia always refers to something above or beyond the normal. As we noted earlier, it suggests the element of excess and fullness that overflows the set bounds. In this process of overflowing, the existing standards and rules are transcended and what was comparable becomes incomparable (The New International Dictionary of the New Testament Theology, volume 1, page 729). Thus, the term transcendent accurately reflects the meaning of perisseia since it means to go beyond ordinary limits of; overpass; exceed. The definite article preceding the abstract noun perisseia defines and emphasizes more closely the quality of God s grace being transcendent. The word functions as an accusative direct object meaning that only believers in Jesus Christ as the subject have and are and will experience in the future the infinite and extraordinary generosity of God s grace provisions. The noun perisseia should be converted to an adjective since the noun charis, grace functions as an attributed genitive, which means that the head noun rather than the genitive functions in sense as an attributive adjective. In this construction, you can convert the noun to which it stands related into a mere adjective. In our passage, perisseia stands related to the noun charis, grace. Thus, we can convert perisseia to an adjective since it means, transcendent. Therefore, we will translate the noun perisseia, transcendent. Corrected translation thus far of Romans 5:17: For if, and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that by means of the transgression committed by the one, spiritual death reigned as king through this one. Of 2008 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 17

18 course, we know this is true. Then, how much more those who do receive transcendent Romans 5:17, For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Of grace is the articular genitive feminine singular form of the noun charis (xavri$) (khar-ece), of grace. In Romans 5:17, the noun charis denotes the sum total of unmerited benefits, both temporal and spiritual, imparted to the sinner through the function of the sum total of divine attributes of each member of the Trinity as a result of the sinner making the non-meritorious decision to trust in Jesus Christ as his or her Savior. Grace is all that God is free to do in imparting unmerited blessings to those who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior based upon the merits of Christ and His death on the Cross. It is God treating us in a manner that we don t deserve and excludes any human works in order to acquire eternal salvation or blessing from God. Grace means that God saved us and blessed us despite ourselves and not according to anything that we do but rather saved us and blessed us because of the merits of Christ and His work on the Cross. It excludes any human merit in salvation and blessing (Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5) and gives the Creator all the credit and the creature none. By means of faith, we accept the grace of God, which is a non-meritorious system of perception, which is in total accord with the grace of God. Grace and faith are totally compatible with each other and inseparable (1 Tim. 1:14) and complement one another (Rom. 4:16; Eph. 2:8). Grace, faith and salvation are all the gift of God and totally exclude all human works and ability (Eph. 2:8-9). Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Titus 3:5, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds, which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. The unique Person of the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the Crossis the source of grace (2 Cor. 8:9) and He is a gift from the Father (2 Cor. 9:15). 2 Corinthians 8:9, For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 9:15, Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! Jesus Christ was full of grace and truth (John 1:17) and the believer receives the grace of God through Him (John 1:16) William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 18