Romans 5:18 (WEB)
So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life.
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Romans 5:18 (KJV)
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.
Key words
- παράπτωμαparaptōma · Greek
- 'offence' — Adam's trespass.
- δικαίωμαdikaiōma · Greek
- 'righteousness' — Christ's righteous act.
- δικαίωσιν ζωῆςdikaiōsin zōēs · Greek
- 'justification of life' — life restored through one man.
Why it matters
Paul pairs Adam and Christ: one man's trespass brought condemnation, one man's righteous act brings life. Pitre points out that the Fathers, beginning with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus in the second century, extended Paul's typology to the two women: as death came through the virgin Eve, life came through the Virgin Mary. The New Eve stands beside the New Adam in the undoing of the fall.
Catechism · 3
The Fall
“Although to some extent the People of God in the Old Testament had tried to understand the pathos of the human condition in the light of the history of the fall narrated in Genesis, they could not grasp this story's ultimate meaning, which is revealed only in the light of the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Rom 5:12-21.
“"Then as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man's act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men."” — Catechism footnote: Rom 5:18.
Jesus Died Crucified
“He affirms that he came "to give his life as a ransom for many"; this last term is not restrictive, but contrasts the whole of humanity with the unique person of the redeemer who hands himself over to save us.” — Catechism footnote: Mt 20:28; cf. Rom 5:18-19.
Fathers and councils · 4
Cyril of Jerusalem
“Moreover one man’s sin, even Adam’s, had power to bring death to the world; but if by the trespass of the one death reigned over the world, how shall not life much rather reign by the righteousness of the One?” — editor's note: Rom. v. 17, 18.
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Theodoret of Cyrus
“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”” — editor's note: Rom. v. 18, 19
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Leo the Great
“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one man’s obedience shall many be made righteous;” and again, “For because by man (came) death, by man also (came) the resurrection of the dead.” — editor's note: Rom. v. 18, 19.
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Augustine of Hippo
“…the offense 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,” shows clearly enough that there is no one born of Adam but is subject to condemnation, and that no one, unless he be new born in Christ, is freed from…” — editor's note: Rom. v. 18
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Cross-references · 5
Cited together in Catechism §605.
Cited together in Catechism §605.
Cited together in Catechism §605.
Cited together in Catechism §605.
Cited together in Catechism §388.