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.