Romans 5
1 Therefore, since we have been recognized as just because of faithfulness, we have peace in God’s presence through our Lord Jesus Christ 2 through whom we have also, with faithfulness, acquired access to this generosity with which we stand firm, and we boast in the hope of God’s praiseworthiness. 3 Not only this, but we also boast in the oppressions we have experienced, having seen that the oppression produces endurance, 4 and then the endurance produces trustworthiness,a and then the trustworthiness produces hope. 5 And hope does not bring dishonor,b because God’s love has been poured over our hearts through the Sacred Life-breath who was given to us.
6 You see, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the sake of those who were still disrespectful at the time 7 (Rarely will someone die for the sake of a person who promotes justice, and someone might even bring themselves to die for the sake of a kind person), 8 so God demonstrates his own love for us because while we were still deviating,c Christ died for our sake. 9 Therefore, much more now since we have been recognized as just, in connection with his blood, we will be liberated from angerd through him. 10 If—while we were hostile—we were reconciled bye God through the death of his son, then that much more—after being reconciled—we will be liberated withf his life. 11 And not only that, but also boast in connection with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have now received reconciliation.
12 Because of this, just as deviation came into the world through one person and through deviation came death, that’s also how death spread to all people, and on top of that,g all deviated. 13 You see, deviation was in the world before Torah, but deviation wasn’t calculated when Torah didn’t exist. 14 However, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who did not deviate in the same pattern of the sidestepping of Adam (who is a template of the coming one).
15 Nevertheless, unlike eachh shortfall, the act of generosity is also like deviationi since if many people died through the shortfall of the one person, then the generosity of God and what is generously given through one person—Jesus Christ—overflowedj to the many even that much more. 16 The gift is also not like what happened through the one who deviated since, while the verdict that came from the one was for a verdict against him, the act of generosity that came from many shortfalls was a verdict of being just. 17 If, with the shortfall of the one person, death reigned through that one, then even that much more those who receive the overflowk of generosity and the gift of justness will reign with life through the one, Jesus Christ.
18 Therefore, like how through one shortfall the result for all people was a verdict against them, similarly, it’s also through one verdict of being just that the result for all people was recognition of justness, life. 19 Just as through the one’s refusal to listen,l the many were set up to be people who deviate, similarly, also through the one’s consent to listen,m the many were set up to be people who are just. 20 Yet, additionally, Torah came in so that the shortfall would be excessive, but where deviation was excessive, generosity overflowed even moren 21 so that just as deviation reigned with death, similarly generosity would also reign through justness resulting in agelong life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
FOOTNOTES:
a Or ‘dependability’ or ‘authenticity’ or ‘reliability’ or ‘genuineness’
b Or ‘bring shame’ or ‘defile’
c Or ‘people characterized by deviation’ or ‘deviating ones.’ Traditionally, ‘sinners,’ though the word is an adjective, not a noun.
d Referring to the anger discussed in Romans 4:15. Although many translations add ‘of God,’ it is not present in the Greek.
e This preposition is ambiguous. There is no preposition in Greek. It is implied by the dative form of the Greek word *theo* (God). Any number of English prepositions could be implied here: ‘in,’ ‘to,’ ‘with,’ ‘for,’ ‘by,’ ‘through,’ ‘at,’ and others. The clearest context of this verse is that the action of God is what causes the reconciliation. It could also be reconciliation ‘with’ God, but it is not specified otherwise. In Ephesians 2, Paul writes of the wall of hostility between peoples being broken down by God’s work through Christ, so it provides a context of Paul’s writing that suggests he has reconciliation between peoples in mind. Both ideas fit the context of Paul’s references to Abraham based on the promise to speak well, toward, and for all people groups which implies positive relationship between God and the people and the various people groups with each other, as well as the story of God placing Abraham in a deep sleep and fulfilling both sides of the covenant commitment ceremony, implying God taking responsibility for reconciliation between him and Abraham’s descendants.
f The preposition *en* is used here with the dative case form, implying an ‘instrumental’ use of the words: Jesus’ life was used to liberate us. It is parallel to the probable dative of agency that the reconciliation was done ‘by’ earlier in the sentence.
g There are my ways this prepositional phrase (*eph’ ho*) could be interpreted, and it has been the subject of much debate. What seems most likely to this translator is that *ho* (which/whom) refers to ‘death’ in the previous phrase, and the preposition *eph’* is used in a sense of ‘addition,’ being translated as ‘on top of which’ or ‘in addition to which.’ Another good possibility is that the preposition indicates time, that it is happening during the time in which death was spreading to all people: ‘during which time, all deviated.’ Many other possibilities exist and are reflected in other translations.
h The word ‘each’ is added for clarity. It is contrasting the idea in verse 14 that each shortfall/sidestep/deviation is not the same for all people with the generosity of God that is the same for all people.
i Literally, ‘is also like that.’ The word ‘that’ is referring to verse 12 and how deviation came through one person and spread to all.
j Or ‘was more than sufficient’ or ‘abounded’
k Or ‘surplus’ or ‘abundance’
l Or ‘or refusal to take heed’ or ‘pretending not to hear’ or ‘turning a deaf ear’ or ‘misunderstanding.’ Traditionally, ‘disobedience.’
m Or ‘listening’ or ‘paying attention’ or ‘paying heed’ or ‘consent’ or ‘answering a summons’ or ‘submission’ or ‘obedience.’
n Or ‘was beyond more than sufficient’ or ‘was even more abundant.’