For just as through the disobedience of the one manThis phrase refers to Adam, whose disobedience in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3) led to the fall of humanity. Adam's act of eating the forbidden fruit is seen as the original sin, which introduced sin and death into the world. This concept is foundational in understanding the doctrine of original sin, which posits that all humans inherit a sinful nature due to Adam's transgression. Theologically, Adam is often viewed as a "type" of Christ, serving as a representative head of humanity, whose actions have consequences for all his descendants.
the many were made sinners
The term "the many" refers to all of humanity, indicating the universal impact of Adam's sin. This phrase underscores the idea that sin is not just an individual act but a condition that affects all people. The concept of being "made sinners" suggests a legal or positional standing before God, where humanity is seen as guilty and in need of redemption. This aligns with passages likePsalm 51:5, which speaks of being sinful from birth, andRomans 3:23, which states that all have sinned.
so also through the obedience of the one man
This refers to Jesus Christ, whose life and sacrificial death are seen as acts of perfect obedience to God. Unlike Adam, Jesus lived a sinless life and fulfilled the law completely (Hebrews 4:15). His obedience is often highlighted in passages such asPhilippians 2:8, which describes Jesus humbling Himself and becoming obedient to death on a cross. This obedience is central to the Christian understanding of atonement and redemption.
the many will be made righteous
This phrase speaks to the transformative power of Christ's obedience, which offers justification and righteousness to all who believe in Him. The "many" here refers to those who accept Christ's sacrifice and are justified by faith, as explained inRomans 3:22-24. This righteousness is not earned but is imputed to believers, meaning it is credited to their account because of Christ's work. This concept is foundational to the doctrine of justification by faith, a key tenet of Christian theology, and is echoed in passages like2 Corinthians 5:21, which states that believers become the righteousness of God in Christ.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
AdamThe first man created by God, whose disobedience in the Garden of Eden led to the fall of humanity and the introduction of sin into the world.
2.
Jesus ChristThe Son of God, whose obedience unto death on the cross provides the means for humanity's justification and righteousness.
3.
Garden of EdenThe place where Adam's disobedience occurred, resulting in the fall of man.
4.
The CrossThe event and place where Jesus' obedience was fully realized, offering redemption to mankind.
5.
HumanityRepresented by "the many," who are affected by both Adam's disobedience and Christ's obedience.
Teaching Points
The Impact of One Man's ActionsAdam's disobedience had a profound impact on all of humanity, illustrating the far-reaching consequences of sin.
The Power of ObedienceJesus' obedience demonstrates the transformative power of aligning with God's will, offering redemption and righteousness to many.
The Role of ChoiceBoth Adam and Jesus made choices with significant outcomes, reminding us of the importance of our daily decisions in following God's path.
Righteousness Through FaithJust as sin entered through one man, righteousness is available through faith in Jesus Christ, emphasizing the grace of God.
Living in ObedienceAs followers of Christ, we are called to live in obedience, reflecting His righteousness in our lives and impacting those around us.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Romans 5:19?
2.How does Romans 5:19 illustrate the impact of Adam's disobedience on humanity?
3.What role does Jesus' obedience play in our justification according to Romans 5:19?
4.How can we apply the principle of obedience from Romans 5:19 in daily life?
5.How does Romans 5:19 connect with the concept of original sin in Genesis?
6.In what ways can believers reflect Christ's obedience mentioned in Romans 5:19?
7.How does Romans 5:19 explain the concept of original sin and its impact on humanity?
8.What does Romans 5:19 reveal about the role of Jesus in salvation?
9.How does Romans 5:19 relate to the idea of obedience and disobedience?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Romans 5?
11.Romans 5:19 implies many are made sinners by Adam’s disobedience, so how does this align with Ezekiel 18’s insistence on individual moral accountability?
12.What are Christ's active and passive obedience?
13.Do we inherit sin from Adam?
14.What are Christ's active and passive obedience?What Does Romans 5:19 Mean
For just asPaul signals a direct comparison. Earlier he wrote, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man” (Romans 5:12), preparing us for a side-by-side look at Adam and Christ. Like a scale with two weights, Adam’s act tips humanity toward condemnation, while Christ’s act tips believers toward life (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).
Through the disobedience of the one manThe “one man” is Adam, whose single act of eating the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:6) violated God’s clear command. Scripture repeatedly underscores Adam’s role: “Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and fell into transgression” (1 Timothy 2:14).
• Adam acted as humanity’s representative head.
• His disobedience was deliberate; he “listened to the voice of [his] wife” instead of God (Genesis 3:17).
• That willful choice set a pattern of rebellion echoed in every human heart (Romans 5:12).
The many were made sinnersAdam’s trespass didn’t merely influence us; it constituted us as sinners. David confesses, “Surely I was sinful at birth” (Psalm 51:5). Paul agrees: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Results of Adam’s fall:
• Inherited nature: “By nature children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3).
• Universal guilt: “Condemnation came to all men” (Romans 5:18).
• Inevitable death: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a).
So also through the obedience of the one manHere Paul turns to Christ, the second Adam. His entire life was marked by perfect submission: “He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). Hebrews adds that He “learned obedience from what He suffered” and became “the source of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:8-9).
Key moments of that obedience:
• Incarnation—doing the Father’s will (John 6:38).
• Earthly ministry—“I have accomplished the work You gave Me to do” (John 17:4).
• Cross—bearing our sins “in His body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24).
The many will be made righteousJust as Adam’s guilt is imputed to humanity, Christ’s righteousness is imputed to all who believe. “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
• Justification is a declared status, not earned (Romans 4:5-8).
• It is received “through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:22).
• Isaiah foresaw it: “My righteous Servant will justify many” (Isaiah 53:11).
Christ’s obedience outweighs Adam’s disobedience, providing a sure foundation for eternal life.
summaryRomans 5:19 contrasts two representative acts. Adam’s single sin brought universal guilt and corruption; Christ’s flawless obedience brings justification and new life to all who trust Him. The verse highlights God’s justice in condemning sin and His grace in providing righteousness, assuring believers that Christ’s victorious obedience fully reverses Adam’s tragic fall.
(19)
Many were made sinners.--
The many, or mankind collectively, were placed in the position of sinners.
Obedience.--This term is chosen in contradistinction to the disobedience of Adam. The obedience of Christ was an element in the atonement. (Comp.Philippians 2:8, where it is said that he "became obedient unto death;" andHebrews 10:7, "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God," specially in connection with the atonement.) But if we interpret St. Paul by himself, we must not see in it the sole element to the exclusion of the "propitiatory sacrifice" ofRomans 3:25;Ephesians 1:7;Ephesians 5:2;1Timothy 2:6. . . .
Verse 19. -
For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One shall the many be made righteous. As to the significance of
οἱ πολλοὶ, see under ver. 15. The phrase, if taken as equivalent to
πάντες, would seem here to imply even more than in ver. 15; for there it was only said that "the gift... abounded unto the many;" here an actual result is expressed by the future,
δίκαιοι κατασταθήσονται. But even so the universality of final salvation need not necessarily follow. The phrase is, "shall be constituted righteous," and might only mean that all will be put into the position of justified persons, capable as such of salvation, just as all had, through the first transgression, been put into the position of sinners, liable as such to condemnation; and the future tense might be taken to denote the continuance, through all future ages, of the availing effect of the accomplished atonement. Further, it may be remarked that if universal final salvation did seem to follow from the passage before us, it would still have to be understood consistently with the purport of ch. 6, 7, and 8, which follow. In them the practical result to the believer of his justification through Christ is treated; and renunciation of sin, "living after the Spirit," is postulated as the condition for attaining the life eternal. Hence, if the doctrine of "eternal hope" be sound (and who can fail to desire that it should be so?), it must be to some unknown reconciliation beyond the limits of the present life that we must look in the case of those who have not fulfilled the necessary conditions here. Thus, further, the doctrine cannot legitimately be allowed to affect our view of our responsibilities now. To us the only doctrine distinctly revealed on the subject of salvation is that it is in this present life that we are to make our "calling and election sure." Two ways are put before us - the way of life, and the way of death; the one leading to
ζωὴ αἰώνιος, the other to
κόλασις αἰώνιος. In vers. 6-10 (as elsewhere, see note on Romans 3:25) it was through the
death, the
blood, of Christ that we were said to have been reconciled to God; here it is through his
obedience, opposed to the
disobedience of Adam. Though the doctrine of the atonement, in all its depth, is beyond our comprehension now (see above on ver. 9), yet it is important for us to observe the various aspects in which it is presented to us in Scripture. Here the idea suggested is that of Christ, as the Representative of humanity, satisfying Divine righteousness by perfect
obedience to the Divine will, and thus offering to God for man what man had lest the power of offering (cf.
Psalm 40:10, "Lo, I come to fulfil thy will, O my God;" and
Hebrews 9:14;
Hebrews 10:9,
et seq.; also
Philippians 2:8, "became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross").
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
For just asὥσπερ(hōsper)Adverb
Strong's 5618:Just as, as, even as. From hos and per; just as, i.e. Exactly like.throughδιὰ(dia)Preposition
Strong's 1223:A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.theτῆς(tēs)Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.disobedienceπαρακοῆς(parakoēs)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3876:Disobedience, imperfect hearing. From parakouo; inattention, i.e. disobedience.of theτοῦ(tou)Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.oneἑνὸς(henos)Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 1520:One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.manἀνθρώπου(anthrōpou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 444:A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.theοἱ(hoi)Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.manyπολλοί(polloi)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4183:Much, many; often.were madeκατεστάθησαν(katestathēsan)Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2525:From kata and histemi; to place down, i.e. to designate, constitute, convoy.sinners,ἁμαρτωλοὶ(hamartōloi)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 268:Sinning, sinful, depraved, detestable. From hamartano; sinful, i.e. A sinner.soοὕτως(houtōs)Adverb
Strong's 3779:Thus, so, in this manner. Or (referring to what precedes or follows).alsoκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.throughδιὰ(dia)Preposition
Strong's 1223:A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.theτῆς(tēs)Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.obedienceὑπακοῆς(hypakoēs)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 5218:Obedience, submissiveness, compliance. From hupakouo; attentive hearkening, i.e. compliance or submission.of theτοῦ(tou)Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.one [man]ἑνὸς(henos)Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 1520:One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.theοἱ(hoi)Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.manyπολλοί(polloi)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4183:Much, many; often.will be madeκατασταθήσονται(katastathēsontai)Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2525:From kata and histemi; to place down, i.e. to designate, constitute, convoy.righteous.δίκαιοι(dikaioi)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1342:From dike; equitable; by implication, innocent, holy.
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NT Letters: Romans 5:19 For as through the one man's disobedience (Rom. Ro) 
