Charles Ellicott Commentary Romans 5:15

"But not as the trespass, so also [is] the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many." — Romans 5:15 (ASV)

Now comes the statement of the contrast which extends over the next five verses. The points of difference are thrown into relief by the points of resemblance. These may be, perhaps, best presented by the following scheme:

Persons of the action:

• One man, Adam.
• One Man, Christ.

The action:

• One act of trespass.
• One act of obedience.

Character of the action viewed in its relation to the Fall and Salvation of man:

• The great initial trespass or breach of the law of God.
• The great accomplished work of grace, or the gift of righteousness.

Persons affected by the action:

• All mankind.
• All mankind.

Proximate effect of the action:

• Influx of many transgressions.
• Clearing away of many transgressions.

Ulterior effect of the action:

• Death.
• Life.

The offence.—Perhaps rather, trespass, to bring out the latent antithesis to the obedience of Christ. (Ellicott.)

One . . . many.—Substitute throughout this passage, “the one,” “the many.” By “the many,” is meant “mankind generally,” “all men.”

Dr. Lightfoot quotes Bentley on the importance of this change: “By this accurate version, some hurtful mistakes about partial redemption and absolute reprobation would have been happily prevented. Our English readers would then have seen what several of the Fathers saw and testified, that the many, in an antithesis to the one, are equivalent to all in Romans 5:12, and comprehend the whole multitude, the entire species of mankind, exclusive only of the one.”

“In other words,” Dr. Lightfoot adds, “the benefits of Christ’s obedience extend to all men potentially. It is only human self-will which places limits to its operation.”

Much more.—Because God is much more ready to exercise mercy and love than severity, to pardon than to punish.

The grace of God, and the gift by grace.—The grace of God is the moving cause; its result is the gift (of righteousness, Romans 5:17) imputed by His gracious act to the many.