Charles Ellicott Commentary Romans 5:19

"For as through the one man`s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous." — Romans 5:19 (ASV)

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. (Compare Philippians 2:8, where it is said that he became obedient unto death; and Hebrews 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” of Romans 3:25; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 5:2; 1 Timothy 2:6.