Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 5:21

"that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." — Romans 5:21 (ASV)

At the conclusion of the chapter, Adam as a figure fades from view. Yet his influence is still present in the mention of sin and death. Paul now introduces another factor—the Mosaic law—to show its bearing on the great issues of sin and righteousness. There is scarcely a subject treated by Paul in Romans that does not call for some consideration of the law. The closest affinity to the thought in v.20 is found in 3:20, “Through the law we become conscious of sin” (see also ch. 7).

The apostle is not maintaining that the purpose of God’s giving of the law is exclusively “that the trespass might increase,” because he allows that the law is a revelation of the will of God and therefore has a positive benefit (7:12). The law also serves to restrain evil in the world (stated in 1 Timothy 1:9–11). Paul says the law “was added,” suggesting that it was something temporary, designed to disclose the transgression aspect of sin and so prepare the way for the coming of Christ . In the Sermon on the Mount, it appears that Jesus sought to apply the law in precisely this way, to awaken a sense of sin in those who fancied they were keeping the law tolerably well but had underestimated its searching demands and the sinfulness of their own hearts (Matthew 5:17–48).

Lest someone raise a charge against the Almighty that to make possible an increase in sin is not to his credit, Paul insists that only where sin is seen in its maximum expression can divine grace truly be appreciated. “Grace increased all the more.” The apostle waxes almost ecstatic as he revels in the superlative excellence of the divine overruling that makes sin serve a gracious purpose.

With great effect Paul brings the leading concepts of the passage together in the final statement (v.21). “Sin reigned in death” picks up vv.12, 14; “grace” looks back to vv.15, 17; “reign” reflects vv.14, 17; “righteousness” “life” completes and crowns the allusion to “life” in vv.17–18. Sin and death are virtually personified throughout. Sin poses as absolute monarch, reigning through death as its vicar; but in the end it is exposed as a pretender and is obliged to yield the palm to another whose reign is wholly absolute and totally different, being as much a blessing as the other is a curse.