John Calvin Commentary Romans 5:17

"For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, [even] Jesus Christ." — Romans 5:17 (ASV)

For if the offense of one, etc. He again adds a general explanation, on which he elaborates further; for it was not at all his purpose to explain every part of the subject, but to state the main points. He had previously declared that the power of grace had surpassed that of sin. By this, he consoles and strengthens the faithful and, at the same time, stimulates and encourages them to meditate on the kindness of God.

Indeed, the design of such a deliberate repetition was that the grace of God might be fittingly presented, that people might be led from self-confidence to trust in Christ, and that, having obtained his grace, they might enjoy full assurance; from this, eventually, gratitude arises. The sum of the whole is this: Christ surpasses Adam; the sin of one is overcome by the righteousness of the other; the curse of one is erased by the grace of the other; from one, death has proceeded, which is absorbed by the life that the other bestows.

But the parts of this comparison do not correspond. Instead of adding, “the gift of life shall more fully reign and flourish through the exuberance of grace,” he says that “the faithful shall reign,” which amounts to the same thing, for the reign of the faithful is in life, and the reign of life is in the faithful.

It may further be useful to notice here the difference between Christ and Adam, which the Apostle omitted—not because he considered it unimportant, but because it was unconnected with his present subject.

The first difference is that by Adam’s sin we are not condemned through imputation alone, as if we were punished only for the sin of another. Instead, we suffer his punishment because we ourselves are also guilty; for as our nature is corrupted in him, it is regarded by God as having committed sin.

However, through the righteousness of Christ, we are restored to salvation in a different way. For it is not said to be accepted for us because it is in us, but because we possess Christ himself with all his blessings, as given to us through the bountiful kindness of the Father.

Therefore, the gift of righteousness is not a quality with which God endows us, as some absurdly explain it, but a gratuitous imputation of righteousness, for the Apostle clearly declares what he understood by the word grace.

The other difference is that the benefit of Christ does not come to all people, while Adam has involved his entire race in condemnation. The reason for this is indeed evident: since the curse we derive from Adam is transmitted to us by nature, it is no wonder that it includes the whole mass. However, for us to come to a participation in the grace of Christ, we must be grafted into him by faith.

Therefore, to partake of the miserable inheritance of sin, it is enough for you to be human, for it dwells in flesh and blood. But to enjoy the righteousness of Christ, it is necessary for you to be a believer, for participation in him is attained only by faith.

He is communicated to infants in a special way, for they have by covenant the right of adoption, by which they pass into participation in Christ. I speak of the children of the godly, to whom the promise of grace is addressed; for others are by no means exempt from the common lot.