Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Romans 5:21

ἵνα ὥσπερ κ.τ.λ. Here the reign of death is shown to be as a matter of fact the reign of sin in the atmosphere of death; a summary again of Romans 1:18 f.

ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ. The |[139] εἰς ζωὴν shows that ἐν here is not instrumental, but describes the sphere or atmosphere in which sin reigned.

[139] | parallel to

ἡ χάρις κ.τ.λ., the grace or favour of GOD might gain its sovereignty under the condition of righteousness leading to eternal life by the action and agency of the Ascended Man Jesus Christ, now our Lord. χάρις, as throughout, describes not the state of man but the attitude of GOD towards man.

διὰ δικαιοσύνης = in or under a condition or state of righteousness: cf. 17 b and for διὰ Romans 2:27 n. The elaborate phrasing is due to the difficulty of getting an exact antithesis. The exact verbal antithesis would be ἡ δικαιοσύνη ()[140] ἡ ἁμαρτία) β. ἐν ζωῇ ()[141] ἐν τῷ θαν.); but the true power of sovereignty is not man’s righteousness but GOD’s grace; so ἡ χάρις is put as the subject; then δικαιοσύνη expresses the state of man under the sovereignty of χάρις, and is therefore introduced by διὰ; and for ἐν ζωῇ (cf. 17 b) the description of the new atmosphere in which man is or the new power by which man lives (already implied in ἡ χάρις) is substituted εἰς ζ. αἰ. as the end to which all tends; and the whole argument is summed up in the phrase διὰ Ἰ. Χρ. τ. Κ. ἡ., which comes almost as a refrain (cf. Romans 7:17; Romans 8:23).

[140])(opposed to
[141])(opposed to

It is essential throughout the passage to bear in mind the argument of Romans 1:18 to Romans 3:31, and in particular the position there made plain that the sinful state is made actual in each man by his own act, just as the state of righteousness to be made actual in each man requires the personal act of faith.

Then in ch. 7. S. Paul passes from this description of GOD’s favour or grace in its range, effectiveness and purpose to consider man’s duty as the object of this grace.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Romans 5:21

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