Romans 5:17

For, &c. "For" refers mainly to the last clause of Romans 5:16. The contrast of "one" and "many" is now dropped, but we find another contrast; that between the legal results of evil and the overflowing results of Divine goodness, the goodness which grants acquittal to the "ungodly." Q. d., "The free gift is a gift indeed, liberal and glorious: forif the result of Adam's one sin was the reign of death, far more amply shall the result of God's grace be the reign of the justified in life!" In this verse the "glory to be revealed," as a necessary sequelof justification, first distinctly appears.

by one man's offence A better reading gives in one offence. The First Sin was the occasion "in" (or on) whichdeath acquired its tyranny over man.

by one Lit. through, or by, the one. So just below. See on Romans 5:15.

they which receive From time to time; a continuous process, as regards successive generations.

abundance The word implies the necessaryfulness of a gift of Divine love. Justification, with its sequel, is always"abundant," both in itself and as to its recipients.

grace Lit. the grace; i.e. that in question; acceptance for Christ's sake.

the gift of righteousness i.e. here, practically, Justification. What is "given" is a standing of acceptance in the eye of the Law. And the Law, as such, accepts onlyon the ground of "righteousness," freedom from guilt. How such freedom from guilt is attained is another question: in the present case, it is attained as "a gift," given by "the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus."

shall reign in life Amply reversing the "reign" of death over them. Probably the chief idea is of a triumph, full and lasting, over death. Cp. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, an instructive parallel. But no doubt the words refer beyond this to all the majestyof the coming "glory" of the justified, figured elsewhere by the "crown" of life, righteousness, or glory; and by the "throne." See the marvellous union of service and royalty, Revelation 22:3; Revelation 22:5. "Life" is here the future, heavenly life; life in its full sense. Cp. Matthew 18:8-9; Matthew 19:17.

by one, &c. Lit. through the One, Jesus Christ. Here is the secret of the "much more." The surpassing glory of Him who is the Cause accounts for the Divine quality of the Result.