Bible Strands
Romans 5:15
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many!
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Roman church, placing this statement immediately after noting that death reigned from Adam to Moses and before contrasting the gift with the judgment of condemnation.
The words — The Greek παράπτωμα (paraptōma) literally means "trespass" or "fall," while the phrase οὐχ ὡς (ouch hōs) translates to "not like," structuring the verse around a direct comparison between two opposing forces.
The thread — The text traces the Adam-to-Christ pattern introduced in Romans 5:12, mirrors the death-versus-gift contrast in Romans 6:23, and aligns with the unmerited salvation described in Ephesians 2:8.
Why it lands — The text states that one man’s trespass brought death to many, but God’s grace and Christ’s gift abundantly cover many, requiring the reader to acknowledge that salvation originates entirely from divine generosity rather than human merit.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Cross-references
- Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.
- Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
- 1 John 5:11 And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
- Isaiah 53:11 After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.
- Romans 5:16 Again, the gift is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment that followed one sin brought condemnation, but the gift that followed many trespasses brought justification.
- 2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
- Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.
- Daniel 12:2 And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.
- Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”