Romans 5:19 (ASV)

Passage

For as through the one man`s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous.

Nearby Context

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 5:18 So then as through one trespass [the judgment came] unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness [the free gift came] unto all men to justification of life.

Romans 5:19 For as through the one man`s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous.

Romans 5:20 And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:

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

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "through", "disobedience", "sinners", "even", "shall", and "righteous". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "through" and "disobedience", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 18's "So then as through one trespass the..." into verse 20's "And the law came in besides that...", so "through" and "disobedience" belong inside that flow. In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "through" and "disobedience" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.