Romans 5:21 (ASV)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

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 "grace", "reigned", "death", "even", "might", "through", and "righteousness". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "grace" and "reigned", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "And the law came in besides that...", giving immediate footing for "grace" and "reigned". 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 "grace" and "reigned" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.