Romans 5:18 (DBY)

Passage

so then as [it was] by one offence towards all men to condemnation, so by one righteousness towards all men for justification of life.

Nearby Context

Romans 5:16 And [shall] not as by one that has sinned [be] the gift? For the judgment [was] of one to condemnation, but the act of favour, of many offences unto justification.

Romans 5:17 For if by the offence of the one death reigned by the one, much rather shall those who receive the abundance of grace, and of the free gift of righteousness, reign in life by the one Jesus Christ:)

Romans 5:18 so then as [it was] by one offence towards all men to condemnation, so by one righteousness towards all men for justification of life.

Romans 5:19 For as indeed by the disobedience of the one man the many have been constituted sinners, so also by the obedience of the one the many will be constituted righteous.

Romans 5:20 But law came in, in order that the offence might abound; but where sin abounded grace has overabounded,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "condemn", "offence", "towards", "condemnation", "righteousness", "justification", and "life". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "condemn" and "offence", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "For if by the offence of the..." into verse 19's "For as indeed by the disobedience of...", so "condemn" and "offence" 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 "condemn" and "offence" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.