Romans 5:20 (DBY)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

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,

Romans 5:21 in order that, even as sin has reigned in [the power of] death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "grace", "came", "order", "offence", "might", "abound", "where", and "abounded". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "grace" and "came", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "For as indeed by the disobedience of..." into verse 21's "in order that even as sin has...", so "grace" and "came" 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 "grace" and "came" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.