Romans 5:13 (DRB)

Passage

For until the law sin was in the world: but sin was not imputed, when the law was not.

Nearby Context

Romans 5:11 And not only so: but also we glory in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore as by one man sin entered into this world and by sin death: and so death passed upon all men, in whom all have sinned.

Romans 5:13 For until the law sin was in the world: but sin was not imputed, when the law was not.

Romans 5:14 But death reigned from Adam unto Moses, even over them also who have not sinned, after the similitude of the transgression of Adam, who is a figure of him who was to come.

Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also the gift. For if by the offence of one, many died: much more the grace of God and the gift, by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "world", "until", and "imputed". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "world" and "until", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "Wherefore as by one man sin entered..." into verse 14's "But death reigned from Adam unto Moses...", so "world" and "until" 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 "world" and "until" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.