Romans 5:21 (DRB)

Passage

That as sin hath reigned to death: so also grace might reign by justice unto life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Nearby Context

Romans 5:19 For as by the disobedience of one man, many were made sinners: so also by the obedience of one, many shall be made just.

Romans 5:20 Now the law entered in that sin might abound. And where sin abounded, grace did more abound.

Romans 5:21 That as sin hath reigned to death: so also grace might reign by justice unto life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "grace", "hath", "reigned", "death", "might", "justice", and "life". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "grace" and "hath", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "Now the law entered in that sin...", giving immediate footing for "grace" and "hath". 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 "hath" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.