Romans 5:16 (GNV)

Passage

Neither is the gift so, as that which entred in by one that sinned: for the fault came of one offence vnto condemnation: but the gift is of many offences to iustification.

Nearby Context

Romans 5:14 But death reigned from Adam to Moses, euen ouer them also that sinned not after the like maner of that transgression of Adam, which was the figure of him that was to come.

Romans 5:15 But yet the gift is not so, as is the offence: for if through the offence of that one, many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man Iesus Christ, hath abounded vnto many.

Romans 5:16 Neither is the gift so, as that which entred in by one that sinned: for the fault came of one offence vnto condemnation: but the gift is of many offences to iustification.

Romans 5:17 For if by the offence of one, death reigned through one, much more shall they which receiue that abundance of grace, and of that gift of that righteousnesse, reigne in life through one, that is, Iesus Christ.

Romans 5:18 Likewise then as by the offence of one, the fault came on all men to condemnation, so by the iustifying of one, the benefite abounded toward all men to the iustification of life.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "condemn", "neither", "gift", "entred", "sinned", "fault", "came", and "offence". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "condemn" and "neither", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "But yet the gift is not so..." into verse 17's "For if by the offence of one...", so "condemn" and "neither" 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 "neither" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.