Romans 5:18 (LSB)

Passage

So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

Nearby Context

Romans 5:16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the gracious gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.

Romans 5:17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

Romans 5:19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were appointed sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be appointed righteous.

Romans 5:20 Now the Law came in so that the transgression would increase, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "condemn", "through", "transgression", "resulted", "condemnation", "even", and "righteousness". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "condemn" and "through", 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 transgression of the..." into verse 19's "For as through the one man s...", so "condemn" and "through" 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 "through" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.