Romans 5:19 (LSB)

Passage

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.

Nearby Context

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,

Romans 5:21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "through", "disobedience", "appointed", "sinners", and "even". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "through" and "disobedience", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 18's "So then as through one transgression there..." into verse 20's "Now the Law came in so that...", so "through" and "disobedience" 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 "through" and "disobedience" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.