Romans 5:20 (KJV)

Passage

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Nearby Context

Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

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

Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Romans 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "grace", "moreover", "entered", "offence", "might", "abound", "where", and "abounded". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "grace" and "moreover", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "For as by one man s disobedience..." into verse 21's "That as sin hath reigned unto death...", so "grace" and "moreover" 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 "grace" and "moreover" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.