Romans 5:21 (WEB)

Passage

that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Nearby Context

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

Romans 5:20 The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly;

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

Study Lenses

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

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