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Adam and Christ—Sin and Grace[a]

12 Humanity’s Sin through Adam. Therefore, sin entered the world as the result of one man, and death[b] as a result of sin, and thus death has afflicted the entire human race inasmuch as everyone has sinned. 13 Sin was already in the world before there was any Law, even though sin is not reckoned when there is no Law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned over all from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned by disobeying a command, as did Adam who prefigured the one who was to come.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 5:12 The religious history of humanity is here summarized in an incisive synthesis. We should keep our gaze fixed on the luminous heights to which Paul wants to lead us: his vision points to life, grace, and the salvation given in Christ Jesus. The vision is all the more fascinating in that it stands out against the dark background of sin and death.
  2. Romans 5:12 Death: physical death is the penalty for sin as well as the symbol of spiritual death, the ultimate separation of a human being from God. Inasmuch as everyone has sinned: we start life with a sinful nature (see Gen 8:21; Pss 51:7; 58:4; Eph 2:3).