Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Romans 5

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

faith

Faith. Rom 10:4, 6, 8-10, 17. (Gen 3:20; Heb 11:39.)

Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

By

through.

have access

have had our access.

Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

love of God

Law (of Christ). Rom 13:8, 10. (Gal 6:2; 2Jo 1:5).

Holy Ghost

Holy Spirit (N.T.). Rom 8:1-27. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

Rom 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

righteous

Righteousness. Rom 5:1, 19. See Scofield Romans 10:10, note.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

love

own.

Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

justified

Justification. Rom 5:1, 9; 8:30, 33. (Luk 18:14; Rom 3:28).

we shall be saved

Sacrifice (of Christ). Rom 5:1, 9; 1Co 5:7. (Gen 4:4; Heb 10:18.)

Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

reconciled

See Rom 5:10-11; 2Co 5:18-20; Col 1:21.

by his life

in his life. Jhn 14:19; Col 3:3-4.

Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

atonement

reconciliation. See Rom 5:10, refs. [above]

Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Wherefore

The "wherefore" relates back to Romans 3:19-23 and may be regarded as a continuation of the discussion of the universality of sin, interrupted; Romans 3:24-5:11; by the passage on justification and its results.

have sinned

The first sin wrought the moral ruin of the race. The demonstration is simple.

1. Death is universal (Rom 4:12, 14), all die: sinless infants, moral people, religious people, equally with the depraved. For a universal effect there must be a universal cause; that cause is a state of universal sin (Rom 5:12).
2. But this universal state must have had a cause. It did. The consequence of Adam's sin was that "the many were made sinners" (Rom 5:19)—"By the offence of one judgment came upon all men unto condemnation" (Rom 5:18).
3. Personal sins are not meant here. From Adam to Moses death reigned (Rom 5:14), although, there being no law, personal guilt was not imputed (Rom 5:13). Accordingly, from Gen 4:7 to Exo 29:14 the sin-offering is not once mentioned. Then, since physical death from Adam to Moses was not due to the sinful acts of those who die (Rom 5:13), it follows that it was due to a universal sinful state, or nature, and that state is declared to be out inheritance from Adam.
4. The moral state of fallen man is described in Scripture (Gen 6:5; 1Ki 8:46; Psa 14:1-3; 39:5; Jer 17:9; Mat 18:11; Mar 7:20, 23; Rom 1:21; 2:1-29; 3:9-19; 7:24; 8:7; Jhn 3:6; 1Co 2:14; 2Co 3:14; 4:4; Gal 5:19-21; Eph 2:1-3, 11-12; 4:18-22; Col 1:21; Heb 3:13; Jas 4:14). See Scofield 1Co 15:22.

Rom 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

imputed

Imputation. Rom 6:11. (Lev 25:50; Jas 2:23.)

Rom 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

death reigned

Death (physical). 1Co 15:22-23. (Gen 3:19; Heb 9:27.)

from Adam

Broadly, the contrast is: Adam: sin, death; Christ: righteousness, life. Adam drew down into his ruin the old creation (Rom 8:19-22) of which he was lord and head. Christ brings into moral unity with God, and into eternal life, the new creation of which He is Lord and Head (Eph 1:22-23). Even the animal and material creation, cursed for man's sake (Gen 3:17), will be delivered by Christ (Isa 11:6-9; Rom 8:19-22).

Rom 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

one many be dead

the one the many died.

Rom 5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

offences [See also Rom 5:17-19.]

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

Rom 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

righteousness

Righteousness. Romans 5:17-18, 21. See Scofield Romans 3:21, note.

Rom 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.

justification

Rom 5:15-18; Isa 53:11.

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

law

Law (of Moses). Rom 6:14-15. (Exo 19:1; Gal 3:1-29).

entered

came in by the way.

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

sin

"Sin" in Rom 6; 7 is the nature in distinction from "sins," which are manifestations of that nature. Cf. 1Jo 1:8 with 1Jo 1:10, where this distinction also appears.

grace

Grace (in salvation). Rom 5:2, 15-21; 11:5-6. (Rom 3:24; Scofield John 1:16, note.)

eternal life

Life (eternal). Rom 5:10-21; 6:4, 22-23. (Mat 7:14; Rev 22:19.)