Adam, sin, and death in Second Temple writings (5:12–14)

Says "Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin" (5:12, BSB): εἰς τὸν κόσμον εἰσῆλθεν. Adam "is a pattern of the One to come" (5:14).

Non-canonical Jewish writings also traced death to the beginning. Wisdom says God created man for incorruption, but φθόνῳ δὲ διαβόλου θάνατος εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν κόσμον, "through the devil's envy death entered the world" (Wis 2:23–24). Sirach traces sin to a woman, usually taken as Eve: "from a woman sin had its beginning, and because of her we all die" (Sir 25:24). In the Life of Adam and Eve, Adam says, "A great plague hast thou brought upon us, transgression and sin for all our generations" (Vita 44:2).

Two non-canonical apocalypses, usually dated after AD 70, differ. 4 Ezra: "the first Adam, clothing himself with the evil heart, transgressed and was overcome; and likewise also all who were born of him" (3:21); "the fall was not thine alone, but ours also who are thy descendants!" (7:118). 2 Baruch: Adam "brought untimely death upon all," yet "each of us has been the Adam of his own soul" (54:15, 19).

Implies Sin, death, and condemnation came to all humanity through Adam's one trespass, and righteousness and life come to those in Christ through his one act of obedience (5:12, 15–19).

How Adam's sin reaches all is treated in the reception note and at note.language.Rom.5.12.eph-ho.

Uncertain Whether Paul echoes Wis 2:24 in particular, or both draw independently on Gen 2–3, is uncertain.