language · Rom 5:15; Rom 5:16; Rom 5:17; Rom 5:18; Rom 5:19 · ✓ Approved

τὸ χάρισμα … δι᾽ ἑνὸς δικαιώματος … δίκαιοι κατασταθήσονται (5:15–19)

Says The gift is not like the trespass: χάρισμα (charisma, "a free gift," Abbott-Smith) and δωρεά answer τὸ παράπτωμα (lex.G3900). The judgment led εἰς κατάκριμα (katakrima, "condemnation"), the gift εἰς δικαίωμα, a sentence of acquittal (5:16; lex.G1345). Those who receive τῆς δωρεᾶς τῆς δικαιοσύνης will reign in life (5:17).

Uncertain δι᾽ ἑνὸς δικαιώματος (5:18). This note leans to "one act of righteousness" (BSB): 5:19 restates it as τῆς ὑπακοῆς τοῦ ἑνός. The alternative, "one verdict," keeps the sense of 5:16.

Uncertain ἁμαρτωλοὶ κατεστάθησαν (katestathēsan, "were made sinners," 5:19a). This note leans to forensic: constituted sinners by Adam's disobedience (παρακοή) counted to them, federal headship with immediate imputation (WCF 6.3, by reference). Grounds: καθίστημι is "appoint, make, constitute" (Abbott-Smith), and the parallel with κατάκριμα (5:16, 18). Alternatives: realism, all sinning in Adam as present in him (ground: aorist ἥμαρτον, 5:12); mediate imputation, guilt reckoned through inherited corruption (ground: 5:12 read as personal sinning).

Implies δίκαιοι κατασταθήσονται (dikaioi katastathēsontai, "will be made righteous," 5:19b) is forensic: constituted righteous by Christ's obedience counted to them, the δικαίωσις of 5:18, not an infused quality (note.exegetical.Rom.1.17.imputation; note.exegetical.Rom.4.3-Rom.4.8.crediting-righteousness).

Implies "All" (5:18) and "the many" (5:19) do not teach universal salvation: 5:17 limits life to οἱ … λαμβάνοντες, "those who receive." Universalist readings take 5:18 apart from 5:17.

Claims

SaysThe free gift is not like the trespass: judgment led to condemnation, the gift to a sentence of acquittal, and those who receive the gift of righteousness will reign in life (5:15–17).
UncertainWhether δι᾽ ἑνὸς δικαιώματος in 5:18 is 'one act of righteousness' (lean; 5:19 τῆς ὑπακοῆς τοῦ ἑνός) or 'one verdict' (alternative; the sense of 5:16).
UncertainWhether 'were made sinners' (5:19a) is forensic, Adam's disobedience counted to all by federal headship with immediate imputation (lean; καθίστημι 'appoint, constitute'; the parallel with κατάκριμα; WCF 6.3), or by realism (alternative; all sinning in Adam, aorist ἥμαρτον in 5:12), or by mediate imputation, guilt reckoned through inherited corruption (alternative; 5:12 as personal sinning).
Implies'Will be made righteous' (5:19b) is forensic: constituted righteous by Christ's obedience counted to them, not an infused quality (5:18; Rom 1:17; 4:3–8).
Implies'All' and 'the many' (5:18–19) do not teach universal salvation, since 5:17 limits life to those who receive the gift.

Citations

Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. χάρισμα (Ro 5:15-16) — a gift of grace, a free gift
Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. καθίστημι (pass., Ro 5:19) — to set in order, appoint, make, constitute
Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. κατάκριμα (Ro 5:16, 18)
BSB public domain Rom 5:15-19
WCF public domain 6.3 (by reference)
Hodge, Romans public domain on Rom 5:12-21 (by reference; not checked)
🔒︎ Murray, Romans (NICNT) Copyrighted on Rom 5:12-21 (by reference; not checked)

Sources SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Abbott-Smith public domain BSB public domain WCF public domain Hodge, Romans public domain 🔒︎ Murray, Romans (NICNT) Copyrighted Bible Scholarship & Tool CC BY 4.0

2026-10-30

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