The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

The consequent and effect [Greek or Hebrew] of the offence, the fall, is, that many be dead. No more is here intended by ⟨p. 473⟩many, but only that the effects of that one offence were not confined unto one: And if we inquire who, or how many those many are, the Apostle tells us, that they are all Men universally, that is, all the posterity of Adam. By this one offence, because they all sinned, therein they are all dead; that is, rendered obnoxious and liable unto death, as the punishment due unto that one offence. And hence also it appears, how vain it is to wrest those words of Ver. 12. In as much as all have sinned, unto any other sin, but the first sin in Adam; seeing it is given as the reason why death passed on them, it being here plainly affirmed, That they are dead, or that death passed on them by that one offence.

The consequent and effect 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 of the offence, the fall, is, that many be dead. No more is here intended by ⟨p. 473⟩many, but only that the effects of that one offence were not confined unto one: And if we inquire who, or how many those many are, the Apostle tells us, that they are all Men universally, that is, all the posterity of Adam. By this one offence, because they all sinned, therein they are all dead; that is, rendered obnoxious and liable unto death, as the punishment due unto that one offence. And hence also it appears, how vain it is to wrest those words of Ver. 12. In as much as all have sinned, unto any other sin, but the first sin in Adam; seeing it is given as the reason why death passed on them, it being here plainly affirmed, That they are dead, or that death passed on them by that one offence.

The efficacy [Greek or Hebrew] of the free gift opposed hereunto, is expressed, as that which abounded much more. Besides the thing it self asserted, which is plain and evident, the Apostle seems to me to argue the equity of our Justification by Grace, through the obedience of Christ, by comparing it with the condemnation that befell us by the sin and disobedience of Adam. For if it were just, meet, and equal that all Men should be made subject unto condemnation for the sin of Adam; it is much more so, that those who believe, should be justified by the obedience of Christ, through the grace and free donation of God. But wherein, in particular the gift by Grace, abounded unto many, above the efficacy of the fall to condemn, he declares afterwards. And, that whereby we are freed from condemnation, more eminently then we are made obnoxious unto it by the fall and sin of Adam, by that alone we are justified before God. But this is by the grace of God, and the gift by Grace, through Jesus Christ alone; which we plead for Ver. 16. Another difference between the comparates is expressed, or rather the instance is given in particular of the dissimilitude asserted in general before.