Paragraph 5:18–19
5:18a–b
just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men: The phrases just as and so also indicate that the second clause is similar to the first clause in some way. Both clauses talk of one deed that affects all people. Here are other ways to translate that meaning:
as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men (English Standard Version)
-or-
as the one sin condemned all people, in the same way the one righteous act sets all people free and gives them life (Good News Translation)
5:18a
one trespass brought condemnation for all men: The Greek is literally “through one trespass to/for all men to/for condemnation.” For natural English a verb must be used. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
condemnation for all people came through one transgression (NET Bible)
-or-
the one sin condemned all people (Good News Translation)
one trespass: Translate this phrase as you did in 5:16, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “one sin.”
all men: Here the word men refers to all people, men and women. See the examples above.
5:18b
one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men: The Greek is literally “through one act of righteousness to/for all men to/for justification and life.” For natural English a verb must be used. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
through the one righteous act came righteousness leading to life for all people (NET Bible)
-or-
the one righteous act sets all people free and gives them life (Good News Translation)
justification: This word indicates that God decides that a person is acceptable to him. When people believe that Jesus died for their sins, God forgives them, accepts them, and considers them as righteous. See how you translated this word in 4:25.
life: Here this word implies eternal life and life in God while here on earth.
all men: Here the word men refers to all people, men and women.
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