5:14a
Nevertheless: This word indicates that 5:14a contrasts with 5:13b. For example:
But (Good News Translation)
death reigned: This clause speaks of death as if it were a person. It indicates that all the people who lived between Adam and Moses died, because they all sinned. Some languages can translate the figure of speech literally and people will understand the correct meaning. For example:
death ruled (Good News Translation)
But some languages must translate the meaning of the figure of speech. For example:
death still had power over all who lived (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
everyone had to die (New Century Version)
5:14b
even over those who did not sin in the way that Adam transgressed: God told Adam to not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam disobeyed God and later died as a result. Everyone else after Adam also died, even those who did not disobey God in the way Adam did. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam (New International Version)
-or-
even over those who did not sin in the same way that Adam did when he disobeyed God’s command (Good News Translation)
even over: Here the word even indicates that Paul included people who sinned in ways that were different than Adam’s sin. Here are other ways to translate this word:
including
-or-
as well as
sin: This word in Greek refers to doing something wrong or bad. It is a more general word than “transgression.”
transgressed: This word in Greek refers to breaking a law, rule, or command. See the examples above.
5:14c
He is a pattern of the One to come: The phrase He is a pattern of the One to come refers to Jesus. The word pattern indicates here that Adam did something that was like Jesus: they both did something that affected all people. But their deeds were very different. Adam introduced sin and death. Jesus introduced salvation. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
who was a type of the one who was to come (English Standard Version)
-or-
he is like a picture/shadow of the man/person who was to come ⌊later⌋
-or-
he is like the one who came later in one way
You should avoid translations that indicate that Adam was generally like or the same as Jesus.
He is a pattern: This clause tells the reader more about Adam. It does not separate this Adam from other Adams.
is a pattern: The Greek verb has the present tense ending and so means is. It indicates that this statement is true then and now. Consider how to translate that meaning.
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