For several verses Paul has been discussing the analogy and contrast between Adam and Christ. Adam brought sin into the world and so was responsible for the fall of mankind; Christ brought righteousness into the world and so made possible the redemption of mankind. Where, then, in this process does the Law fit in? Paul chooses a rather strong verb that shows dramatically the subordinate role of the Law in God’s purpose. Paul says it was introduced into a situation created by sin. The New English Bible translates the verb was introduced as “intruded”; while Moffatt and An American Translation* render it by “slipped in” (in Galatians 2.4 the Good News Bible renders this verb as slipped in). The word is specifically chosen in order to demonstrate that the Law has an inferior status and was added later. The Law was not given until the time of Moses, and it came to an end with Christ (see 4.13-16; 9.4). Paul states that the reason that the Law was introduced was in order to increase wrongdoing. The meaning of this statement is best discussed in connection with the following chapters, especially in connection with chapter 7. The Law increases wrongdoing both by indicating what wrongdoing is and by stirring up within persons the desire to rebel against the commands given in the Law. The Law did fulfill its function—it did increase wrongdoing—but God’s grace increased much more.

The passive expression law was introduced may need to be transformed into an active in some languages—for example, “God introduced the law,” “God brought the law in,” “God caused the law to come in,” or “God caused the law to be given.”

To increase wrongdoing may only be rendered in some languages as “in order to cause people to do wrong more.” The final half of verse 20 may then be translated as “but when people sinned more, God’s showing grace became more and more.” Though the clause where sin increased seems to be an expression of place, it is essentially an expression of time and therefore may be more appropriately rendered as “when sin increased” or “when people sinned more.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .