Paragraph 5:15–17

5:15a

But the gift is not like the trespass: The Greek is more literally “but not as the trespass so also the gift.” The word is is implied from the Greek grammar. For example:

But not as the offence, so also [is] the free gift (King James Version)
-or-
But also the gift is indeed not like the trespass

the gift: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gift refers to salvation or reconciliation (5:8–11). The opportunity to be saved and reconciled to God is given to us for free. We cannot earn that opportunity.

In some languages what the gift is must be explained. For example:

the gift ⌊of salvation/reconciliation⌋
-or-
the gift ⌊of Jesus saving/reconciling us⌋

trespass: This word in Greek generally refers to falling because you did something wrong. Here it has a more figurative sense and means “a violation of moral standards.” Here are other ways to translate this word:

failure (God’s Word)
-or-
wrongdoing (Revised English Bible)

This word is similar in meaning to “sin” here. In some languages “sin” is the best translation of this word. For example:

sin (Good News Translation)

5:15b

For: This word introduces an explanation of how the gift is not like the trespass (5:15a).

if the many died by the trespass of the one man: Here the word if introduces a situation that is true. If this first part is true, that supports the second part (“how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many!”) (5:15c) to also be true.

Here the word if does not indicate that the many died by the trespass of the one man might not be true. In some languages a literal translation would indicate this incorrect meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

consider this: many died through one man’s trespass, therefore
-or-
it is true that many died through one man’s trespass, therefore
-or-
many died through one man’s trespass, therefore

the many: Here this phrase refers to a large number of people. Here it refers to “all men” (5:12c). For that reason, many English versions translate the article as well, as the Berean Standard Bible does. Other translations do not translate the article. For example:

many (English Standard Version)

by the trespass of the one man: The word by indicates that Adam’s sin caused sin to enter the world and so all people sin and therefore die (5:12). Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

because of the sin of that one man (Good News Translation)
-or-
the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

From the transgression of that one person, all mankind die.

5:15c

how much more did God’s grace and the gift…abound to the many!: Here are other ways to translate this clause:

much more did the grace of God and the gift…abound to the many (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
But God’s grace is much greater, and so is his free gift to so many people (Good News Translation)
-or-
the grace of God and the gift…have had a much greater effect

how much more: This phrase is emphasized in the Greek and the Berean Standard Bible. In some languages the meaning is more clear by not emphasizing this phrase. For example:

the grace of God and the free gift…have abounded for many ⌊people⌋ much more

This phrase emphasizes what follows. See how you translated this phrase in 5:9–10.

abound: This word refers to having much of something, even having more than enough. Believers have no lack of the grace of God and the free gift of Jesus Christ. Here are other ways to translate this Greek word:

overflow (New International Version)
-or-
been given fully

the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ: The word by indicates that the grace of Jesus caused the free gift to be available to all people. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ (New International Version)
-or-
the gift given through the kindness of one person, Jesus Christ (God’s Word)

the gift: The word here in Greek is a different word than “gift” in 5:15a. Probably “the grace of God” and the gift are parts of “the gift” of 5:15a. Some scholars think the Greek word here refers to the Holy Spirit, but others think it refers to something else. You should not say what the gift is here.

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