Commentaries:
Adam Clarke
But not as the offense, so also is the free gift - The same learned writer, quoted above, continues to observe: -
\ri720 "It is evident that the apostle, in this and the two following verses, is running a parallel, or making a comparison between the offense of Adam and its consequence; and the opposite gift of God and its consequences. And, in these three verses, he shows that the comparison will not hold good in all respects, because the free gift, , bestows blessings far beyond the consequences of the offense, and which, therefore, have no relation to it. And this was necessary, not only to prevent mistakes concerning the consequence of Adam' s offense, and the extent of Gospel grace; but it was also necessary to the apostle' s main design, which was not only to Proverbs that the grace of the Gospel extends to all men, so far as it takes off the consequence of Adam' s offense, (i.e. death, without the promise or probability of a resurrection), but that it likewise extends to all men, with respect to the surplusage of blessings, in which it stretches far beyond the consequence of Adam' s offense. For, the grace that takes off the consequence of Adam' s offense, and the grace which abounds beyond it, are both included in the same , or free gift, which should be well observed; for in this, I conceive, lie the connection and sinews of the argument: the free gift, which stands opposed to Adam' s offense, and which, I think, was bestowed immediately after the offense; Genesis 3:15 : The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent' s head. This gift, I say, includes both the grace which exactly answers to the offense, and is that part of the grace which stretches far beyond it. And, if the one part of the gift be freely bestowed on all mankind, as the Jews allow, why not the other? especially, considering that the whole gift stands upon a reason and foundation in excellence and worth, vastly surpassing the malignity and demerit of the offense; and, consequently, capable of producing benefits vastly beyond the sufferings occasioned by the offense. This is the force of the apostle' s argument; and therefore, supposing that in the 18th and l9th verses, literally understood, he compares the consequence of Adam' s offense and Christ' s obedience, only so far as the one is commensurate to the other, yet his reasoning, Romans 5:15-17, plainly shows that it is his meaning and intention that we should take into his conclusion the whole of the gift, so far as it can reach, to all mankind."
For if, through the offense of one, many be dead - That the ̔ , the many of the apostle here means all mankind needs no proof to any but that person who finds himself qualified to deny that all men are mortal. And if the many, that is, all mankind, have died through the offense of one; certainly, the gift by grace, which abounds unto , the many, by Christ Jesus, must have reference to every human being. If the consequences of Christ' s incarnation and death extend only to a few, or a select number of mankind - which, though they may be considered many in themselves, are few in comparison of the whole human race - then the consequences of Adam' s sin have extended only to a few, or to the same select number: and if only many, and not all have fallen, only that many had need of a Redeemer. For it is most evident that the same persons are referred to in both clauses of the verse. If the apostle had believed that the benefits of the death of Christ had extended only to a select number of mankind, he never could have used the language he has done here: though, in the first clause, he might have said, without any qualification of the term, Through the offense of one, Many are dead; in the 2nd clause, to be consistent with the doctrine of particular redemption, he must have said, The grace of God, and the gift by grace, hath abounded unto Some. As by the offense of one judgment came upon All men to condemnation; so, by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon Some to justification, Romans 5:18. As, by one man' s disobedience, Many were made sinners; so, by the obedience of one, shall Some be made righteous, Romans 5:19. As in Adam All die; so, in Christ, shall Some be made alive, I Corinthians 15:22. But neither the doctrine nor the thing ever entered the soul of this divinely inspired man.
Hath abounded unto many - That is, Christ Jesus died for every man; salvation is free for all; saving grace is tendered to every soul; and a measure of the Divine light is actually communicated to every heart, John 1:9. And, as the grace is offered, so it may be received; and hence the apostle says, Romans 5:17 : They which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by Christ Jesus: and by receiving is undoubtedly meant not only the act of receiving, but retaining and improving the grace which they receive; and, as all may receive, so All may improve and retain the grace they do receive; and, consequently, All may be eternally saved. But of multitudes Christ still may say, They Will not come unto me, that they might have life.
Other Adam Clarke entries containing Romans 5:15:
Isaiah 53:12
John 1:17
Romans 1:7
Romans 5:12
Romans 5:12
Romans 5:15
Romans 5:17
Romans 5:17
Romans 5:17
Romans 5:17
Romans 5:21
Romans 11:12
1 Corinthians 15:49
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