#28. Romans 5:19 - Elaborating on the Consequence, Part 1 (Conciliation Series, Part IX)

Part IV: God’s Conciliation, Confirmed

For even as, through the disobedience of the one man, the many were constituted sinners, thus also, through the obedience of the One, the many shall be constituted just.

You know something I’ve never done before?

You’re going to laugh at this, I know.

I’ve never… tried to truly pronounce any of these Greek words. You know? I just study them in English, stick to the elements of each word, when directly translated into English. What I realized is that I don’t think I’ve ever properly defined the elements of a Greek word. So, I’ll try and explain this briefly. The Greek element of a word could either be one, two, or three words (in rare cases, the word has four elements, such as “Firstborn = BEFORE-MOST-BROUGHT-FORTH.”) The elements of a word combine the word, along with any suffix or prefix that a word may have. As we’ve been tackling the suffix “-ma” over the past few chapters, I’ll use that as my example here. The suffix “-ma,” as we know, denotes an effect of something. As such, as we’ve read, most of the Greek elements of words including this suffix contain two Greek elements (“Judgment = kri-ma = JUDGMENT-EFFECT.”) Now, I’d like to focus on the first three words of this sentence, so that we have a clearer understanding of the direction this verse takes. Here are the literal translated words, with their Greek elements:

-       “For” = gar (sounds like the beginning of “Garfield,” but you have to trill the ‘r’ sound.) Greek element: SURELY-CONSEQUENTLY

-       “Even as” = hosper (sounds like hose-pair.) Greek element: AS-EVEN

Interesting. Why do I want to dwell on “for,” here? Because, if you notice throughout your study of the Greek New Testament, there are many uses of the word “into” or “instead” or “through.” These are little connectives that are simply given the translation “for” in the CLNT (the most accurate Scriptural translation from Greek to English.) Now, the CLNT makes note of this compromise. For example, in Romans 3:22, the words “for all who are believing” are used in the CLNT. The Greek, however, says “INTO ALL THE ONES-BELIEVING.” As such, the CLNT includes the tiny letters “io” in front of the word “for,” so as to indicate the original Greek word.

It follows, then: the use of “for” at the beginning of this sentence did not have any tiny notations, indicating that this is the word gar in its base form. The word gar can be split into two particles: the g and the ar. The g is the “SURELY” side of the word, while the ar is the “CONSEQUENTLY” side.

Notice how the word becomes stronger than the initial word that kicked off 5:18? 5:18 began with, “Consequently, then…” whereas this statement indicates that we are elaborating on the conclusion of the previous verse. The statement given is not going to be repeating the previous verse, as some commentators may presume, but shows us that we are dealing with an even greater consequence than “condemnation” and “life’s justifying.”

This leads to an extra wonderful layer of this verse to consider. In 5:18, we considered the contrast and exact parallel between the first half of the verse and the second half. Here, we will do the same, per the words “even as” indicating that this is an exact parallel, but we will also consider the expansion between this verse and the previous one, because Paul would not repeat the same idea twice for no reason (Psalm 12:6.) Misunderstanding this verse is iiiiiinssaaaaaannee when you consider just the careful foundation that Paul has laid in the previous six verses. This verse is already beautiful on its own, but to have the bulk of Romans 5 backing it up?? Hell yes! The verse goes from beautiful to otherworldly in power and love for such wretched creatures as we (Rom. 3:10-18.)

One brief breakdown, and then I’ll really get into it: this is now the fifth point in the seven points Paul has been making throughout this section. This is his third comparison between Adam, soilish man’s actions, and Christ, celestial Man’s actions. In this third comparison, Paul introduces four new concepts:

1)    The disobedience of the one man

2)    The obedience of the One

3)    Constituting “the many” sinners

4)    Constituting “the many” just

We will take these one by one.

First, let’s deal with disobedience. Literally, this is “BESIDE-HEARING,” or, someone listening to a voice beside your own. It’s a good way of summarizing that this is a complete sin, or offense, or transgression. Clearly, Adam had heard a voice, and did obey something. What did he obey? Observe Genesis 3:17:

“And to Adam [Yahweh Elohim] said: Because you have hearkened to your wife’s voice and ate from the only tree that I instructed you, saying you must not eat from it, Cursed is the ground on your account; In grief shall you eat of it all the days of your life.”

Adam hears… his wife. 

Take that, feminists!

…That was a joke (it meant nothing, Marsha Knotts!) Make whatever relative connections you may, but the point God is ultimately concluding here is that Adam adhered to a voice other than His own. The word is the opposite of “obedience,” which is “UNDER-HEARING,” giving us a nice idea of “subjection” or “reverence.”

Many claim that God was “provoked” by Adam. Like, poking the bear or something. But is this what Romans 5:19 conveys? Moreover, is it what Genesis 3 conveys? Seems more like Adam certainly knew better, but revolts against God, in disobedience. This is not provocation, to “give rise” to God’s anger, to “test” Him or something, but to completely ignore His word in favor of the creature (Rom. 1:25.) It’s a prime example of God’s issue with man, rooted in His sin (Rom. 1:18,) and, literally speaking, there’s nothing worse that man could do than completely ignore Him (consider that every horrific event to transpire would not have transpired if Adam had not eaten of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, because… well, now humanity understands both, and are dying.)

Both the curse of knowledge and curse of death are now embedded in man, thanks to one act of disobedience against Him. Through Adam, “the many” are constituted sinners. He is the sole figure through whom all now suffer. As I’ve said before, God does not account us to be the cause of our own sin, but the death working in us, inherent thanks to Adam. No one said that our sin is the cause of our own death, but that our death is the cause of our sin. No one intends to go against Paul’s evangel like this, I’m sure, but it does happen and unfortunately it bars many from apprehending the rest of Scripture. There’s nothing Jesus said to Israel that can detract from the all-encompassing statement Paul gives (Col. 1:23.) For even as we share in Adam’s disobedience, thus also we may share in Christ’s obedience.

Do you see how simple this is? People will say, “we need to rationalize this to account for the individual sins that, to me, are much worse than Adam’s initial disobedience.” Some may even call God “harsh” in giving Adam such a penalty. Yet, I will say two things: first, show me the verse where God says, “I will not be inflicting punishment on sin!”

Oh, you can’t find it? That’s what I thought. Seems like there are plenty of verses (including Rom. 1:18-3:20,) in which God makes His righteous indignation clear! He says that life is in the process of being justified (Rom. 5:18,) not that it automatically has been justified and all transgression is now forgotten, that we may do whatever we please. This “rationalization” is actually irrational in that it assumes that this verse is abandoning the whole “Judgment Day” and “indignation” found in the Unveiling at the end of Scripture. This verse does not abandon those things; they will still occur.

This leads me to my second point: where does God say that He is eternally punishing those that disagree with Him? See, this is another “rationalization” that people use to ignore the verse as is, and limit it based on their view of Scripture, as opposed to what Scripture says. The word commonly translated “eternal” or “everlasting” or “forever” in the KJV or other popular translations is, in Greek, the word aion. When directly translated, this word is “UN-IF-BEING.” This, ladies and gentlemen, is an “eon.” From a simple human perspective, time is “ever-being.” It marches on. This word “eon,” when translated properly, clearly has a beginning (Heb. 1:2, 1 Cor. 2:7, 2 Tim. 1:9,) and an end (Heb. 9:26, 1 Cor. 10:11, Matt. 24:3.) All this to say that everything results in what Paul is saying here.  There’s a beautiful, intimate process that God is working to effect the goal that we’ve been discussing (as we read in Romans 5:15-17.) But don’t tell me that there is any news greater than this found in anywhere else. No Israelite book about punishment, or church pastor can take this away. This is greater than hope. This is an expectation. This is something we need not worry about; it will occur, because God follows through on His promises, unlike man. We can just… rest in this. Appreciate it, in its magnificent beauty. What a glorious conclusion!

The many are constituted sinners. “Well, if death is what is transmitted, why aren’t we constituted dyers?” I dunno. That’s the only silly question I could come up with that could attempt to detract from this somehow. The many are “constituted sinners.” The verse doesn’t continue with, “oh, well, they are constituted sinners because they replicated Adam’s sin!” This is an assumption, based on our logic. Did God ask you to make an assumption? I thought He asked us not to be disposed above what is written (1 Cor. 4:6?)

Here’s some “logic” for you. The word “sinners” is hamartolos, is an adjective, and is used in a “nominative plural masculine” tense. A “nominative” subject must correlate in number with the verb of a statement. Here, the subject is “the many,” and correlates with “constituted,” the verb. This word here describes “the many.” Thus we know that “the many” are “constituted” “sinners.” Sound reasonable enough, or is your logic too good for the sentence?

We are constituted sinners, then, before we ever “sin.” It’s something you automatically receive, in effect of being condemned to death in Adam (Rom. 5:18.) This is not merely an individual act, but a state of being for us humans. It’s hereditary. Inescapable. Here’s Job 14:4:

“Who can make what is clean from the unclean?

No one.”

It’s been transmitted. Simple biological science can show us, clearly, that our personality, physical attributes, mental skills, and so on, are hereditary. So also the sin is passed through us as a result of death being hereditary. Not one thing has caused us, in the flesh, to stop sinning, because not one thing has removed us from the penalty of death. We are constituted (“appointed,”) sinners, because of the one man. The first human has transmitted this wretched disease down, generation after generation, and not one of us could have done it any better. The flesh is weak, the spirit is breath of life.

Yet, as I said before, this is not a hopeless situation, thanks to Christ. “Thus also,” we have yet another perfect parallel that takes us out of our mindset, and into His. We are made in His Image (Gen. 1:27.) His Firstborn has us, by His grace. He planned sin’s entrance ahead of time, and already had an antidote ready (1 Pet. 1:20, Rev. 13:8.) Why would He do this? To teach us (Ecc. 1:13.) We would not be able to comprehend such a powerful Deity if we did not first experience sin, its failure, and most importantly, the horrific reality of being a sinner – to have sin working in you, in your relationships, in your thoughts, in your actions, in your life. To be a failure first is the only way to recognize the True.

- GerudoKing