Romans 5:12-19

Ancient Lens

What can we learn from the historical context?

All are Unrighteous

By the time you get to chapter five of Paul’s letter to the Romans, you’ve heard the argument build: we are unrighteous. It is by no means all Paul writes about, but throughout the early chapters he argues that the Gentiles are unrighteous. For many in his audience, that would require no argument, but he moves on to say that the Jews, as well, are unrighteous. This likely would’ve caused a stir among his Jewish readers, for if not them, who was righteous? They were the carriers of the law that was given to them by Moses, who received it from God? Surely the observers of the law were not included. But Paul leaves no room for…