Another “how much more” is coming up. The intent is to point us to the uniqueness and greatness of Christ. The “therefore” here links us back to the point that our boast is solely in Christ alone. Jesus is set up as one, crucial man in comparison to the previous man, Adam. The point is going to be that if sin and death came through one man, Adam, so much more, life comes through one man, Christ (v12).
However, first of all, Paul expands on the point that sin brought death to all people. Hee wants to show that the consequences of sin are experienced by all, not just those under the law (Jews/The circumcised). We know that sin was present in the world, even before the Law was given, because Adam had sinned. Sin is not just about failure to conform to the law given in the Torah. However, the Law sets out the penalty, the consequences for our sin. So, those living before the Law cannot be said to have been charged under it (v13). However, the penalty of sin was experienced by all because all died. This points to all living under the consequences of Adam’s sin. We might even say that his disobedience was imputed to all those who lived after him, People had not broken specific rules but they still came under the penalty of Adam’s sin (v14).
There is much to discuss, theologically here, Note, that at this stage, Paul doesn’t talk about us sinning in Adam, although I consider that idea of original sin and federal headship to be a reasonable conclusion from the New Testament and Paul’s wider teaching. (see especially 1 Corintihans 15). We did sin, in Adam and so die in him. We are justified in Christ and so are raised to life with and in Him. The focus here though is more on what we might call “original death” and this is the root of the idea of Total Depravity. We all died, in Adam. To counter any suggestion that this is unjust, it is worth remembering that the record in Genesis and beyond shows that humanity hasn’t merely passively received the consequences but actively engaged in Adam’s sin. Although those early humans did not have the Law so did not break specific commands, per se, the did choose to live in hostile rebellion against God.
Faithroots 