12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift. For the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification. 17 For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. In this passage these things are taught: 1. By one man sin entered and death by sin, and so [_i.e._, by one man] death passed on all men, _for that all have sinned_.—Verses 12, 13, 14. 2. Through the offense of one many _have died_.—Verse 15. 3. The judgment was by one to condemnation.—Verse 16. 4. By one man’s offense _death_ reigned by one.—Verse 17. 5. By the offense of one, judgment came on all to condemnation.—Verse 18. 6. By one man’s disobedience many were made sinners.—V. 19. There are three modes of interpreting this passage, and the question all turns on whether the _death_ spoken of is _natural_ death or _spiritual_. Interpretation of the Apostolic Age. The first interpretation is that of the Apostolic age and onward to the time of Augustine. It is briefly this: Adam is a type of Christ, and as by Adam’s sin natural death came on all who are his _natural children_, (for they all, like Adam, have _sinned_ and suffer death as the consequence,) so by one man, Christ, spiritual life comes to all who are Christ’s _spiritual children_. This simply teaches that Adam as the head of a sinning race, who suffer death in consequence of his sin and their own, is an emblem or type of Christ, the head of a holy family, who by him receive spiritual life. Condemnation and natural death come from sinning, both to Adam and to all the children brought into being by him. Justification and spiritual life come from Christ to all whom he has caused to become his spiritual children.