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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Romans 5:20 - 5:20
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Came in beside (pareisēlthen). Second aorist active indicative of double compound pareiserchomai, late verb, in N.T. only here and Gal 2:4 which see. See also eisēlthen in Rom 5:12. The Mosaic law came into this state of things, in between Adam and Christ.
That the trespass might abound (hina pleonasēi to paraptōma). It is usual to explain hina here as final, as God’s ultimate purpose. So Denney who refers to Gal 3:19.; Rom 7:7. But Chrysostom explains hina here as ekbasis (result). This is a proper use of hina in the Koiné[28928]š as we have seen. If we take it so here, the meaning is “so that the trespass abounded” (aorist active subjunctive of pleonasō, late verb, see note on 2Th 1:3; 2Co 8:15). This was the actual effect of the Mosaic law for the Jews, the necessary result of all prohibitions.
Did abound more exceedingly (hupereperisseusen). First aorist active indicative of huperperisseuō. Late verb, in N.T. only here and 2Co 7:4 which see. A strong word. If pleonazō is comparative (pleon) perisseuō is superlative (Lightfoot) and then huperperisseuō goes the superlative one better. See huperpleonazō in 1Ti 1:14. The flood of grace surpassed the flood of sin, great as that was (and is).