Romans 5:14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
This verse highlights the affect of Adam’s sin upon those who lived before Moses gave the law. A person might question Paul’s logic here and say that if there is no law, then there is no sin. So why did people die before the law was given? There are two answers to this question. The more obvious answer reflects back on the context and contents of this letter in chs. 1 and 2. Those who lived before the law was given were essentially the same as the Gentiles who do not have the law. They do not have the direct revelation of God’s laws but only general revelation through nature and the conscience. They are guilty before God for violating the light that they have. Noah was considered righteous because he followed the simple law requiring faith. His faith led him to obedience to God’s command. Noah knew of other righteous acts that were consistent with his faith. Abraham and the patriarchs were the same as was any who lived during that era. The second answer is that Paul is focusing here upon original sin and not so much the acts of sin. Death proved that people had been affected by Adam’s sin. Even those who lived righteously, by whatever standard one uses, still died because of the affect of sin. No one was exempt, except perhaps Enoch, depending on how one interprets Genesis 5:24. Adam “is a pattern of the one to come” because he set the course and determined the outcome for all who followed after him. Everyone is in Adam and therefore everyone dies. Those who put their trust in Jesus follow after him and experience life.
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