lectionary.com

Lent · First Sunday in Lent · Year A

Romans 5:12-19

Adam and Christ: Condemnation Through One, Grace Through One

February 22, 2026

The Descent of Christ into Limbo, Bartolome Bermejo
The Descent of Christ into Limbo, Bartolome Bermejo, c. 1475Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona (PD-Art)
A Spanish panel of the harrowing, with Christ pulling Adam and Eve out of a cave full of waiting figures, painted with Netherlandish precision.As one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.Bartolome BermejoA Spanish painter of Cordoban origin who mastered the Netherlandish oil technique, and who may have been a converso.Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona (PD-Art)Holds the greatest collection of Romanesque wall painting anywhere, much of it removed from remote Pyrenean churches in the 1920s.Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona (PD-Art)
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 4:1-11Mt 4:1-11
EpistleRom. 5:12-19Rom 5:12-19
Old TestamentGen. 3:1-21Gn 3:1-21
PsalterPs. 32:1-7Ps 32:1-7

Overview & Insights

For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)

Paul sets Adam and Christ side by side to show that both condemnation and grace spread through a single representative act. He is careful to say the comparison is not an equation, where Adam's trespass brought judgment, Christ's obedience brings a gift that far outweighs it.

From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.

Take it further: Romans 5:12-19

Commentary

Commentary on Romans 5:12-19Commentary on Rom 5:12-19 Working Preacher

Working Preacher's Year A commentary walks through Paul's Adam-Christ comparison for preaching this Sunday.

Romans 5:12-19 CommentaryRom 5:12-19 Commentary CEP (cepreaching.org)

The Center for Excellence in Preaching unpacks how Paul's gift language answers the reign of sin and death.

Romans 5 Bible CommentaryRom 5 Bible Commentary Enduring Word

David Guzik's chapter commentary traces the logic of the one man, many people contrast through the whole chapter.

Romans 5 ResourcesRom 5 Resources Precept Austin

Precept Austin collects verse-by-verse notes and cross references across Romans 5 for detailed study.

Romans 5 - Barnes' NotesRom 5 - Barnes' Notes StudyLight

Barnes' Notes gives a close grammatical reading of Paul's claim that sin entered through one man.

Background & Word Study

Romans 5:12 InterlinearRom 5:12 Interlinear BibleHub

The Greek interlinear shows parabasis and charisma, the trespass and gift terms Paul plays off each other.

Book of Romans Summary (Part 1)Book of Rom Summary (Part 1) BibleProject

BibleProject's overview of Romans 1-4 traces the argument that sets up the Adam-Christ comparison in chapter 5.

The Church Fathers

Romans 5 CatenaRom 5 Catena Catena

Catena collects patristic comment on the Adam-Christ typology verse by verse.

Prep at sermons.com

Ready to write?

  • Full sermons on Matthew 4:1-11
  • Illustrations cleared for use in worship
  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Open it at sermons.com →

Trusted by pastors since 1995.

Free every Tuesday

Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox

The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.