The Reign of Death and the Reign in Life
Prof. Godet. Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offense death reigned by one… When the empty vessel of the human heart has once become filled with the fulness of grace and righteousness, the sinner is raised to the place of a "king in life" — an antithesis to "death reigned." But the apostle has too lively a conviction of spiritual realities to say here "life shall reign." Death reigns: it is a tyrant. But life does not reign; it makes kings. Instead of a sombre state of things which bears sway as a reign of death, it is here the individuals themselves who, having personally appropriated righteousness, reign personally in the luminous domain of life. Compare on this reign what Paul said (Romans 4:13), of the inheritance of this world; then the glorying (Romans 5:11); finally, Romans 8:17. "In life" does not denote a period — i.e., eternal life, but the mode or nature of the reign of believers. A new, holy, inexhaustible and victorious vitality will pervade those "receivers of righteousness," and make them so many kings. If the collective condemnation could make each of them a subject of death, the conclusion therefrom should be that their individual justification will make each of them a king in life. (Prof. Godet.) Parallel Verses KJV: For if by one man's offence 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.) WEB: For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.