Romans 5:20

KJV

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

KJV (with Strong's)

Moreover {G1161} the law {G3551} entered {G3922}, that {G2443} the offence {G3900} might abound {G4121}. But {G1161} where {G3757} sin {G266} abounded {G4121}, grace {G5485} did much more abound {G5248}:

Complete Jewish Bible

And the Torah came into the picture so that the offence would proliferate; but where sin proliferated, grace proliferated even more.

Berean Standard Bible

The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,

American Standard Version

And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Romans 5:20 powerfully articulates the paradoxical yet divinely orchestrated purpose of the Mosaic Law and the overwhelming triumph of God's grace. It reveals that the Law's introduction served to highlight and magnify humanity's transgression, making the depth of sin unmistakably clear. However, this amplification of sin ultimately served to showcase the infinitely greater and superabundant nature of God's grace, which not only covers but profoundly surpasses the extent of human sinfulness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as a crucial summary statement at the culmination of Paul's profound theological argument in [Romans chapter 5](/romans/5 "Romans 5 - Reconciliation Through Christ"). Beginning in [Romans 5:12](/romans/5-12 "Romans 5:12 - Sin and Death Through Adam"), Paul meticulously constructs a parallel between Adam's singular act of disobedience, which brought sin and death to all humanity, and Christ's singular act of righteousness, which brings justification and life to all who believe. Verses [Romans 5:15-19](/romans/5-15-19 "Romans 5:15-19 - Adam and Christ Contrasted") specifically emphasize the qualitative difference between Adam's trespass and Christ's gift, repeatedly using phrases like "much more" to highlight the superiority of grace. [Romans 5:20](/romans/5-20 "Romans 5:20 - Law and Grace") then steps back to explain the Law's role within this grand narrative, clarifying that its purpose was not to save, but to illuminate the very sin that Christ's grace would then overwhelmingly conquer.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** For Paul's original audience, particularly Jewish believers and Gentile converts grappling with the legacy of the Law, the statement in [Romans 5:20](/romans/5-20 "Romans 5:20 - The Purpose of the Law") was revolutionary. The Mosaic Law was central to Jewish identity and covenant relationship with God. Many believed strict adherence to the Law was the path to righteousness. Paul, however, challenges this perspective throughout [the book of Romans](/romans "The Book of Romans"), asserting that the Law, while holy and good, could not provide righteousness but rather exposed humanity's inability to meet God's perfect standard. In the Greco-Roman world, where various legal codes and philosophical systems sought to define morality, Paul's assertion that the Law *increased* the awareness of offense would have been counter-intuitive, yet it powerfully set the stage for the radical concept of unmerited grace as the sole means of salvation.
* **Key Themes:** [Romans 5:20](/romans/5-20 "Romans 5:20 - The Abundance of Grace") contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Romans. Firstly, it clarifies **the purpose of the Law**, demonstrating that it functions not as a means to salvation, but as a revealer of sin, making humanity's desperate need for a savior evident (a theme further explored in [Romans 7:7-13](/romans/7-7-13 "Romans 7:7-13 - The Law Reveals Sin")). Secondly, it underscores the **pervasiveness and abundance of sin**, showing that human transgression is not merely isolated acts but a deep-seated condition that the Law brings into sharp focus. Finally, and most triumphantly, it highlights the **superabundance of God's grace**. This grace is not merely sufficient but overwhelmingly superior to the power and extent of sin, demonstrating God's boundless mercy and power to save and transform, a truth that culminates in the reign of grace through righteousness in [Romans 5:21](/romans/5-21 "Romans 5:21 - Grace Reigns Through Righteousness").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **law (Greek, _nómos'_):** This refers specifically to the Mosaic Law, the divine revelation given to Israel through Moses. Paul's use here emphasizes its role as a prescriptive usage, a set of regulations and principles that define God's righteous standard. The Law, in this context, is not inherently bad, but its entrance served a specific, divinely intended purpose in the narrative of salvation.
* **offence (Greek, _paráptōma'_):** Derived from a word meaning "a side-slip," this term denotes a lapse, deviation, or transgression. It can refer to an unintentional error or a willful violation. In Romans 5:20, its use in conjunction with "abound" signifies that the Law's presence made clear the multitude and severity of humanity's deviations from God's perfect standard, bringing every sin into stark relief as a direct offense against God.
* **did much more abound (Greek, _hyperperisseúō'_):** This powerful compound verb, combining "over" (hyper) and "to super-abound" (perisseuō), conveys an extraordinary degree of excess or overflowing. It signifies that grace did not merely "abound" (pleonazō) as sin did, but "super-abounded" or "exceeded exceedingly." This emphasizes the immeasurable, overwhelming, and triumphant nature of God's grace, which utterly surpasses the magnitude and destructive power of sin.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound":** This clause explains the divinely intended, though seemingly counterintuitive, purpose of the Mosaic Law. The word "entered" (pareisérchomai) suggests a supervening or even stealthy entrance, indicating that the Law came alongside humanity's existing sinful condition. Its purpose was not to eliminate sin or provide salvation, but rather "that the offence might abound." This means the Law, by setting a clear and perfect standard, exposed sin for what it truly was—a transgression against God's holy will—and multiplied the awareness and recognition of human rebellion. It made sin's pervasive nature and humanity's utter inability to meet God's demands undeniably evident.
* **"But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound":** This second clause introduces a dramatic and glorious contrast, pivoting from the abundance of sin to the superabundance of grace. The conjunction "But" (dé) signals a strong opposition. Paul declares that in the very place where sin was magnified and seen to "abound" (pleonazō), God's "grace" (cháris)—His unmerited favor and divine influence—"did much more abound" (hyperperisseúō). This signifies that God's grace is not merely sufficient to cover sin, but it overflows, surpasses, and triumphs over sin in an immeasurable way, demonstrating its infinite power to forgive, reconcile, and transform.

#### Literary Devices
Paul masterfully employs several literary devices in [Romans 5:20](/romans/5-20 "Romans 5:20 - Literary Devices"). The most prominent is **Contrast**, setting the abundance of sin, revealed by the Law, against the superabundance of grace. This stark opposition highlights the radical difference between humanity's fallen state and God's redemptive power. Closely related is **Hyperbole**, particularly in the phrase "grace did much more abound" (hyperperisseuō). This intensified language is not meant to be taken literally as a mathematical equation but rather to convey the immeasurable, overwhelming, and utterly victorious nature of God's grace, which far exceeds the destructive power of sin. Furthermore, there is a subtle element of **Personification**, as "the law entered," "sin abounded," and "grace did much more abound," giving these abstract concepts an active role in the divine drama of salvation, making their impact vivid and tangible.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 5:20 is a profound theological statement that underscores God's sovereignty over human history and His ultimate redemptive purpose. It reveals that even the Law, which exposed humanity's sin, was part of God's larger plan to highlight the desperate need for a Savior and to magnify the glory of His unmerited favor. This verse establishes that the depth of human depravity, made evident by the Law, serves only to showcase the even greater depth of God's love and the boundless efficacy of His grace in Christ. It assures believers that no amount of sin, past or present, can ever exhaust the infinite supply of God's forgiving and transforming grace.

* [Romans 7:7](/romans/7-7 "Romans 7:7 - The Law is Not Sin")
* [Romans 5:21](/romans/5-21 "Romans 5:21 - Grace Reigns Through Righteousness")
* [Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Saved by Grace Through Faith")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Romans 5:20 offers immense comfort and profound challenge. It confronts us with the reality of our sinfulness, acknowledging that God's holy standard, the Law, illuminates every transgression and exposes our inability to earn righteousness. This can be a humbling, even crushing, realization. However, the verse does not leave us in despair. Instead, it pivots dramatically to proclaim the glorious truth that where sin abounds, grace super-abounds! This means that no matter how deep our past failures, how pervasive our present struggles, or how overwhelming the awareness of our shortcomings, God's grace in Jesus Christ is infinitely greater. It is a grace that not only forgives but empowers, transforms, and sets us free. This truth invites us to abandon self-righteous efforts and instead rest fully in the boundless mercy of God, allowing His grace to reign in our lives, leading us to true freedom and holiness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding the Law's purpose (to make sin abound) change your perspective on its role in God's plan?**
* **In what areas of your life do you most acutely feel the "abundance" of sin, and how does the promise of "grace did much more abound" speak to those areas?**
* **What practical steps can you take to more fully embrace and live in the reality of God's superabundant grace, rather than striving in your own strength?**

### FAQ
**Did God give the Law so that people would sin more?**

Answer: No, God did not give the Law to encourage sin or to make people more sinful. As Paul clarifies in [Romans 7:7](/romans/7-7 "Romans 7:7 - The Law is Holy"), the Law itself is "holy and righteous and good." Its purpose was not to cause sin but to reveal it. By setting a perfect standard, the Law made humanity's inherent sinfulness and specific transgressions unmistakably clear. It brought sin out of the shadows, exposing its true nature as rebellion against God and demonstrating humanity's utter inability to achieve righteousness through self-effort. This increased awareness of sin then served to highlight the desperate need for God's grace.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 5:20 finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Law's function to make sin abound set the stage for the glorious entrance of the "grace and truth" that came through [Jesus Christ](/john/1-17 "John 1:17 - Grace and Truth Through Jesus Christ"). He is the embodiment of that superabundant grace, for in Him, God did not merely overlook sin, but perfectly dealt with it. On the cross, Christ, who "knew no sin, became sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). His perfect obedience and sacrificial death unleashed a torrent of grace that utterly overwhelmed the abundance of sin revealed by the Law. Thus, the "much more abounding grace" of [Romans 5:20](/romans/5-20 "Romans 5:20 - Grace in Christ") is the very grace that justifies the ungodly, reconciles enemies to God, and empowers believers to live new lives, demonstrating that where sin reigned in death, "grace might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" ([Romans 5:21](/romans/5-21 "Romans 5:21 - Grace Reigns Through Righteousness")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Romans 6:1

¶ What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Titus 3:3

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another.

Titus 3:7

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Romans 6:14

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Psalms 25:11

For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it [is] great.

Galatians 3:19

¶ Wherefore then [serveth] the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; [and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Galatians 3:25

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.