1 T herefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Now that we have been made right with God by putting our trust in Him, we have peace with Him. It is because of what our Lord Jesus Christ did for us.

2 t hrough whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

By putting our trust in God, He has given us His loving-favor and has received us. We are happy for the hope we have of sharing the shining-greatness of God.

3 A nd not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

We are glad for our troubles also. We know that troubles help us learn not to give up.

4 a nd perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

When we have learned not to give up, it shows we have stood the test. When we have stood the test, it gives us hope.

5 a nd hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Hope never makes us ashamed because the love of God has come into our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who was given to us.

6 F or while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

We were weak and could not help ourselves. Then Christ came at the right time and gave His life for all sinners.

7 F or one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.

No one is willing to die for another person, but for a good man someone might be willing to die.

8 B ut God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

But God showed His love to us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 M uch more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

Now that we have been saved from the punishment of sin by the blood of Christ, He will save us from God’s anger also.

10 F or if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

We hated God. But we were saved from the punishment of sin by the death of Christ. He has brought us back to God and we will be saved by His life.

11 A nd not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Not only that, we give thanks to God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have been brought back to God.

12 T herefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

This is what happened: Sin came into the world by one man, Adam. Sin brought death with it. Death spread to all men because all have sinned.

13 f or until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Sin was in the world before the Law was given. But sin is not held against a person when there is no Law.

14 N evertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

And yet death had power over men from the time of Adam until the time of Moses. Even the power of death was over those who had not sinned in the same way Adam sinned. Adam was like the One Who was to come.

15 B ut the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

God’s free gift is not like the sin of Adam. Many people died because of the sin of this one man, Adam. But the loving-favor of God came to many people also. This gift came also by one Man Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

16 T he gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.

The free gift of God is not like Adam’s sin. God told Adam he was guilty because of his sin and through this one came sin and guilt. But the free gift makes men right with God. Through One, Christ, men’s sins are forgiven.

17 F or if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

The power of death was over all men because of the sin of one man, Adam. But many people will receive His loving-favor and the gift of being made right with God. They will have power in life by Jesus Christ.

18 S o then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

Through Adam’s sin, death and hell came to all men. But another Man, Christ, by His right act makes men free and gives them life.

19 F or as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

Adam did not obey God, and many people become sinners through him. Christ obeyed God and makes many people right with Himself.

20 T he Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

Sin spread when the Law was given. But where sin spread, God’s loving-favor spread all the more.

21 s o that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sin had power that ended in death. Now, God’s loving-favor has power to make men right with Himself. It gives life that lasts forever. Our Lord Jesus Christ did this for us.