Romans 5:20
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Original Language Analysis
νόμος
the law
G3551
νόμος
the law
Strong's:
G3551
Word #:
1 of 15
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of moses (including the volume); also of the gospel), or figurat
παρεισῆλθεν
entered
G3922
παρεισῆλθεν
entered
Strong's:
G3922
Word #:
3 of 15
to come in alongside, i.e., supervene additionally or steathily
ἐπλεόνασεν
abounded
G4121
ἐπλεόνασεν
abounded
Strong's:
G4121
Word #:
5 of 15
to do, make or be more, i.e., increase (transitively or intransitively); by extension, to superabound
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 15
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
παράπτωμα·
the offence
G3900
παράπτωμα·
the offence
Strong's:
G3900
Word #:
7 of 15
a side-slip (lapse or deviation), i.e., (unintentional) error or (wilful) transgression
ἐπλεόνασεν
abounded
G4121
ἐπλεόνασεν
abounded
Strong's:
G4121
Word #:
10 of 15
to do, make or be more, i.e., increase (transitively or intransitively); by extension, to superabound
ἡ
G3588
ἡ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 15
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Romans 6:1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?Psalms 25:11For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.Romans 6:14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.Romans 4:15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.Luke 7:47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.John 10:10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.Isaiah 1:18Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.Matthew 9:13But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.John 15:22If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.Ezekiel 16:52Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.
Historical Context
This verse addresses why God gave law if it increases transgression. Paul's answer: law serves grace by fully exposing sin's magnitude, driving sinners to despair of self-righteousness and cast themselves on Christ alone. Luther's spiritual breakthrough came from understanding that law's purpose is to slay self-trust and reveal sin's depth, making grace precious. The law is 'pedagogue unto Christ' (Galatians 3:24), not the savior but the revealer of need for the Savior.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the law making sin 'abound' serve grace—isn't more sin worse?
- What sins in your life does God's law expose that you might otherwise ignore or minimize?
- How does grace 'super-abounding' over sin protect against both legalism (thinking sin disqualifies you) and license (thinking sin doesn't matter)?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound—the νόμος (nomos, 'law') παρεισῆλθεν (pareisēlthen, 'came in alongside/entered additionally'), a subordinate clause suggesting law's supplementary purpose. The ἵνα (hina, 'in order that') clause states God's purpose: that τὸ παράπτωμα πλεονάσῃ (to paraptōma pleonasē, 'the trespass might increase/abound'). This doesn't mean law causes sin but that it reveals sin's true character and extent, transforming vague wrongdoing into explicit transgression against known divine commands (7:7-13).
But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (οὗ δὲ ἐπλεόνασεν ἡ ἁμαρτία, ὑπερεπερίσσευσεν ἡ χάρις)—the triumphant declaration: grace ὑπερπερισσεύω (hyperperisseuō, 'super-abound/overflow beyond measure'). The intensified compound verb stresses grace's overwhelming victory. Sin's increase under law serves to magnify grace's triumph—where sin reaches maximum expression, grace surpasses it infinitely. This isn't license (6:1-2) but assurance that no sin exhausts God's grace.