13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.
but sin is not counted [imputed, reckoned] where there is no law.
The Mosaic law is not the basis for condemnation; it merely exposes or manifests what sin is in God’s eyes. Sin was in the world from the time of Adam. The law came later and simply revealed man’s inability to live up to God’s standards.
The statement that “sin is not counted where there is no law” does not mean that sin did not exist before the law. Neither does it carry the idea that God exempts from judgment the sin of those who lived before the law. Death reigned from Adam to Moses over those who did not sin after the nature of Adam’s transgression (5:14). Adam transgressed the law of not eating of the tree, and his one sin cast a pall on the entire human race. His sin was unique in that sense; he represented everyone in humanity because he was our federal or representative head in this. Although his progeny did not violate a distinct command existing as the Mosaic law, they violated the law of not eating of the tree with Adam.
There is a pivot that occurs after the Mosaic law was given—the reckoning of sin as sin manifestly violating God’s standards. Though sin was present in the world before the law, it was not reckoned as sin without law. Yet the reality of sin in the world before the law is clearly shown by the presence of death because of sin (v.14).
This word “counted” regards some item put to one’s account. This commercial accounting term shows the federal or representative sin of Adam bringing effect on all those he represents. All men were condemned by Adam’s act. God entered that into His eternal ledger. This is imputation or putting to the account of mankind the sin of Adam.
The English word “imputed” occurs a number of times in Romans, but the Greek word is different here. We cannot explain this passage with the understanding of the other occurrences of the word “imputed.” The word for imputed here occurs only one other time (Phile 18). In the Philemon account Paul says to an owner of a runaway slave to “charge that to my account.”
God does not put something to the account of the sinner when there is no law forbidding it. Sins between the time of Adam and Moses did not bring the sentence of death upon humanity, but death’s sway remains unbroken from the very beginning of Adam’s first sin. The objection centers on the nexus between sin and the law—sin does not count except as a breach of the law. No act worthy of death could happen without the law.
PRINCIPLE:
God does not condemn man because of personal sins but because of what Adam did as our federal head.
APPLICATION:
The purpose of the law was to pronounce judgment on personal sin. A person does not have imputed sin where there is no law. There was personal sin before the law, but the law made personal sin a transgression. The coming of the law of Moses increased the responsibility of mankind and their guilt. Violation of the law did not account for universal death because men sinned before God gave the law. The law did not restrain sin but simply made sin manifest. Sin does not have the character of a transgression apart from the law, so God does not take it into account as such.
Why did people die before the law? They died because of Adam’s sin. All men corporately sinned in Adam; this accounts for the universality of death.
There is a distinction between sin as a power and sin as an act. Sin can be a force, which is the power behind acts of sin. That power influences desires and choices. Sin as a power existed from Adam’s first sin. All sinned in Adam even before they committed an act of sin. Therefore, all men are under the power of sin.
Not all sins are transgressions; only those committed in deliberate breach of God’s extant command are transgressions. Death is the result of being under the power of sin, not the result of willful self-seeking. Death is the result of being under the power of sin rather than the power of God. This idea is what we call today “original sin;” that is, everyone is under the power of sin with death as a consequence.
Just as God declared all men sinful in Adam, He also declares those righteous who trust Christ’s death for forgiveness of sin. Adam’s sin stood for our sin; his judgment became our judgment. God imputes his sin to us in the same way that Christ imputes righteousness to the believer. Therefore, both Adam and Christ are federal heads.
Both imputed sin and imputed righteousness rest upon relationship. Every member of the human race is related to Adam because of his sin. Some have imputed righteousness because of their relationship to Christ.
But before the law (written) iniquities were imputed by God to men. Look at the punishment of Cain, the flood, Abimelech…….Good and evil was known by man before the Mosaic law.
This verse answers the anticipated question of how can there be transgression without the law. Answer: there was always the law, although not etched in stone.
The main point I see is Paul trying to explain that universal death is due to disobedience of Adam, not to the presence or absence of any law.
A difficult verse to say the least.
Thanks for your work Dr. Grant, it is a blessing.
Thanks for your comment George
When it says “sin is not counted where there is no law. How can you say that it doesn’t mean God exempts from judgment the sin of those who lived before the law. Can we really be sure that God doesn’t? What if what Paul means here is that because of Adam physical death came to all before the law through Moses and only after the law came spiritual death? Paul says it wasn’t counted against them. What if only physical death came to those before the law and with Christ’s death their sins were paid for. Wouldn’t that make sense as to why he went to preach to those same spirits(humans not angels) from Noah’s time in 1 peter 3 19-20. What if it was to tell them about God’s grace through Him. We can agree that Christ death paid for all sins past included can’t we? So what if the souls pre-Flood and also pre-law were saved from hell along with the obeyers of the law post law and pre-Christ? Which I believe were freed from prison and brought to heaven at his resurrection. Could it not be that all pre-law went to Abraham’s bosom because of their sins not being counted against them?
Joel, if I understand you right you misunderstand my point/s. I suggest you read my study on Romans 3:20 and then read my studies beginning at Romans 5:12 to the end of the chapter.
ok I read your notes but still will ask the question.
This refers to verse 12 -13.
Were paul says “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned
For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.”
What if Paul was only talking about physical death here only, because sin wasn’t imputed on them before the law?
how could there be a spiritual death when sin is not imputed?
You said that spiritual and physical death came to those pre-Moses as well in your notes.
do you believe that God judged those who’s sin wasn’t imputed.
I’m not sure how that could be.
I realize it could just be you are using the term spiritual death(meaning only separation from God and not death deserving hell) more loosely than I would.
Joel,
Once again, I think you may be missing the argument. Let me summarize it this way: The argument from Romans 5:12 to the end of the chapter is about FEDERAL headships, the federal headship of Adam and the federal headship of Christ. Both heads have their own families based on relationship.
When the argument arrives at the phrase “but sin is not counted where there is no law” Paul is arguing through the Holy Spirit that when the law came it only manifests or makes obvious what Adam did when he sinned and what people did pre-law. The phrase “sin is not counted” is a legal term meaning reckoned. The argument is that the law is not the BASIS for condemnation of sinners but the law only reckons or makes MANIFEST what was ALREADY TRUE with what people faced pre-law. All men sinned (before and after the law) CORPORATELY in Adam. The phrase we are dealing with does not assert that sin did not exist before the law because obviously it did with Adam and his followers. Neither does this phrase mean that God excepts pre-law sinners from judgment. Both physical and spiritual death reigned because of people’s federal relationship to Adam.
Ok, thanks for clearing that up.
I have really enjoyed your expository of Romans.I find it more truthful and stays much more within the rest of God’s word found elsewhere in the Bible.I have found a lot of commentators and especially expository commentators disregard God’s character.
I would still like to know your opinion about what sin not being reckoned to a persons account really implies to those pre-law.
You say that it doesn’t mean that they were not exempt from judgment of their sins.
How can God judge someone for sins that aren’t imputed. Would it not logically imply that God looks them over and if they are looked over then would their still remain a spiritual death upon physical death?
My question more specifically would be what in your opinion of what happened and will happen to those souls pre-Moses that weren’t following God if here sin is not imputed or reckoned to their account?
Do you think these sinners pre-law are awaiting hell in the aboad of the dead or went to Abraham’s bosom to await heaven heaven?
Joel, since God judged unbelievers in the Old Testament before Moses, they will go to Sheol. Sheol is roughly similar to Hades in the Bible. Hades has two divisions, one for the lost and the other for the saved (paradise, as in Luke 16).
Ok,thanks for your answer.
That is exactly how I saw it too until I read this passage in Romans 5:13 about sin not being counted before the law and I started to question it. I started to question it even more after reading 1 peter 3: 19-20. I haven’t completely changed my view yet but I will have to study this issue further with other scripture. I just wonder if there might be more of a connection with verse Romans 5:13 and Jesus going to Hades between his death and resurrection. I will have to study this issue further with other scripture.
Thank you
Joel is right, everyone who ever lived before Jesus will get a chance to be saved by his blood. Everyone who lived on an island with no Bibles or missionaries will get a chance to be saved by his blood.
CB, thanks for your post. What do you mean by “get a chance?” Do you mean that there is a possibility of them being saved apart from knowing about and believing in the death of Christ for their sins? If so, there is nothing in the Bible to support that assertion.