LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Journal Article Critiquem1of
Mark Rapinchuk. : Journal of EvangelicalUniversal Sin and Salvation in Romans 5:12-21
Theological Society, Vol. 42, No. 3 (September 1999) pp. 427-441.
Submitted to Dr. Daniel Sheard
In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the for the completion of
510-B02 LUO
Survey of Theology
by
Josie Spates Smith
September 10, 2017
Contents
Introduction………………………………………………………………..………………..3
Brief Summary……………………………………………………..……………………….3
Critical Interaction………………………………………………….………………………4
Conclusion…………………………………………………………….……………………5
Selected Bibliography………………………………………………………..……………..6
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Introduction
The purpose of this journal article “Universal Sin and Salvation in Romans 5:21-21,” Mark
Rapinchuk yields a desperate aspect at the principle of universal sin discovered in Romans.
Mark Rapinchuk in this report appearances at the doctrinal propositions which derive from
Romans chapter 5:12-21. These scriptures are frequently quoted as the main argument to help
the doctrine of universal sin. Rapinchuk states, “In reading the provocative words of Paul found
in Romans 5:12-21 (especially vv. 12, 18, 19), one cannot help but wonder if the standard
reading of this section reads too much into the passage.”1
Brief Summary
Mark Rapinchuk’s proposal report disputes the spread of sinfulness. The significant scripture in
the chapter is verse twelve: “Romans 5:12 reads, “Therefore as sin came into the world through
one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned.” Mark
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Rapinchuk creates the report that the translators have left the route in the reading of Romans 5 by
creating the verses a clarification of the idea of original sin. Rapinchuk uphold that it is not
Paul’s purpose to guess on the spread of or accusation of human sinfulness but somewhat Paul is
talking of universality in the sense of deprived of cultural difference and not in the sense of
exclusive of omission. Rapinchuk identifies that on the foundation of Romans 5:12, 18 it would
be more rational to command that it also be read as a clear account of universalism. If Paul in
verse 18 speaks that all without rejection are sinners by Adam’s sin, next he is also saying that all
without rejection are saved from their sin. refuse salvation since this would be in contradiction of
Paul’s new theological point. Rapinchuk clarifies that Paul imagine two separate groups of
individuals: individuals who have faith in Jesus Christ and individuals without. If Paul’s
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statement is to be taken at face value and interpreted to mean that Adam’s sin and consequent
quilt are applied to all men then it seems necessary that Christ’s act of righteousness must also be
applied to this same group.” Merely indicated if you have faith in Jesus you will live and
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without faith it is impossible to please him. The following portion of this article offers an answer
to accepting the text. Mark Rapinchuk proposes that in order to comprehend how all this relates,
he suggests that salvation in Christ is obtainable to all men, he tries to display how Paul points to
the righteousness of Christ that clues to redemption for all men. The key disputes the author
pinpoints is whether this reading of Romans 5:12-27 is in agreement with Paul’s dispute through
Romans. Rapinchuk thinks that it is, and he further propose that one of the three leading reports
for a good accepting of the point Paul is trying to make in the scripture is that states that
salvation is obtainable to all no matter Jew or Greek. Rapinchuk completes by influencing the
reader to move on past the difficulty of universal original sin and emphasis on the answer which
is Jesus Christ.
Critical Interaction
The furthermost significant discovery in this report was that it confronted the reader to get an
exegesis of the scripture so that the principle will be made clear. Rapinchuk was very systematic
in his method toward the Romans and kept the interest of the reader with good scripture
references.3 The reader was also impressed with the care the author took to carefully outline
Paul’s defense of his doctrine of universal sin. Rapinchuk made it clear that sin did not begin
with Adam, it came into the human race through him. Duffield and Cleave explains “sinned” is
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not equivalent to “became sinful.” Paul does not say, “death passed upon men “for Adam sinned,
but “for all sinned.” Adam was the natural head of the human race, so that all men were in him
when he sinned, thus we are all sinners because we sinned in him.
So, can it be said that this reading of Romans 5:12-21 is consistent Paul’s argument
throughout Roman I believe it is, for this reason Paul makes it very clear Romans 1:16 where he
says, “For I am not ashamed of this Gospel, it is the power of God for salvation who has faith.
Conclusion
We need to give God the complete magnificence and righteousness He deserves
because as Paul makes us conscious that our lives are not desperate. Yes, sin and death did come
into the world the intrude of one men, but it was also through the kindness of one man that we
were given an occasion to achieve the gift of a new life through Him. Because of the death of
Jesus Christ our sins have been pardoned and we been made virtuous because of his obedience of
God.
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Selected Bibliography
Cleave, Guy F. Duffield and Nathaniel M. Vn. Foundations of Pentecostal Theology
Los Angeles: LI.F.E. Bible College, 1987.
Rapinchuk, Mark. Universal Sin and Salvation in Romans 5:12-21. Journal Of
Evangelical Theological Society, 1999: 427-441.
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