Monday, December 21, 2020

Constantine R. Campbell: Romans 5:19 Does Not Teach Imputation

 

 

While it is common to understand the verse as indicating a type of imputed sinfulness extended from Adam (the one man) to all other members of the human race, this is not the most likely reading. Given the concept of realm and dominion, Adam’s disobedience most likely represents a route or pathway or entrance into the realm of sin and death. Adam’s disobedience establishes the route through which the many were made sinners (5:19a) . . . By the same token, mutatis mutandis, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous (5:19b). This one man is the new Adam, Christ, who like Adam has established a route by which the many gain access to the realm he represents. While Adam leads all humanity into the domain of sin and death, Christ leads humanity into the domain of grace and righteousness. Again, it is often asserted that this text affirms the imputation of Christ’s obedience to others, but this is not the most likely reading of the text. The realm structure that contrasts the domain of sin and death with the domain of grace and righteousness suggests that Christ, like Adam, stands as the way into realm he represents. Those who exist under this realm are characterized by righteousness because they belong to the realm of righteousness, made open to them by Christ, not by being imputed with Christ’s righteousness per se.

 

This text demonstrates the essential nature of the realm structure for Paul’s soteriology and eschatology. It is through membership in the realm of Christ that believers are ruled by grace and righteousness, resulting in eternal life. Their salvation depends on their membership in the realm of Christ, as does their eschatological destination. (Constantine R. Campbell, Paul and the Hope of Glory: An Exegetical and Theological Study [Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Academic, 2020], 67-68)

 

Further Reading


Full Refutation of the Protestant Claim Romans 10:9-10 Teaches Sola Fide (see the section "Rom 5:19 vs. Forensic Justification")


Response to a Recent Attempt to Defend Imputed Righteousness