Jesus, the Only Hope for the Hoi Polloi
8/15 Reading Portions: 1 Samuel 5-6; Romans 5; Jeremiah 43; Psalm 19
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
8/15 Reading Portions: 1 Samuel 5-6; Romans 5; Jeremiah 43; Psalm 19
Romans 5:19, KJV
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.
ONE
I had some trouble with this verse for a few years as a young Christian. I had just read “all sinned” (Rom 5:12), which echoed the truth of Romans 3:23. I wondered, why aren’t all made sinners through Adam’s disobedience? I soon found out that context was important. The first half of the chapter emphasized the sin of the sinner. The second half emphasized the solution through a Savior. Through the differing contexts, we should recognize the eternal declaration of One to be born to save many, therefore, in this context and perspective, the apostle would not want to say “all” but “many” as he dictated the letter. Moreover, the original Greek text provides important insights. The ESV renders the verse in this way:
For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19, ESV [emphasis added]
Rather than merely “many” from KJV, it’s rendered “the many” in the ESV and NASB. It comes from a Greek term, οι πολλοι (hoi polloi). Today, the term is not used much, yet hoi polloi was used 50-100 years ago to describe the masses or the common people, which is what the term means. Christ is exalted in the text, for the Lord Jesus is uncommon, the exception to the rule— because Jesus is the only One born unaffected by Adam’s sin. He is the exalted One unto which the hoi polloi may receive salvation. We are hoi polloi. You and I are common folk saved by God’s amazing grace through faith in an extraordinary Savior. Through trial and tribulation, God works in us patience. Experience grows through years of patiently looking to Christ in our lives and for Christ in the Word. This develops in us greater hope in the return of our Lord— for one day He will receive the hoi polloi into holy habitations. Hallelujah! What a One who saves!
By Adam’s disobedience
The common man has sinn’d;
Yet, exalted Christ saves men through
The Holy Spirit’s wind.