Ancient Christian Witness

What does the word "Justification" mean in Romans 5:18?

NKJV
"18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men,
resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift
came to all men, resulting in "justification" of life."

It could mean what Paul said in Romans 5:9

"9 Much more then, having now been "justified" by His blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through Him."

This passage seems to use the word "Jusitified" in the sense of Christ's death on the Cross. It also seems to use the word in the sense of being protected against God's wrath.



Or the word could mean what Paul said in Romans 4:25

NIV
"25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for
our justification."

ESV
"25who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our
justification."

This verse seems to use the word "Justification" in the sense of Christ's Resurrection. So what did Paul mean in Romans 5:18?


Was he using the word in the sense of Romans 5:9 or 4:25?



I tend to lean toward the Ressurection view. Everybody will not be made righteous by Christ's blood, but everybody will be raised from the dead because of Christ's Resurrection.

"Theodoret of Cyr: Paul calls Jesus a man in this passage in order to
underline the Parallel with Adam, for Just as death came through one man, so the
cure for death came through one man as well. Interpretation of the Letter to the
Romans."

page 145 ACCS edited by Geald Bray & Thomas C. Oden

and

"Oecumenius: Christ's obedience was greater than Adam's disobedience in the
following sense. Death, which originated with the sin of Adam, had our
cooperation in the sins which we all committed, and so it was able to gain
control over us. For if men had re-mained free of all wrongdoing, death would
not have been in control. But the grace of Christ has come to us all without our
cooperation and shows that the grace of the resurrection is such that not only
believers, who glory in their faith, will be resurrected, but also unbelievers,
both Jews and Greeks. Something which works in us against our will is therefore
obviously greater than something which works in us with our cooperation. Pauline
Commentary From the Greek Church."
page 145 ACCS edited by Gerald Bray & Thomas C. Oden

Ok so at this point in time I believe that only those who believe and are united with Christ's death are Justified by the blood of Christ and will not receive God's wrath. While everyone who physically dies will be justified through Christ's Resurrection by being raised from the dead. Those who are united to Christ will be raised in glory. Those who are separated from Christ will be raised to condemnation(the second death).




I don't know if this makes sense, but this is what I'm gonna role with for now.





JNORM888