In this passage these things are taught:
1. By one man sin entered and death by sin, and so [i.e., by one man] death passed on all men, for that all have sinned.—Verses 12, 13, 14.
2. Through the offense of one many have died.—Verse 15.
3. The judgment was by one to condemnation.—Verse 16.
4. By one man's offense death reigned by one.—Verse 17.
5. By the offense of one, judgment came on all to condemnation.—Verse 18.
6. By one man's disobedience many were made sinners.—V. 19.
There are three modes of interpreting this passage, and the question all turns on whether the death spoken of is natural death or spiritual.
Interpretation of the Apostolic Age.
The first interpretation is that of the Apostolic age and onward to the time of Augustine. It is briefly this: