Paul’s statement in Romans 5:18 concerning the universal sin of Adam has prompted frequent speculation about the scope of salvation in Romans 5:18b: “And likewise, through the righteous act of one human has come justification and life for all (οὕτως καὶ δι᾽ ἑνὸς δικαιώματος εἰς πάντας ἀνθρώπους εἰς δικαίωσιν ζωῆς). Apocalyptic interpreters of Paul like Douglas Campbell and Martinus C. de Boer (among others like M. Eugene Boring, Robin Parry, and Richard H. Bell) have contended that Paul’s language here supports the belief that all persons will be justified in Christ and thus obtain salvation upon resurrection (“universal salvation”). Such a reading is not easily dismissed. Despite the strength of the argument/s for universal salvation in Romans 5:18, there remain numerous theological and exegetical issues with the case for universal salvation in Paul.
This paper will explore the following: 1) summarize the hermeneutics of the Apocalyptic Paul as it relates to the question of universal salvation, 2) Explore various insufficient counter-readings of the universalist argument on Romans 5:18, and 3) then engage in theological and exegetical critique, namely that Paul’s affirmation of moral agency (in concern with his view of gift/grace language) in Romans 5:12-21 makes the question of universal salvation a difficult prospect to accept.