“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.”
Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam. Death exercised dominion over all, even those who did not violate explicit law. Adam's sin alone—the archetypal transgression of God's command—brought death to all. Death's universal reign despite the absence of written law demonstrates the reality of sin's power independent of law.
Church Fathers on Romans 5:14
“For until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed where there is no law.” The phrase “till the Law” some think he used of the time before the giving of the Law — that of Abel, for instance, or of Noah, or of Abraham— till Moses was born. What was the sin in those days, at this rate? Some say he means that in Paradise. For hitherto it was not done away, (he would say,) but the fruit of it was yet in vigor. For it had borne that death whereof all partake, which…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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