Les Feldick Bible Study

Did death reign from Adam to Moses over people who did not sin like Adam?

Yes. Death reigned like a king from Adam to Moses because it was tied with sin, even over those who had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression. They did not commit Adam's specific sin of eating forbidden fruit, yet they were still disobedient in other matters.

Les explains that sin refers to the old sin nature, the old Adam, and reign pictures a king on his throne. As soon as Adam fell, death reigned like a king because it was tied with sin. Romans teaches death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression. Adam's sin was a simple act of disobedience by eating what God said not to eat. The millions between Adam and Moses were not guilty of eating a forbidden fruit and did not commit the same sin Adam did. Even so, Les says they were still disobedient to other things God had put even within their content. Paul later turns to Gentiles who did not have the law, after noting the Jews had the law for 1,500 years.