What is the difference between "sin" and "sins" in the book of Romans?
In Romans, the singular “sin” refers to the old Adam—the Adamic sinful nature and fountainhead of all problems. The plural “sins” refers to the fruit, the individual actions that old Adam causes us to do. So sin is the root; sins are the resulting deeds.
Les teaches that throughout Romans he uses “old Adam” in place of the singular word “sin,” because that is what Paul is really talking about. The singular “sin” is the old Adam, the fountainhead of all our problems—the Adamic sinful nature. The plural “sins” are the fruit of old Adam: the things we do. So sin singular usually refers to old Adam, while sins plural refers to the things old Adam causes us to do. This distinction illuminates the Romans passage where God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, to take the place of old Adam so that we could be crucified with Him and old Adam condemned in the flesh. The law was righteous but weak through the flesh, unable to accomplish this.
More Questions
What does Paul mean by 'sin' in the singular in the book of Romans?
Throughout the book of Romans, when Paul speaks of 'sin' in the singular he is referring to old Adam, the Adamic sinful nature.