***It can be translated as “because all have sinned” as well as “in whom (Adam) all have sinned.” Both readings are legitimate. They served as the basis for the divergent doctrines of the original sin.
In the East, it was read in the former way, which places the responsibility and guilt on each human individually for his sins, and therefore does not impute inherited guilt of Adam passed on to all generations.
In the West, the latter reading became doctrinal and with it the idea that we are born with Adam’s sin. The implication of these different interpretations is mindboggling.***
Interesting in that, when I look at both of my normal versions (those I read the most) (NIV and ESV) both say “because all sinned”, and no mention of Adam. So, maybe you are mistaken about a great many things you think we believe.
No doubt, Irish. That's why I defer to the Church and its unbroken collective knowledge and wisdom, which is much greater than mine.
As for Rom 5:12, the Greek text, verbatim, reads as follows:
Therefore as through one man sin into the world entered and through sin death so-also (kai outws) to all men death came because/inasmuch (ef' hw) all sinned.
The East reads this as: ...as through one man sin entered into the world and through sin death, so also death came to all men because all have sinned
No inherited sin here. But, if you check your versions, you will see a different conntation.
The West, beginning with St. Augustine, began to teach that we are born guilty of Adam's sin and undeserving of grace.
The East taught forever that we are born spiritually ill or wounded because of Adam's transgression, even addicted to sin, if you want, but not guilty of it. A child born to an alcoholic mother will be addicted to alcohol at no fault his own, and therefore not guilty of his mother's sin.