Interpretation of the Apostolic Age.
Reading edition
The first interpretation is that of the Apostolic age and onward to the time of Augustine. It is briefly this:
Adam is a type of Christ, and as by Adam's sin natural death came on all who are his natural children, (for they all, like Adam, have sinned and suffer death as the consequence,) so by one man, Christ, spiritual life comes to all who are Christ's spiritual children.
This simply teaches that Adam as the head of a sinning race, who suffer death in consequence of his sin and their own, is an emblem or type of Christ, the head of a holy family, who by him receive spiritual life. Condemnation and natural death come from sinning, both to Adam and to all the children brought into being by him. Justification and spiritual life come from Christ to all whom he has caused to become his spiritual children.
For abundant proof that this was the interpretation of this passage, from the apostles to the time of Augustine, the author refers to Dr. E. Beecher's Conflict of Ages, book v., chapter 2.