Romans3

Romans chapter three establishes that while the Jews had the advantage of receiving God's oracles, both Jews and Gentiles are universally under the power of sin. The chapter asserts that no one can be justified by the works of the law, as the law only brings the knowledge of sin. Instead, God's righteousness is now manifested apart from the law, being given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, freely by His grace.
Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

The Value of Jewish Privilege

1
What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? ​
2
Much in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God. ​
3
What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? ​
4
Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.” ​
5
But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms. ​
6
Certainly not! In that case, how could God judge the world? ​
7
However, if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?
8
Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved! ​

All Humanity is Under Sin

9
What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin. ​
10
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. ​
11
There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.
12
All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
13
“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.”
14
“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16
ruin and misery lie in their wake,
17
and the way of peace they have not known.”
18
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. ​
20
Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin. ​

Righteousness Revealed Through Faith

21
But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. ​
22
And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, ​
23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ​
24
and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. ​
25
God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand. ​
26
He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus. ​

Faith Excludes Boasting

27
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith. ​
28
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law. ​
29
Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, ​
30
since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
31
Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law. ​

Study Notes for Romans 3

Verse 1

Paul anticipates the objection that if Jews are judged equally with Gentiles (as argued in Ch. 2), what good is their covenant status? The ensuing discussion defends God’s faithfulness.

Verse 2

The primary advantage is the stewardship of 'the oracles of God' (the Scriptures), confirming the unique role of Israel in receiving and preserving divine revelation.

Verse 3

Paul addresses the potential failure of some Jews to believe. Human unfaithfulness cannot nullify the inherent faithfulness or power of God’s covenant promises.

Verse 4

Paul quotes Psalm 51:4 to affirm God's absolute truthfulness and justice. God’s character remains true, even if every human being proves to be a liar and fails to meet His standards.

Verse 5

This is a rhetorical objection ('I speak as a man'). If human sin ironically serves to highlight God's righteousness, is God unjust for punishing the sin that magnified Him?

Verse 6

If God could not justly punish sin, then the foundation for universal divine judgment over the world is destroyed. God's role as Judge demands that He punish unrighteousness.

Verse 8

Paul forcefully refutes the antinomian slander that his teaching on grace allows believers to 'do evil, that good may come.' This misinterpretation of the gospel is strongly condemned.

Verse 9

Paul concludes the previous section: Jews possess no moral or spiritual advantage over Gentiles in the matter of salvation. Both groups stand condemned before God.

Verse 10

Verses 10–18 are a catena (chain) of Old Testament quotes (primarily from Psalms and Isaiah) providing irrefutable scriptural proof of universal human depravity.

Verse 19

The primary function of the Mosaic Law is not to provide salvation, but to establish universal guilt, ensuring that 'every mouth may be stopped' and no one can plead innocence.

Verse 20

Justification (being declared righteous) is impossible through adherence to legal requirements. The Law’s role is diagnostic; it provides the precise 'knowledge of sin,' not the cure.

Verse 21

This verse marks the central theological turning point (the *But now*). God's saving righteousness is revealed 'without the law,' yet it is fully consistent with the Old Testament witness.

Verse 22

This righteousness is received solely through faith in Jesus Christ, applying universally to all who believe. Because all have sinned, the remedy must be available to all without distinction.

Verse 23

The theological basis for universal justification rests on universal failure. 'Come short of the glory of God' means failing to meet the required standard or to reflect God’s image as intended.

Verse 24

Justification is a free gift based entirely on God’s grace. It is achieved through 'redemption,' which refers to the release from slavery (to sin) through the payment of a price (Christ's sacrifice).

Verse 25

Christ is the *propitiation* (hilasterion)—the sacrifice that turns away God's wrath, satisfying the demands of divine justice. This act demonstrated God's righteousness in forgiving sins committed under the Old Covenant.

Verse 26

The cross ensures that God is simultaneously 'just' (upholding His standard by punishing sin) and 'the justifier' (declaring righteous those who believe in Jesus). This resolves the tension between God's love and justice.

Verse 27

If justification is received through grace by faith, all human merit, effort, or ethnic privilege is excluded. There is no longer any ground for boasting before God.

Verse 28

This verse summarizes the core doctrinal conclusion of Romans 1–3: humanity is declared righteous by faith alone, entirely apart from adherence to the ritual or moral requirements of the Law.

Verse 29

If justification is by faith, then God must be the God of all people, not just the Jews. The plan of salvation unifies humanity under one covenant of faith.

Verse 31

Paul anticipates the final objection: Does faith destroy the Law? He insists that faith actually establishes the Law, confirming its purpose and fulfilling its deepest spiritual demands.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options