Romans 3:2

Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

Much {G4183} every {G2596}{G3956} way {G5158}: chiefly {G4412}, because {G3303}{G1063} that {G3754} unto them were committed {G4100} the oracles {G3051} of God {G2316}.

Much in every way! In the first place, the Jews were entrusted with the very words of God.

Much in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.

Much every way: first of all, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God.

Commentary

Romans 3:2 in the King James Version is part of Paul's continued argument addressing the question he posed in the previous verse: What advantage does the Jew have? Here, he begins to answer emphatically.

Context

This verse directly follows the question in Romans 3:1 regarding the benefit of being Jewish or the value of circumcision. Paul's answer is "Much every way," and he immediately explains the primary reason: they were entrusted with God's own words. This sets the stage for his subsequent argument that despite this great privilege, possession of the law did not automatically bring righteousness or save them from the judgment that applies to all humanity, both Jews and Gentiles.

Key Themes

  • The Privilege of God's Revelation: The central theme is the immense privilege granted to the Jewish people in being the custodians of God's divine messages and laws. This highlights God's covenant faithfulness to Israel.
  • The Value of Scripture: The verse underscores the supreme value of God's written word, referring to the Old Testament Scriptures as "the oracles of God."
  • Responsibility Accompanying Privilege: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the context implies that receiving such a treasure comes with a significant responsibility to heed and live by it, a responsibility Israel did not always fulfill.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the oracles of God" translates the Greek words logia tou theou (ฮปฮฟฮณฮนฮฑ ฯ„ฮฟฯ… ฮธฮตฮฟฯ…). Logia refers to divine utterances or sayings. In this context, it specifically denotes the sacred writings, the Old Testament scriptures, which were understood to be the very words spoken by God Himself and committed to Israel. This term emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the Scriptures.

Cross-References & Connections

This verse connects with other passages that speak of God entrusting His word to Israel:

  • Deuteronomy 4:7-8 speaks of Israel's unique position in having God near and having just laws.
  • Psalm 147:19-20 explicitly states that God shows His word, statutes, and judgments to Israel, unlike other nations.
  • The ultimate benefit of having the oracles of God was that they testified of Christ, as Jesus Himself stated.
  • Paul's broader point throughout Romans 3 is that while possessing the law was a great privilege, it did not negate the universal reality of sin that affects all humanity.

Practical Application

For believers today, this verse reminds us of the immense privilege we have in possessing the complete written word of God. The Bible is not merely a collection of human writings but the divine oracles, God's own communication to us. This should lead us to:

  • Cherish and value the Scriptures highly.
  • Diligently read, study, and meditate on God's word.
  • Recognize the responsibility we have to live in accordance with its truth.
  • Share the light of God's revelation with others.

Having God's word is a profound blessing, but it requires a response of faith and obedience.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Romans 9:4

    Who are Israelites; to whom [pertaineth] the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service [of God], and the promises;

  • Acts 7:38

    This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and [with] our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

  • Nehemiah 9:13

    Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:

  • Nehemiah 9:14

    And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:

  • 1 Corinthians 9:17

    For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation [of the gospel] is committed unto me.

  • Hebrews 5:12

    For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

  • Psalms 147:19

    He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
โ† Back