Romans 3:31

KJV

Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

KJV (with Strong's)

Do we {G2673} then {G3767} make void {G2673} the law {G3551} through {G1223} faith {G4102}? God forbid {G3361}{G1096}: yea {G235}, we establish {G2476} the law {G3551}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Does it follow that we abolish Torah by this trusting? Heaven forbid! On the contrary, we confirm Torah.

Berean Standard Bible

Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.

American Standard Version

Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Romans 3:31 serves as a pivotal rhetorical question and emphatic declaration, concluding Paul's profound argument for justification by faith alone. Having established that both Jews and Gentiles are under the condemnation of sin and that righteousness is imputed through faith in Jesus Christ apart from works of the law, Paul anticipates a critical objection: Does this radical doctrine of salvation by grace through faith nullify or abolish the divine law? His unequivocal response, "God forbid: yea, we establish the law," asserts that true faith in Christ, far from undermining God's holy law, actually upholds, confirms, and properly understands its enduring purpose and authority.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Romans 3:31 immediately follows Paul's comprehensive exposition on the universal sinfulness of humanity (Romans 1:18-3:20) and the groundbreaking revelation of God's righteousness apart from the law, which is received through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-30). This verse acts as a crucial bridge, addressing a potential theological misunderstanding that could arise from the preceding arguments. Paul has just declared that both Jews and Gentiles are justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus [Romans 3:24](/romans/3-24 "Romans 3:24 - Justification by Grace"). The question in [Romans 3:31](/romans/3-31 "Romans 3:31 - Faith Upholds the Law") is therefore a natural and necessary one, directly confronting the perceived tension between God's grace and His established moral and ceremonial law, particularly the Mosaic Law, which was central to Jewish identity and covenant.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** For Paul's Jewish audience, the Law (Torah) was the cornerstone of their identity, their covenant relationship with God, and their understanding of righteousness. The idea that salvation could be obtained "apart from the law" [Romans 3:21](/romans/3-21 "Romans 3:21 - Righteousness Apart from the Law") would have been deeply unsettling, potentially interpreted as a direct assault on God's eternal commands and the very foundation of their religious life. Paul, a former Pharisee, understood this tension acutely. His argument in [Romans](/romans/3 "Romans 3 - All Under Sin, Righteousness Through Faith") is not merely theoretical but directly addresses the deeply ingrained cultural and religious convictions of his Jewish readers, while also demonstrating the universal applicability of God's plan of salvation to Gentiles. The concept of "making void" the law would have implied a disregard for God's revealed will, leading to antinomianism (lawlessness), a charge Paul vehemently refutes.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Romans. It directly engages with the theme of **Faith and the Law**, demonstrating that these are not antithetical but complementary in God's redemptive plan. It underscores **God's Righteousness and Consistency**, showing that His method of salvation through faith does not negate His holy character or His revealed will, but rather upholds it. Furthermore, it touches upon the theme of **True Obedience**, implying that genuine faith leads not to license but to a deeper, Spirit-empowered adherence to the spirit of the law. Paul's emphatic "God forbid" (Greek: _mē genoito_) is a recurring rhetorical device throughout Romans, used to strongly reject false conclusions drawn from his gospel of grace, such as the idea that grace encourages continued sin [Romans 6:1-2](/romans/6-1-2 "Romans 6:1-2 - Shall We Go on Sinning?") or that God has abandoned Israel [Romans 11:1](/romans/11-1 "Romans 11:1 - Has God Rejected Israel?").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **make void (Greek, _katargéō_):** From G2673, meaning "to be (render) entirely idle (useless), literally or figuratively:--abolish, cease, cumber, deliver, destroy, do away, become (make) of no (none, without) effect, fail, loose, bring (come) to nought, put away (down), vanish away, make void." Paul's use of _katargéō_ here is crucial. The question is not whether faith merely bypasses the law, but whether it renders the law completely inoperative, useless, or brings it to nothing. This word implies a total abolition or nullification.
* **God forbid (Greek, _mḗ gínomai_):** A combination of G3361 (_mḗ_), a particle of qualified negation, and G1096 (_gínomai_), meaning "to cause to be... to become (come into being)." The phrase _mē genoito_ (a form of _mḗ gínomai_) is a strong idiom, best translated as "May it never be!" or "Absolutely not!" It expresses the strongest possible rejection of the preceding idea, indicating that the suggestion of faith making the law void is utterly repugnant to God's character and Paul's theology.
* **establish (Greek, _hístēmi_):** From G2476, meaning "to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively):--abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up)." In direct contrast to "make void," _hístēmi_ signifies to confirm, uphold, make firm, or cause to stand. Paul asserts that faith does not tear down the law but rather sets it firmly in its proper place and validates its true purpose.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Do we then make void the law through faith?"**: This is a rhetorical question, anticipating an objection from those who might misunderstand the doctrine of justification by faith. The "then" (Greek: _oûn_, G3767) connects this question directly to the preceding argument that righteousness is by faith apart from works of the law. The core concern is whether faith, as the sole means of righteousness, somehow renders God's holy and righteous law irrelevant, abolished, or without effect. This question reflects a common misconception that grace leads to antinomianism, or lawlessness.
* **"God forbid:"**: This emphatic Greek idiom (_mē genoito_, G3361 G1096) serves as Paul's unequivocal and vehement rejection of the premise that faith nullifies the law. It is the strongest possible negative response, signaling that such a conclusion is utterly unthinkable and contrary to divine truth. It underscores Paul's theological conviction that the gospel of grace does not undermine God's moral standards.
* **"yea, we establish the law."**: This is Paul's affirmative and counter-intuitive declaration. The "yea" (Greek: _allá_, G235) introduces a strong contrast to the rejected premise. Rather than abolishing the law, faith actually "establishes" it (Greek: _hístēmi_, G2476). This means that faith confirms, upholds, validates, and gives the law its proper and intended place within God's redemptive plan. True faith recognizes the law's divine origin, its revelation of sin, its role in pointing to Christ, and its ongoing function as a guide for righteous living for those who are justified.

#### Literary Devices
Paul employs several effective **literary devices** in Romans 3:31. The primary device is a **Rhetorical Question**, "Do we then make void the law through faith?" This technique allows Paul to anticipate and immediately address a likely objection from his readers, particularly those from a Jewish background. By posing the question himself, he controls the narrative and guides the audience toward his intended conclusion. Following this, he uses a powerful **Apostolic Interjection** or **Exclamation**, "God forbid!" (Greek: _mē genoito_). This is a strong negative idiom, functioning as an emphatic denial and expressing Paul's utter rejection of the implied premise. It adds dramatic force and emotional intensity to his argument. Finally, there is a clear **Antithesis** or **Contrast** between "make void" (_katargéō_) and "establish" (_hístēmi_). This stark opposition highlights the diametrically opposed outcomes: faith does not destroy the law but rather confirms and upholds it, revealing its true purpose and enduring validity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 3:31 is a crucial theological statement that clarifies the relationship between God's grace, human faith, and the divine law. It asserts that the gospel of justification by faith does not lead to lawlessness but rather provides the only true foundation for upholding the law. The law, in its essence, reveals God's holy character and His righteous demands, exposing humanity's inability to meet those demands and thus pointing to the need for a Savior. When a person is justified by faith in Christ, they are not freed from the moral obligations of the law, but rather empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill the law's righteous requirements, not as a means to salvation, but as a fruit of salvation. This understanding prevents antinomianism and reinforces the coherence of God's redemptive plan, showing that His grace does not contradict His justice or His holy standards.

* [Romans 6:1-2](/romans/6-1-2 "Romans 6:1-2 - Shall We Go on Sinning?")
* [Galatians 3:24](/galatians/3-24 "Galatians 3:24 - The Law as a Guardian")
* [Romans 8:3-4](/romans/8-3-4 "Romans 8:3-4 - The Law Fulfilled in Us")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Romans 3:31 calls believers to a profound understanding of how grace and law intersect in the Christian life. It challenges the misconception that because salvation is a free gift received by faith, moral living becomes optional or irrelevant. On the contrary, genuine faith in Christ, which brings justification, also transforms the heart and empowers the believer to live in a way that honors God's commands. We are no longer under the law as a system of earning righteousness, but we are called to live according to the spirit of the law, which is love, as a response to God's saving grace. This means our faith should lead us to a deeper appreciation for God's holiness and a greater desire to conform our lives to His will, not out of compulsion or fear of judgment, but out of gratitude and love for the One who justified us. Our obedience becomes a joyful expression of our new identity in Christ, establishing the law's principles in our lives as a testimony to God's transformative power.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding that faith "establishes" the law change your perspective on Christian freedom?**
* **In what practical ways can your faith in Christ lead you to a deeper appreciation and obedience to God's moral standards, rather than a disregard for them?**
* **What are some common misconceptions about grace that Romans 3:31 helps to correct in your own thinking or in the church today?**

### FAQ
**Does "establish the law" mean Christians must follow all Old Testament laws, including ceremonial ones?**

Answer: No, "establish the law" does not mean Christians are bound to every detail of the Mosaic Law, especially its ceremonial or civil aspects, in the same way ancient Israel was. Paul's argument throughout Romans and Galatians clarifies that salvation is not through adherence to the Mosaic Law, which includes dietary restrictions, sacrificial systems, or circumcision. Instead, "establish the law" refers to upholding its divine origin, its moral principles, and its ultimate purpose. The law reveals sin [Romans 7:7](/romans/7-7 "The Law Reveals Sin"), points to the need for a Savior, and reflects God's holy character. Through faith in Christ, believers fulfill the law's righteous requirement not by perfect external adherence to its letter, but by the Spirit's power working within them, leading to lives characterized by love [Romans 13:8-10](/romans/13-8-10 "Love Fulfills the Law") and obedience to Christ's commands. The moral essence of the law, particularly as summarized in the command to love God and neighbor, is affirmed and empowered by faith, not abolished.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 3:31 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ Himself. Far from making the law void, Jesus perfectly embodied and fulfilled its every demand, living a life of impeccable obedience where all others failed [Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law"). He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them, thereby establishing their divine authority and demonstrating the perfect standard of God's righteousness. Furthermore, through His sacrificial death on the cross, Christ bore the curse of the law for humanity's transgression, offering Himself as the propitiation for our sins [Romans 3:25](/romans/3-25 "Romans 3:25 - Christ as Propitiation"). In doing so, He satisfied the law's righteous demands for justice, making it possible for God to be both "just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" [Romans 3:26](/romans/3-26 "Romans 3:26 - God is Just and Justifier"). Thus, faith in Christ does not discard the law but rather validates its purpose by revealing the only one who could perfectly keep it and ultimately redeem us from its condemnation, thereby establishing its true and eternal significance within God's redemptive plan. The law, therefore, serves as a "guardian" leading us to Christ [Galatians 3:24](/galatians/3-24 "The Law as a Guardian"), and through faith in Him, its righteous requirements are met in us by the power of the Spirit [Romans 8:3-4](/romans/8-3-4 "The Law Fulfilled in Us").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Galatians 2:21

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Matthew 5:17

¶ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Romans 13:8

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:10

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.

1 Corinthians 9:21

To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

Romans 8:4

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 10:4

For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.