Romans 3

A Jew's Advantage and God's Faithfulness

1What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew? Or what benefit is there to circumcision? 2Much in every way! Indeed, above all else, they were entrusted with the messages of God.

3Now what if some did not believe? Their unbelief#3:3 Or some were not faithful? Their unfaithfulness… will not nullify God's faithfulness, will it? 4Absolutely not! God must be true, even though everyone is found to be a liar, just as it is written:

So that you would be justified whenever you speak,

and win the case when you judge.#Psalm 51:4

An Absurd Conclusion

5Now if our unrighteousness demonstrates God's righteousness, what shall we say? God is not unjust in bringing his wrath on us, is he? (I am speaking from a human point of view.) 6Absolutely not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7For example,#3:7 A few witnesses to the text read And. (“Witnesses to the text” mentioned in footnotes may include Greek manuscripts, lectionaries, translations, and quotations in the church fathers.) someone might say, “If by my lie the truth of God increases all the more to his glory, why am I still being judged as a sinner?” 8And why not say (as some slanderously claim we say), “Let us do evil so that good may result.” Their condemnation is deserved.

All Are Guilty of Sin

9What then? Are we any better off? No, not at all! In fact, we have already made the charge that all (both Jews and Greeks) are under sin. 10Just as it is written:

There is no one who is righteous, not even one.

11There is no one who understands. There is no one who searches for God.

12They all turned away; together they became useless.

There is no one who does what is good; there is not even one.#Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7:20

13Their throat is an open grave.

They kept deceiving with their tongues.

The poison of asps is on their lips.#Psalm 5:9; 140:3

14Their mouth is filled with cursing and bitterness.#Psalm 10:7

15Their feet are quick to shed blood.

16They leave a trail of destruction and suffering wherever they go.

17The way of peace they did not know.#Isaiah 59:7-8

18There is no fear of God in front of their eyes.#Psalm 36:1

The Law Condemns Everyone

19Now we know that whatever the law says is addressed to those who are under the law,#3:19 Or those in the sphere of the law so that every mouth will be silenced and the whole world will be subject to God's judgment. 20For this reason, no one#3:20 Literally flesh will be declared righteous in his sight by works of the law, for through the law we become aware of sin.

A Righteousness Apart From the Law by Faith

21But now, completely apart from the law, a righteousness from God has been made known. The Law and the Prophets testify to it. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all and over all#3:22 Some witnesses to the text omit and over all. who believe.

In fact, there is no difference, 23because all have sinned and fall short of the glory#3:23 Or approval of God 24and are justified#3:24 Or declared righteous freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God publicly displayed as the atonement seat#3:25 The atonement seat was the cover of the Ark of the Covenant. It served as the footstool of God's throne and was the place where the sacrificial blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement (see Leviticus 16:2, 14, 15). Christ is the fulfillment of the function of the atonement seat. through faith in his blood. God did this to demonstrate his justice, since, in his divine restraint, he had left the sins that were committed earlier unpunished. 26He did this to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so that he would be both just and the one who justifies the person who has faith in Jesus.

27What happens to boasting then? It has been eliminated. By what principle#3:27 In this verse, principle translates the Greek term nomos, which is often translated law. —by the principle of works? No, but by the principle of faith. 28For we conclude that a person is justified by faith without the works of the law. 29Or is he only the God of the Jews? Is he not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, also of the Gentiles, 30since there is one God who will justify the circumcised person by faith and the uncircumcised person through the very same faith. 31So are we doing away with the law by this faith? Absolutely not! Instead, we are upholding the law.

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