Romans 3NASB
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Romans3

New American Standard

1Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?

2Great in every respect. First, that they were entrusted with the actual words of God.

3What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?

4Far from it! Rather, God must prove to be true, though every person be found a liar, as it is written: “So that You are justified in Your words, And prevail when You are judged.”

5But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking from a human viewpoint.)

6Far from it! For otherwise, how will God judge the world?

7But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?

8And why not say (just as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), “Let’s do evil that good may come of it”? Their condemnation is deserved.

9What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;

10as it is written: “There is no righteous person, not even one;

11There is no one who understands, There is no one who seeks out God;

12They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, There is not even one.”

13“Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving,” “The venom of asps is under their lips”;

14“Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”;

15“Their feet are swift to shed blood,

16Destruction and misery are in their paths,

17And they have not known the way of peace.”

18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;

20because by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin.

21But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

22but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction,

23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

24being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus,

25whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in God’s merciful restraint He let the sins previously committed go unpunished;

26for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

27Where then is boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

28For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,

30since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.

31Do we then nullify the Law through faith? Far from it! On the contrary, we establish the Law.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Romans 3.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Objections answered. (1–8). All mankind are sinners. (9–18). Both Jews and Gentiles cannot be justified by their own deeds. (19, 20). It is owing to the free grace of God, through faith in the righteousness of Christ, yet the law is not done away. (21–31).

vv1-8

The law could not save in or from sins, yet it gave the Jews advantages for obtaining salvation. Their stated ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God and his service, and many favours shown to the children of Abraham, all were means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the conversion of many. But especially the Scriptures were committed to them. Enjoyment of God's word and ordinances, is the chief happiness of a people. But God's promises are made only to believers; therefore the unbelief of some, or of many professors, cannot make this faithfulness of no effect. He will fulfil his promises to his people, and bring his threatened vengeance upon unbelievers. God's judging the world, should for ever silence all doubtings and reflections upon his justice. The wickedness and obstinate unbelief of the Jews, proved man's need of the righteousness of God by faith, and also his justice in punishing for sin. Let us do evil, that good may come, is oftener in the heart than in the mouth of sinners; for few thus justify themselves in their wicked ways. The believer knows that duty belongs to him, and events to God; and that he must not commit any sin, or speak one falsehood, upon the hope, or even assurance, that God may thereby glorify himself. If any speak and act thus, their condemnation is just.

vv9-18

Here again is shown that all mankind are under the guilt of sin, as a burden; and under the government and dominion of sin, as enslaved to it, to work wickedness. This is made plain by several passages of Scripture from the Old Testament, which describe the corrupt and depraved state of all men, till grace restrain or change them. Great as our advantages are, these texts describe multitudes who call themselves Christians. Their principles and conduct prove that there is no fear of God before their eyes. And where no fear of God is, no good is to be looked for.

vv19-20

It is in vain to seek for justification by the works of the law. All must plead guilty. Guilty before God, is a dreadful word; but no man can be justified by a law which condemns him for breaking it. The corruption in our nature, will for ever stop any justification by our own works.

Cross References

Romans 3
v10Psalms 14:1-3quotation

Explicitly cited by Paul to establish that both Jew and Gentile are under sin's condemnation.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB

v13Psalms 5:9quotation

Quoted by Paul regarding the throat being an open sepulchre and deceitful tongue.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v15Isaiah 59:7quotation

Directly quoted to describe the swiftness of sinful men to shed innocent blood.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v18Psalms 36:1quotation

Quoted verbatim to show that the climax of depravity is having no fear of God.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v4Psalms 51:4quotation

Direct quotation from David's penitential psalm to show God is justified in His sayings.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v6Genesis 18:25allusion

Alludes to Abraham's rhetorical plea establishing that the Judge of all the earth must do right.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v20Galatians 2:16thematic

Parallels Paul's identical conclusion that no flesh shall be justified by works of the law.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v1Romans 2:25-29thematic

The previous chapter's discussion on true circumcision prompting the question of Jewish advantage.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v2Romans 9:4thematic

Develops what was committed to Israel, specifically the covenants, giving of law, and promises.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v2Acts 7:38thematic

Stephen refers to the Scriptures received on Sinai as the 'lively oracles'.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v3Romans 15:8thematic

Confirms the truth/faithfulness of God in confirming the promises made to the fathers despite unbelief.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v13Psalms 140:3quotation

Quoted by Paul for the description 'adder's poison is under their lips'.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v14Psalms 10:7quotation

Quoted by Paul to describe a mouth full of cursing and deceit.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v20Romans 3:28thematic

The summary theological conclusion of the chapter's discourse on faith vs. law.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v28Acts 13:39thematic

Preaches justification by faith in Christ from things the law of Moses could not justify.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v9Galatians 3:22thematic

Confirms the Scripture has concluded all under sin, matching Paul's proof here.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v20Romans 4:15thematic

Expands on how the law brings the knowledge of sin and works wrath.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v24Ephesians 2:8-10thematic

Parallels being saved freely by grace through faith, excluding any human boasting.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v29Galatians 3:28thematic

Confirms there is no Jew nor Greek distinction, for all are one in Christ.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin