Romans 3
New King James Version
God’s Judgment Defended
3 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because (A)to them were committed the [a]oracles of God. 3 For what if (B)some did not believe? (C)Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 (D)Certainly not! Indeed, let (E)God be [b]true but (F)every man a liar. As it is written:
(G)“That You may be justified in Your words,
And may overcome when You are judged.”
5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (H)(I speak as a man.) 6 Certainly not! For then (I)how will God judge the world?
7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, (J)“Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their [c]condemnation is just.
All Have Sinned(K)
9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that (L)they are all under sin.
10 As it is written:
(M)“There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
13 “Their(N) throat is an open [d]tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
(O)“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
14 “Whose(P) mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their(Q) feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There(R) is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever (S)the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that (T)every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become [e]guilty before God. 20 Therefore (U)by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
God’s Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now (V)the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, (W)being witnessed by the Law (X)and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all [f]and on all who believe. For (Y)there is no difference; 23 for (Z)all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified [g]freely (AA)by His grace (AB)through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth (AC)as a [h]propitiation (AD)by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over (AE)the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Boasting Excluded
27 (AF)Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude (AG)that a man is [i]justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. 29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since (AH)there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
Footnotes
- Romans 3:2 sayings, Scriptures
- Romans 3:4 Found true
- Romans 3:8 Lit. judgment
- Romans 3:13 grave
- Romans 3:19 accountable
- Romans 3:22 NU omits and on all
- Romans 3:24 without any cost
- Romans 3:25 mercy seat
- Romans 3:28 declared righteous
Romans 3
English Standard Version
God's Righteousness Upheld
3 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, (A)the Jews were entrusted with (B)the oracles of God. 3 (C)What if some were unfaithful? (D)Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! (E)Let God be true though (F)every one were a liar, as it is written,
5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict (I)wrath on us? ((J)I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could (K)God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, (L)why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not (M)do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
No One Is Righteous
9 What then? Are we Jews[a] any better off?[b] No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both (N)Jews and (O)Greeks, are (P)under sin, 10 as it is written:
(Q)“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
13 (R)“Their throat is (S)an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
(T)“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14 (U)“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15 (V)“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 in their paths are ruin and misery,
17 and (W)the way of peace they have not known.”
18 (X)“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever (Y)the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, (Z)so that every mouth may be stopped, and (AA)the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For (AB)by works of the law no human being[c] will be justified in his sight, since (AC)through the law comes knowledge of sin.
The Righteousness of God Through Faith
21 But now (AD)the righteousness of God (AE)has been manifested apart from the law, although (AF)the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God (AG)through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. (AH)For there is no distinction: 23 for (AI)all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 (AJ)and are justified (AK)by his grace as a gift, (AL)through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God (AM)put forward as (AN)a propitiation (AO)by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in (AP)his divine forbearance he had passed over (AQ)former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 (AR)Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith (AS)apart from works of the law. 29 Or (AT)is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since (AU)God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and (AV)the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
Footnotes
- Romans 3:9 Greek Are we
- Romans 3:9 Or at any disadvantage?
- Romans 3:20 Greek flesh
Romans 3
New American Standard Bible
All the World Guilty
3 Then what [a]advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Great in every respect. First, that (A)they were entrusted with the (B)actual words of God. 3 What then? If (C)some [b]did not believe, their [c]unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 4 [d](D)Far from it! Rather, God must prove to be true, though every person be found (E)a liar, as it is written:
5 But if our unrighteousness [f](G)demonstrates the righteousness of God, (H)what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? ((I)I am speaking from a human viewpoint.) 6 (J)Far from it! For otherwise, how will (K)God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie (L)the truth of God abounded to His glory, (M)why am I also still being judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say (just as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), “(N)Let’s do evil that good may come of it”? [g]Their condemnation is deserved.
9 What then? [h](O)Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both (P)Jews and (Q)Greeks are (R)all under sin; 10 as it is written:
“(S)There is no righteous person, not even one;
11 There is no one who understands,
There is no one who seeks out God;
12 They have all turned aside, together they have become [i]corrupt;
There is no one who does good,
There is not even one.”
13 “(T)Their throat is an open grave,
With their tongues they keep deceiving,”
“(U)The venom of [j]asps is under their lips”;
14 “(V)Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”;
15 “(W)Their feet are swift to shed blood,
16 Destruction and misery are in their paths,
17 And they have not known the way of peace.”
18 “(X)There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever the (Y)Law says, it speaks to (Z)those who are [k]under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and (AA)all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because (AB)by the works [l]of the Law [m]none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for [n](AC)through the Law comes [o]knowledge of sin.
Justification by Faith
21 But now apart [p]from the Law (AD)the righteousness of God has been revealed, being (AE)witnessed by the [q]Law and the Prophets, 22 but it is the (AF)righteousness of God through (AG)faith (AH)in Jesus Christ for (AI)all those [r]who believe; for (AJ)there is no distinction, 23 for all [s](AK)have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift (AL)by His grace through (AM)the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God displayed publicly as (AN)a [t]propitiation [u](AO)in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, [v]because in God’s merciful (AP)restraint He (AQ)let the sins previously committed go unpunished; 26 for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who [w]has faith in Jesus.
27 Where then is (AR)boasting? It has been excluded. By (AS)what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 [x]For (AT)we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works [y]of the Law. 29 Or (AU)is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed (AV)God (AW)who will justify the [z]circumcised [aa]by faith and the [ab]uncircumcised through faith (AX)is one.
31 Do we then nullify [ac]the Law through faith? (AY)Far from it! On the contrary, we (AZ)establish the Law.
Footnotes
- Romans 3:1 Lit is the advantage of the Jew
- Romans 3:3 Or were unfaithful
- Romans 3:3 Or unfaithfulness
- Romans 3:4 Lit May it never happen! And so throughout the ch
- Romans 3:4 Or in Your judging
- Romans 3:5 I.e., by requiring His judgment
- Romans 3:8 Lit Whose
- Romans 3:9 Or Are we worse
- Romans 3:12 Or depraved
- Romans 3:13 I.e., venomous snakes
- Romans 3:19 Lit in
- Romans 3:20 Or of law
- Romans 3:20 Lit no flesh
- Romans 3:20 Or through law
- Romans 3:20 Or recognition
- Romans 3:21 Or from law
- Romans 3:21 I.e., the Old Testament
- Romans 3:22 Or who believe. For there is
- Romans 3:23 Or sinned
- Romans 3:25 I.e., a means of reconciliation between God and mankind by paying the penalty for sin
- Romans 3:25 Or by
- Romans 3:25 Lit because of the passing over of the sins previously committed, in the restraint of God
- Romans 3:26 Lit is of the faith of Jesus
- Romans 3:28 One early ms Therefore
- Romans 3:28 Or of law
- Romans 3:30 Lit circumcision
- Romans 3:30 Lit out of
- Romans 3:30 Lit uncircumcision
- Romans 3:31 Or law
Romans 3
1599 Geneva Bible
3 1 He giveth the Jews some 2 preferment, for the covenant’s sake, 4 but yet such, as wholly dependeth on God’s mercy. 9 That both Jews and Gentiles are sinners, 11 he proveth by Scriptures: 19 and showing the use of the Law, 28 he concludeth that we are justified by faith.
1 What [a]is then the preferment of the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision?
2 Much every manner of way: for [b]chiefly, because unto them were of credit committed the [c]oracles of God.
3 For what, though some did not [d]believe? shall their unbelief make the [e]faith of God without effect?
4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, and every man a liar, as it is written, That thou mightest be [f]justified in thy words, and overcome, [g]when thou art judged.
5 [h]Now if our [i]unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? is God unrighteous which punisheth? (I speak as [j]a man.)
6 God forbid: (else how shall God judge the world?)
7 [k]For if the [l]verity of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory, why am I yet condemned as a sinner?
8 And (as we are blamed, and as some affirm, that we say) why do we not evil, that good may come thereof? whose damnation is just.
9 [m]What then? are we more excellent? No, in no wise: for we have already proved, that all, both Jews and Gentiles are [n]under sin,
10 As it is written, (A)There is none righteous no not one.
11 There is none that understandeth: there is none that seeketh God.
12 They have all gone out of the way: they have been made altogether unprofitable: there is none that doeth good, no not one.
13 (B)Their throat is an open sepulcher: they have used their tongues to deceit: (C)the poison of asps is under their lips.
14 (D)Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
15 (E)Their feet are swift to shed blood.
16 Destruction and calamity are in their ways:
17 And the [o]way of peace they have not known.
18 (F)The fear of God is not before their eyes.
19 [p]Now we know that whatsoever the [q]law saith, it saith it to them which are under the law, that [r]every mouth may be stopped, and all the world be [s]subject to the judgment of God.
20 Therefore by the [t]works of the Law shall no [u]flesh be [v]justified in his [w]sight: for by the Law cometh the knowledge of sin.
21 [x]But now is the righteousness of God made manifest without the Law, having witness of the Law, and of the Prophets,
22 [y]To wit, the righteousness of God by the faith of [z]Jesus Christ, unto all, and upon all that believe.
23 For there is no difference: for all have sinned, and are deprived of the [aa]glory of God,
24 [ab]And are justified [ac]freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25 [ad]Whom God hath set forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his [ae]blood to declare his righteousness, by the forgiveness of the sins that [af]are passed,
26 Through the [ag]patience of God, to show at [ah]this time his righteousness, that he might be [ai]just, and a [aj]justifier of him which is of the [ak]faith of Jesus.
27 [al]Where is then the rejoicing? It is excluded. By what [am]Law? of works? Nay: but by the Law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude, that a man is justified by faith, without the works of the Law.
29 [an]God, is he the God of the [ao]Jews only, and not of the Gentiles also? Yes, even of the Gentiles also.
30 For it is one God, who shall justify [ap]circumcision of faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
31 [aq]Do we then make the Law of [ar]none effect through faith? God forbid: yea, we [as]establish the Law.
Footnotes
- Romans 3:1 The first meeting with, or preventing an objection of the Jews: what then, have the Jews no more preferment than the Gentiles? yes, that have they, saith the Apostle, on God’s behalf: for he committed the tables of the covenant to them, so that the unbelief of a few, cannot cause the whole nation without exception to be cast away of God, who is true, and who also useth their unworthiness to commend and set forth his goodness.
- Romans 3:2 The Jews’ state and condition was chiefest.
- Romans 3:2 Words.
- Romans 3:3 Break the covenant.
- Romans 3:3 The faith that God gave.
- Romans 3:4 That thy justice might be plainly seen.
- Romans 3:4 Forasmuch as thou showest forth an evident token of thy righteousness, constancy and faith, by preserving him who had broken his covenant.
- Romans 3:5 Another prevention, issuing out of the former answer: that the justice of God is in such sort commended and set forth by our unrighteousness, that therefore God forgetteth not that he is the judge of the world, and therefore a most severe revenger of unrighteousness.
- Romans 3:5 Treachery, and all the fruits thereof.
- Romans 3:5 Therefore I speak not these words in mine own person, as though I thought so, but this is the talk of man’s wisdom, which is not subject to the will of God.
- Romans 3:7 A third objection which addeth somewhat to the former, If sins do turn to the glory of God, they are not only not to be punished, but we ought rather to give ourselves to them: which blasphemy Paul contending himself to curse and detest, pronounceth just punishment against such blasphemers.
- Romans 3:7 The truth and constancy.
- Romans 3:9 Another answer to the first objection: that the Jews, if they be considered in themselves, are no better than other men are: as it has been long since pronounced by the mouth of the Prophets.
- Romans 3:9 Are guilty of sin.
- Romans 3:17 An innocent and peaceable life.
- Romans 3:19 He proveth that this grievous accusation which is uttered by David and Isaiah, doth properly concern the Jews.
- Romans 3:19 The law of Moses.
- Romans 3:19 A conclusion of all the former disputation, from verse 8 of the first Chapter. Therefore saith the Apostle, No man can hope to be justified by any Law, whether it be that general Law, or the particular Law of Moses, and therefore to be saved: seeing it appeareth (as we have already proved) by comparing the Law and man’s life together, that all men are sinners, and therefore worthy of condemnation in the sight of God.
- Romans 3:19 Be found guilty before God.
- Romans 3:20 By that that the Law can by us be performed.
- Romans 3:20 Flesh is here taken for man, as in many other places, and furthermore hath here a greater force: for it is put to show the contrariety betwixt God and man: as if you would say, Man who is nothing else but a piece of flesh defiled with sin, and God who is most pure and most perfect in himself.
- Romans 3:20 Absolved before the judgment seat of God.
- Romans 3:20 A secret setting of the righteousness which is before men, be they never so just, against the justice which can stand before God: now there is no righteousness can stand before God, but the righteousness of Christ only.
- Romans 3:21 Therefore saith the Apostle, Lest that men should perish, God doth now exhibit that, which he promised of old, that is to say, a way whereby we may be justified and saved before him without the Law.
- Romans 3:22 The matter, as it were of this righteousness, is Christ Jesus apprehended by faith, and for this end offered to all people, as without him all people are shut out from the kingdom of God.
- Romans 3:22 Which we give to Jesus Christ, or which resteth upon him.
- Romans 3:23 By the Glory of God, is meant that mark which we all shoot at, that is, everlasting life, which standeth in that we are made partakers of the glory of God.
- Romans 3:24 Therefore this righteousness touching us, is altogether freely given, for it standeth upon those things which we have not done ourselves, but such as Christ hath suffered for our sakes, to deliver us from sin.
- Romans 3:24 Of his free gift, and mere liberality.
- Romans 3:25 God then is the author of that free justification, because it pleaseth him: and Christ is he, which suffered punishment for our sins, and in whom we have remission of them: and the means whereby we apprehend Christ, is faith. To be short, the end is the setting forth of the goodness of God, that by this means it may appear, that he is merciful indeed, and constant in his promises, as he that freely, and of mere grace justifieth the believers.
- Romans 3:25 This name of Blood, calleth us back to the figure of the old sacrifices, the truth and substance of which sacrifices is in Christ.
- Romans 3:25 Of those sins which we committed when we were his enemies.
- Romans 3:26 Through his patience, and suffering nature.
- Romans 3:26 To wit, when Paul wrote this.
- Romans 3:26 That he might be found exceeding true and faithful.
- Romans 3:26 Making him just, and without blame by imputing Christ’s righteousness unto him.
- Romans 3:26 Of the number of them which by faith lay hold upon Christ: contrary to whom, are they which look to be saved by circumcision, that is, by the Law.
- Romans 3:27 An argument to prove this conclusion, that we are justified by faith without works, taken from the end of Justification. The end of Justification is the glory of God alone: therefore we are justified by faith without works: for if we were justified either by our own works only, or partly by faith, and partly by works, the glory of this justification should not be wholly given to God.
- Romans 3:27 By what doctrine? now the doctrine of works hath [this] condition joined with it, If thou doest: and the doctrine of faith hath this condition, If thou believest.
- Romans 3:29 Another argument of an absurdity: if justification depended upon the Law of Moses, then should God be a Savior to the Jews only. Again: if he should save the Jews after one sort, and the Gentiles after another, he should not be one and like himself. Therefore he will justify both of them after one selfsame manner, that is to say, by faith. Moreover, this argument must be joined to that which followeth next, that this conclusion may be firm and evident.
- Romans 3:29 God is said to be their God, after the manner of the Scripture, whom he loveth and tendereth.
- Romans 3:30 The circumcised.
- Romans 3:31 The taking away of an objection: yet it is not the Law taken away therefore, but is rather established, as it shall be declared in [its] proper place.
- Romans 3:31 Vain, void, to no purpose, and of no force.
- Romans 3:31 We make it effectual and strong.
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