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But if our injustice serves to confirm the justice of God, what should we say? That God is unjust to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)(A) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? But if through my falsehood God’s truthfulness abounds to his glory, why am I still being judged as a sinner? And why not say (as some people slander us by saying that we say), “Let us do evil so that good may come”? Their judgment is deserved!(B)

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But if our unrighteousness demonstrates[a] the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he? (I am speaking in human terms.)[b] Absolutely not! For otherwise how could God judge the world? For if by my lie the truth of God enhances[c] his glory, why am I still actually being judged as a sinner? And why not say, “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”?—as some who slander us allege that we say.[d] (Their[e] condemnation is deserved!)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:5 tn Or “shows clearly.”
  2. Romans 3:5 sn The same expression occurs in Gal 3:15, and similar phrases in Rom 6:19 and 1 Cor 9:8.
  3. Romans 3:7 tn Grk “abounded unto.”
  4. Romans 3:8 tn Grk “(as we are slandered and some affirm that we say…).”
  5. Romans 3:8 tn Grk “whose.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, this relative clause was rendered as a new sentence in the translation.

But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly,(A) what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.)(B) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?(C) Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory,(D) why am I still condemned as a sinner?”(E) Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”?(F) Their condemnation is just!

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