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Romans 3
Christian Standard Bible

Paul Answers an Objection

3 So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted(A) with the very words of God.(B) 3 What then? If some were unfaithful,(C) will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Absolutely not!(D) Let God be true, even though everyone is a liar,(E) as it is written:

That you may be justified in your words
and triumph when you judge.[a](F)

5 But if our unrighteousness highlights[b] God’s righteousness,(G) what are we to say?(H) I am using a human argument:[c](I) Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath? 6 Absolutely not! Otherwise, how will God judge the world?(J) 7 But if by my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?(K) 8 And why not say, just as some people slanderously claim we say, “Let us do what is evil so that good may come”?(L) Their condemnation is deserved!

The Whole World Guilty before God

9 What then? Are we any better off?[d] Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews(M) and Greeks(N) are all under sin,[e](O) 10 as it is written:

There is no one righteous, not even one.
11 There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.[f](P)
13 Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues.[g](Q)
Vipers’ venom is under their lips.[h](R)
14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.[i](S)
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,
17 and the path of peace they have not known.[j](T)
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.[k](U)

19 Now we know that whatever the law says,(V) it speaks to those who are subject to the law,[l](W) so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.[m](X) 20 For no one will be justified[n] in his sight by the works of the law,(Y) because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.(Z)

The Righteousness of God through Faith

21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed,(AA) attested by the Law and the Prophets.[o](AB) 22 The righteousness of God is through faith(AC) in Jesus Christ[p](AD) to all who believe,(AE) since there is no distinction.(AF) 23 For all have sinned(AG) and fall short of the[q] glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace(AH) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.(AI) 25 God presented him as the mercy seat[r](AJ) by his blood,(AK) through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God(AL) passed over the sins previously committed.(AM) 26 God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

Boasting Excluded

27 Where, then, is boasting?(AN) It is excluded. By what kind of law?[s](AO) By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law[t] of faith. 28 For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.(AP) 29 Or is God the God of Jews only?(AQ) Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is one God(AR) who will justify the circumcised by faith(AS) and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not!(AT) On the contrary, we uphold the law.(AU)

Footnotes

  1. 3:4 Ps 51:4
  2. 3:5 Or shows, or demonstrates
  3. 3:5 Lit I speak as a man
  4. 3:9 Are we Jews any better than the Gentiles?
  5. 3:9 Under sin’s power or dominion
  6. 3:10–12 Ps 14:1–3; 53:1–3; Ec 7:20
  7. 3:13 Ps 5:9
  8. 3:13 Ps 140:3
  9. 3:14 Ps 10:7
  10. 3:15–17 Is 59:7–8
  11. 3:18 Ps 36:1
  12. 3:19 Lit those in the law
  13. 3:19 Or become guilty before God, or may be accountable to God
  14. 3:20 Or will be declared righteous, or will be acquitted
  15. 3:21 When capitalized, the Law and the Prophets = OT
  16. 3:22 Or through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ
  17. 3:23 Or and lack the
  18. 3:25 Or propitiation, or place of atonement
  19. 3:27 Or what principle?
  20. 3:27 Or a principle
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Romans 3
Lexham English Bible

Jews Still Have an Advantage

3 Therefore, what is the advantage of the Jew, or what is the use of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. For first, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What is the result[a] if some refused to believe? Their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 4 May it never be! But let God be true but every human being a liar, just as it is written,

“In order that you may be justified in your words,
    and may prevail when you are[b] judged.”[c]

5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God, who inflicts wrath, is not unjust, is he? (I am speaking according to a human perspective.) 6 May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? 7 But if by my lying, the truth of God abounded to his glory, why am I also still condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not (as we are slandered, and as some affirm that we say), “Let us do evil, in order that good may come of it? Their[d] condemnation is just!

The Entire World Guilty of Sin

9 What then? Do we have an advantage? Not at all. For we have already charged both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, 10 just as it is written,

“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11     there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned aside together; they have become worthless;
    There is no one who practices kindness;
    there is not even one.[e]
13 Their throat is an opened grave;
    they deceive with their tongues;
the venom of asps is under their lips,[f]
14     whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.[g]
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16     destruction and distress are in their paths,
17 and they have not known the way of peace.[h]
18     The fear of God is not before their eyes.”[i]

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those under the law, in order that every mouth may be closed and the whole world may become accountable to God. 20 For by the works of the law no person will be declared righteous[j] before him, for through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Righteousness through Faith Revealed

21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified about by the law and the prophets— 22 that is, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ[k] to all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by his grace, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God made publicly available as the mercy seat[l] through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness, because of the passing over of previously committed sins, 26 in the forbearance of God, for the demonstration of his righteousness in the present time, so that he should be just and the one who justifies the person by faith[m] in Jesus.

27 Therefore, where is boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law[n] of faith. 28 For we consider a person to be justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, also of the Gentiles, 30 since God is one, who will justify those who are circumcised[o] by faith and those who are uncircumcised[p] through faith. 31 Therefore, do we nullify the law through faith? May it never be! But we uphold the law.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:3 Literally “for what”
  2. Romans 3:4 Or, if the form is understood as middle voice, “when you yourself judge”
  3. Romans 3:4 A quotation from Ps 51:4
  4. Romans 3:8 Literally “whose”
  5. Romans 3:12 Verses 10–12 are a quotation from Ps 14:1–3
  6. Romans 3:13 A quotation from Ps 5:9 and Ps 140:3
  7. Romans 3:14 A quotation from Ps 10:7
  8. Romans 3:17 Verses 15–17 are a quotation from Isa 59:7–8
  9. Romans 3:18 A quotation from Ps 36:1
  10. Romans 3:20 Literally “all flesh will not be declared righteous”
  11. Romans 3:22 Or “through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ”
  12. Romans 3:25 Or “as the place of propitiation”
  13. Romans 3:26 Or “by Jesus’ faithfulness”
  14. Romans 3:27 Or “a principle”
  15. Romans 3:30 Literally “circumcision”
  16. Romans 3:30 Literally “uncircumcision”
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Romans 2
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