Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Print Page Options
Close DLNT

Romans 3
Disciples’ Literal New Testament

So Then What Is The Advantage of The Jew?

3 What then is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. For first— that they were entrusted the oracles[a] of God!

God Will Be Faithful To His Promises To The Jews Even If Some Reject Him

3 What indeed if some[b] were faithless[c]? Their faithlessness[d] will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 4 May it never be! But let God be [seen to be] true and every person a liar, just as it has been written [in Ps 51:4]: “So that You might be declared-righteous[e] in Your words and prevail in Your being judged[f]”.

But God Is Not Unrighteous To Inflict Wrath On Jews Who Sin

5 But if our[g] unrighteousness demonstrates[h] the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God, the One inflicting the wrath, is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in accordance with human thinking[i]). 6 May it never be! Otherwise how will God judge the world?

God Holds Jews Accountable For Their Sin Too

7 But if the truth of God abounded in my lie[j] to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner? 8 Indeed, why not say “Let us do evil things that good things may come”, as we are blasphemed, and as some affirm us to say— whose condemnation is just[k]!

Scripture Declares All Are Accountable And Guilty Before God. None Are Righteous

9 Therefore what? Are we better[l] [than they]? Not at-all. For we already-charged[m] that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, 10 just as it has been written: “There is not a righteous one, not even one. 11 There is no one understanding. There is no one seeking-out God. 12 They all turned-away, together they became useless[n]. There is no one doing goodness. There is not as-many-as one” [Ps 14:1-3]. 13 “Their throat is an opened grave. With their tongues they were deceiving” [Ps 5:9]. “The poison of asps is under their lips” [Ps 140:3]. 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing[o] and bitterness” [Ps 10:7]. 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood. 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways. 17 And they did not know the way of peace” [Isa 59:7-8]. 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes” [Ps 36:1]. 19 And we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to the ones under the Law— in order that every mouth may be stopped[p] and the whole world may become accountable[q] to God. 20 Because by the works of law[r] no flesh will be declared-righteous in His sight. For through law comes the knowledge of sin.

But Now Righteousness From God Has Been Revealed

21 But now apart from law[s], the righteousness of God has been revealed, being attested by the Law and the Prophets.

It Comes As an Undeserved Gift Through Faith In Christ, Who Satisfied God’s Wrath

22 And it is the righteousness of God through faith[t] in Jesus Christ for all the ones believing! For there is no distinction, 23 for all sinned and are coming-short-of the glory of God, 24 being declared-righteous as-a-gift[u] by His grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, 25 Whom God set-forth[v] as that-which-satisfies[w] [His wrath] through faith, in[x] His blood— for the demonstration[y] of His righteousness because of the passing-by of the sins having previously-taken-place 26 in the forbearance[z] of God; for the demonstration of His righteousness at the present time, so that He might be righteous and declaring-righteous the one of [aa] faith in Jesus.

There Can Be No Boasting In Our Works: It Is By Faith For All!

27 Where then is the boasting? It was shut-out[ab]. Through what kind of law[ac]? Of works? No, but through a law of faith. 28 For we consider a person to be declared-righteous by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is He the God of Jews only[ad]? Is He not also the God of Gentiles? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since there is one God— Who will declare-righteous the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through the same[ae] faith. 31 Do we then nullify the Law through the faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:2 That is, the sacred writings, the Scriptures.
  2. Romans 3:3 Or, What then? If some. Paul now refutes three objections to or false inferences from his teaching.
  3. Romans 3:3 Or, did not believe, were unfaithful, with reference to the oracles they were given.
  4. Romans 3:3 Or, unbelief.
  5. Romans 3:4 Or, vindicated.
  6. Romans 3:4 Or, in your judging.
  7. Romans 3:5 That is, Israel’s; the some who were faithless, v 3.
  8. Romans 3:5 Or, exhibits.
  9. Romans 3:5 Or, with mankind.
  10. Romans 3:7 Or, falsehood. Note 11:11-12.
  11. Romans 3:8 Or, deserved.
  12. Romans 3:9 Or, Do we [Jews] have an advantage? Or, Are we [Jews] excused?
  13. Romans 3:9 Or, previously-charged. That is, in 1:18-2:29.
  14. Romans 3:12 Or, worthless.
  15. Romans 3:14 That is, calling down evil on someone.
  16. Romans 3:19 Or, shut.
  17. Romans 3:19 Or, liable, answerable.
  18. Romans 3:20 Or, ‘of the Law’.
  19. Romans 3:21 That is, any kind of law, Jewish or Gentile. Or, Law, the Law of Moses.
  20. Romans 3:22 Or, through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ (to what God sent Him to do).
  21. Romans 3:24 Or, freely, without a cause.
  22. Romans 3:25 Or, presented, publicly displayed.
  23. Romans 3:25 Or, that-which-propitiates, the-means-of-satisfaction, the-satisfying-sacrifice. That is, that which satisfies God’s wrath and obtains His mercy; the focus being on God. Jesus is the sacrifice that removes or satisfies God’s wrath against sin that Paul has just proven is upon all flesh. Or, that-which-expiates, covers, cleanses [our sin]. That is, that which removes our sin and guilt; the focus being on our sin.
  24. Romans 3:25 Or, by. The satisfaction is both through faith (from our viewpoint) and in or by His blood (from His viewpoint). Or, through faith in His blood.
  25. Romans 3:25 Or, proof.
  26. Romans 3:26 Or, holding back, clemency, delay of punishment.
  27. Romans 3:26 That is, characterized by.
  28. Romans 3:27 Or, excluded.
  29. Romans 3:27 Or, principle, system. Or, Law (meaning, through a Law wrongly understood as of works? No, through a Law rightly understood as of faith).
  30. Romans 3:29 This would be the conclusion if we were saved through a Law of Jewish works.
  31. Romans 3:30 Lit, ‘the faith’ just mentioned.
Listen to Romans 3
Close NIV

Romans 3
New International Version

God’s Faithfulness

3 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way!(A) First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.(B)

3 What if some were unfaithful?(C) Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?(D) 4 Not at all! Let God be true,(E) and every human being a liar.(F) As it is written:

“So that you may be proved right when you speak
    and prevail when you judge.”[a](G)

5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly,(H) what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.)(I) 6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?(J) 7 Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory,(K) why am I still condemned as a sinner?”(L) 8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”?(M) Their condemnation is just!

No One Is Righteous

9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage?(N) Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.(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,
    they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
    not even one.”[b](P)
13 “Their throats are open graves;
    their tongues practice deceit.”[c](Q)
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”[d](R)
14     “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[e](S)
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16     ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”[f](T)
18     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”[g](U)

19 Now we know that whatever the law says,(V) it says to those who are under the law,(W) so that every mouth may be silenced(X) and the whole world held accountable to God.(Y) 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;(Z) rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.(AA)

Righteousness Through Faith

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God(AB) has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.(AC) 22 This righteousness(AD) is given through faith(AE) in[h] Jesus Christ(AF) to all who believe.(AG) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,(AH) 23 for all have sinned(AI) and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified(AJ) freely by his grace(AK) through the redemption(AL) that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i](AM) through the shedding of his blood(AN)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished(AO)— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

27 Where, then, is boasting?(AP) It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.(AQ) 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,(AR) 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.(AS) 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:4 Psalm 51:4
  2. Romans 3:12 Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Eccles. 7:20
  3. Romans 3:13 Psalm 5:9
  4. Romans 3:13 Psalm 140:3
  5. Romans 3:14 Psalm 10:7 (see Septuagint)
  6. Romans 3:17 Isaiah 59:7,8
  7. Romans 3:18 Psalm 36:1
  8. Romans 3:22 Or through the faithfulness of
  9. Romans 3:25 The Greek for sacrifice of atonement refers to the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant (see Lev. 16:15,16).
Listen to Romans 3
Close KJV

Romans 3
King James Version

3 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:

17 And the way of peace have they not known:

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Listen to Romans 3
Close ESV

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,

(G)“That you may be justified in your words,
    and prevail when you (H)are judged.”

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

  1. Romans 3:9 Greek Are we
  2. Romans 3:9 Or at any disadvantage?
  3. Romans 3:20 Greek flesh
Close TLB

Romans 3
Living Bible

3 Then what’s the use of being a Jew? Are there any special benefits for them from God? Is there any value in the Jewish circumcision ceremony? 2 Yes, being a Jew has many advantages.

First of all, God trusted them with his laws so that they could know and do his will.[a] 3 True, some of them were unfaithful, but just because they broke their promises to God, does that mean God will break his promises? 4 Of course not! Though everyone else in the world is a liar, God is not. Do you remember what the book of Psalms says about this?[b] That God’s words will always prove true and right, no matter who questions them.

5 “But,” some say, “our breaking faith with God is good, our sins serve a good purpose, for people will notice how good God is when they see how bad we are. Is it fair, then, for him to punish us when our sins are helping him?” (That is the way some people talk.) 6 God forbid! Then what kind of God would he be, to overlook sin? How could he ever condemn anyone? 7 For he could not judge and condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty brought him glory by pointing up his honesty in contrast to my lies. 8 If you follow through with that idea you come to this: the worse we are, the better God likes it! But the damnation of those who say such things is just. Yet some claim that this is what I preach!

9 Well, then, are we Jews better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all men alike are sinners, whether Jews or Gentiles. 10 As the Scriptures say,

“No one is good—no one in all the world is innocent.”[c]

11 No one has ever really followed God’s paths or even truly wanted to.

12 Every one has turned away; all have gone wrong. No one anywhere has kept on doing what is right; not one.

13 Their talk is foul and filthy like the stench from an open grave.[d] Their tongues are loaded with lies. Everything they say has in it the sting and poison of deadly snakes.

14 Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.

15 They are quick to kill, hating anyone who disagrees with them.[e]

16 Wherever they go they leave misery and trouble behind them, 17 and they have never known what it is to feel secure or enjoy God’s blessing.

18 They care nothing about God nor what he thinks of them.

19 So the judgment of God lies very heavily upon the Jews, for they are responsible to keep God’s laws instead of doing all these evil things; not one of them has any excuse; in fact, all the world stands hushed and guilty before Almighty God.

20 Now do you see it? No one can ever be made right in God’s sight by doing what the law commands. For the more we know of God’s laws, the clearer it becomes that we aren’t obeying them; his laws serve only to make us see that we are sinners.

21-22 But now God has shown us a different way to heaven[f]—not by “being good enough” and trying to keep his laws, but by a new way (though not new, really, for the Scriptures told about it long ago). Now God says he will accept and acquit us—declare us “not guilty”—if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. 23 Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; 24 yet now God declares us “not guilty” of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins.

25 For God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God’s anger against us. He used Christ’s blood and our faith as the means of saving us from his wrath.[g] In this way he was being entirely fair, even though he did not punish those who sinned in former times. For he was looking forward to the time when Christ would come and take away those sins. 26 And now in these days also he can receive sinners in this same way because Jesus took away their sins.

But isn’t this unfair for God to let criminals go free, and say that they are innocent? No, for he does it on the basis of their trust in Jesus who took away their sins.

27 Then what can we boast about doing to earn our salvation? Nothing at all. Why? Because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds; it is based on what Christ has done and our faith in him. 28 So it is that we are saved[h] by faith in Christ and not by the good things we do.

29 And does God save only the Jews in this way? No, the Gentiles, too, may come to him in this same manner. 30 God treats us all the same; all, whether Jews or Gentiles, are acquitted if they have faith. 31 Well then, if we are saved by faith, does this mean that we no longer need obey God’s laws? Just the opposite! In fact, only when we trust Jesus can we truly obey him.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:2 so that they could know and do his will, implied.
  2. Romans 3:4 See Psalm 51:4.
  3. Romans 3:10 See Psalm 14:3.
  4. Romans 3:13 Their talk is foul and filthy like the stench from an open grave, literally, “Their throat is an open grave.” Perhaps the meaning is “Their speech injures others.”
  5. Romans 3:15 hating anyone who disagrees with them, implied.
  6. Romans 3:21 now God has shown us a different way to heaven, literally, “now a righteousness of God has been manifested.”
  7. Romans 3:25 as the means of saving us from his wrath, literally, “to be a propitiation.”
  8. Romans 3:28 saved, literally, “justified.”
Next
Romans 2
Romans 4
Next
dropdown
Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT)

Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing

Info & Free Downloads - Home of the Disciples' Literal New Testament
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

July Summer Surge

More on the NIV

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

English Standard Version (ESV)

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.

ESV Study Bible
Living Bible (TLB)

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.