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.
Romans 3
Holman 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 spoken words of God.(B) 3 What then? If some did not believe,(C) will their unbelief cancel God’s faithfulness? 4 Absolutely not!(D) God must be true, even if everyone is a liar,(E) as it is written:
5 But if our unrighteousness highlights[b] God’s righteousness,(G) what are we to say?(H) I use 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 is amplified to His glory, why am I also still 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?[d] Not at all! For we have previously charged that both Jews(M) and Gentiles[e](N) are all under sin,[f](O) 10 as it is written:[g]
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 useless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.(P)[h]
13 Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues.(Q)[i]
Vipers’ venom is under their lips.(R)[j]
14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.(S)[k]
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.(T)[l]
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.(U)[m]
19 Now we know that whatever the law says(V) speaks to those who are subject to the law,[n](W) so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.[o](X) 20 For no one will be justified[p] in His sight by the works of the law,(Y) because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.(Z)
God’s Righteousness through Faith
21 But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed(AA)—attested by the Law and the Prophets[q](AB) 22 —that is, God’s righteousness through faith(AC) in Jesus Christ,[r](AD) to all who believe,(AE) since there is no distinction.(AF) 23 For all have sinned(AG) and fall short of the[s] 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 a propitiation[t](AJ) through faith in His blood,(AK) 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 righteous and declare righteous[u] the one who has faith in Jesus.
Boasting Excluded
27 Where then is boasting?(AN) It is excluded. By what kind of law?[v](AO) By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law[w] of faith. 28 For we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.(AP) 29 Or is God for Jews only?(AQ) Is He not also for Gentiles? Yes, for 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 cancel the law through faith? Absolutely not!(AT) On the contrary, we uphold the law.(AU)
Footnotes
- Romans 3:4 Ps 51:4
- Romans 3:5 Or shows, or demonstrates
- Romans 3:5 Lit I speak as a man
- Romans 3:9 Are we Jews any better than the Gentiles?
- Romans 3:9 Lit Greeks
- Romans 3:9 Under sin’s power or dominion
- Romans 3:10 Paul constructs this charge from a chain of OT quotations, mainly from the Psalms.
- Romans 3:12 Ps 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Ec 7:20
- Romans 3:13 Ps 5:9
- Romans 3:13 Ps 140:3
- Romans 3:14 Ps 10:7
- Romans 3:17 Is 59:7-8
- Romans 3:18 Ps 36:1
- Romans 3:19 Lit those in the law
- Romans 3:19 Or become guilty before God, or may be accountable to God
- Romans 3:20 Or will be declared righteous, or will be acquitted
- Romans 3:21 When capitalized, the Law and the Prophets = OT
- Romans 3:22 Or through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ
- Romans 3:23 Or and lack the
- Romans 3:25 Or as a propitiatory sacrifice, or as an offering of atonement, or as a mercy seat; 2Co 5:21; Heb 9:5
- Romans 3:26 Or and justify, or and acquit
- Romans 3:27 Or what principle?
- Romans 3:27 Or a principle
Romans 3
Darby Translation
3 What then [is] the superiority of the Jew? or what the profit of circumcision?
2 Much every way: and first, indeed, that to them were entrusted the oracles of God.
3 For what? if some have not believed, shall their unbelief make the faith of God of none effect?
4 Far be the thought: but let God be true, and every man false; according as it is written, So that thou shouldest be justified in thy words, and shouldest overcome when thou art in judgment.
5 But if our unrighteousness commend God's righteousness, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak according to man.
6 Far be the thought: since how shall God judge the world?
7 For if the truth of God, in my lie, has more abounded to his glory, why yet am *I* also judged as a sinner?
8 and not, according as we are injuriously charged, and according as some affirm that we say, Let us practise evil things, that good ones may come? whose judgment is just.
9 What then? are we better? No, in no wise: for we have before charged both Jews and Greeks with being all under sin:
10 according as it is written, There is not a righteous [man], not even one;
11 there is not the [man] that understands, there is not one that seeks after God.
12 All have gone out of the way, they have together become unprofitable; there is not one that practises goodness, there is not so much as one:
13 their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; asps' poison [is] under their lips:
14 whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness;
15 swift their feet to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery [are] in their ways,
17 and way of peace they have not known:
18 there is no fear of God before their eyes.
19 Now we know that whatever the things the law says, it speaks to those under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world be under judgment to God.
20 Wherefore by works of law no flesh shall be justified before him; for by law [is] knowledge of sin.
21 But now without law righteousness of God is manifested, borne witness to by the law and the prophets;
22 righteousness of God by faith of Jesus Christ towards all, and upon all those who 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 which [is] in Christ Jesus;
25 whom God has set forth a mercy-seat, through faith in his blood, for [the] shewing forth of his righteousness, in respect of the passing by the sins that had taken place before, through the forbearance of God;
26 for [the] shewing forth of his righteousness in the present time, so that he should be just, and justify him that is of [the] faith of Jesus.
27 Where then [is] boasting? It has been excluded. By what law? of works? Nay, but by law of faith;
28 for we reckon that a man is justified by faith, without works of law.
29 Is [God] the God of Jews only? is he not of [the] nations also? Yea, of nations also:
30 since indeed [it is] one God who shall justify [the] circumcision on the principle of faith, and uncircumcision by faith.
31 Do we then make void law by faith? Far be the thought: [no,] but we establish law.
Romans 3
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
3 What tis advantage perissos then oun · ho has the ho Jew Ioudaios? Or ē what tis is the ho value ōpheleia of ho circumcision peritomē? 2 Much polys in kata every pas way tropos. For gar first prōton of all , they were entrusted pisteuō with the ho oracles logion of ho God theos. 3 But gar what tis if ei some tis were unfaithful apisteō, will katargeō · ho their autos lack apistia of faith nullify katargeō the ho faithfulness pistis of ho God theos? 4 By no means mē! Let God theos be ginomai · de · ho true alēthēs and de every pas man anthrōpos a liar pseustēs. As kathōs it is written graphō, “ so that hopōs you may an be justified dikaioō in en · ho your sy words logos and kai prevail nikaō when en · ho you sy are judged krinō.” 5 But de if ei · ho our hēmeis unrighteousness adikia demonstrates synistēmi the righteousness dikaiosynē of God theos, what tis shall we say legō? That God theos is unjust adikos · ho · ho to inflict epipherō · ho wrath orgē on us? ( I use a human kata anthrōpos argument legō!) 6 By no means mē! For epei otherwise how pōs could God theos judge krinō · ho the ho world kosmos? 7 But de if ei by en my emos lie pseusma · ho God’ s theos truthfulness alētheia · ho · ho abounds perisseuō to eis · ho his autos glory doxa, why tis am krinō I kagō still eti being condemned krinō as hōs a sinner hamartōlos? 8 And kai why not mē say ( as kathōs some tis slanderously blasphēmeō · kai claim phēmi that we hēmeis are saying legō), “ Let us do poieō · ho evil kakos so hina that good agathos may come erchomai · ho of it”? Their hos · ho condemnation krima is eimi well endikos deserved !
9 What tis then oun? Are we better proechō off ? Not ou at pantōs all , for gar we have already charged proaitiaomai that both te Jews Ioudaios and kai Greeks Hellēn are eimi all pas under hypo the power of sin hamartia, 10 as kathōs it is written graphō, “ No ou one is eimi righteous dikaios, not even oude one heis; 11 no ou one is eimi · ho understanding syniēmi; no ou one is eimi · ho seeking ekzēteō for · ho God theos. 12 They have all pas turned ekklinō away ; together hama they have become worthless achreioō. No ou one is eimi · ho doing poieō good chrēstotēs, there is eimi not ou even heōs one heis. 13 Their autos throat larynx is an open anoigō grave taphos; · ho with ho their autos tongues glōssa they deceive dolioō; the poison ios of asps aspis is under hypo · ho their autos lips cheilos; 14 their hos · ho mouth stoma is full of gemō cursing ara and kai bitterness pikria; 15 · ho their autos feet pous are swift oxys to shed ekcheō blood haima; 16 destruction syntrimma and kai misery talaipōria are in en · ho their autos paths hodos; 17 and kai the way hodos of peace eirēnē they have not ou known ginōskō. 18 There is eimi no ou fear phobos of God theos before apenanti · ho their autos eyes ophthalmos.”
19 Now de we know oida that hoti whatever hosos the ho law nomos says legō, it speaks laleō to those ho who are under en the ho law nomos, so hina that every pas mouth stoma may be silenced phrassō and kai the ho whole pas world kosmos may be ginomai held accountable hypodikos to ho God theos. 20 So dioti by ek the works ergon of the law nomos no ou flesh sarx at all pas will be justified dikaioō before enōpion him autos, because gar through dia the law nomos comes the knowledge epignōsis of sin hamartia.
21 But de now nyni, apart chōris from the law nomos ( although attested martyreō by hypo the ho law nomos and kai the ho prophets prophētēs) the righteousness dikaiosynē of God theos has been disclosed phaneroō. 22 It is the righteousness dikaiosynē · de of God theos available through dia faith pistis in Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos for eis all pas who ho believe pisteuō. ( For gar there is eimi no ou distinction diastolē, 23 since gar all pas have sinned hamartanō and kai continue to fall hystereō short of the ho glory doxa of ho God theos.) 24 They are justified dikaioō freely dōrean by ho his autos grace charis through dia the ho redemption apolytrōsis that ho is in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous, 25 whom hos God theos set forth protithēmi · ho as an atoning hilastērion sacrifice by en his autos blood haima, obtainable through dia · ho faith pistis. · ho This was to eis demonstrate endeixis · ho his autos righteousness dikaiosynē, because dia God in his forbearance · ho had paresis passed over · ho previous proginomai sins hamartēma. 26 · ho · ho It was also to pros · ho demonstrate endeixis · ho his autos righteousness dikaiosynē at en the ho present nyn time kairos, that eis · ho he autos might be eimi just dikaios and kai the justifier dikaioō of the ho one who has ek faith pistis in Jesus Iēsous.
27 Where pou then oun is · ho boasting kauchēsis? It has been excluded ekkleiō. By dia what poios kind of law nomos? By a law of ho works ergon? No ouchi, but alla by dia the law nomos of faith pistis. 28 For gar we hold logizomai that a person anthrōpos is justified dikaioō by faith pistis apart chōris from the works ergon of the law nomos. 29 Or ē is God the ho God theos of Jews Ioudaios only monon? Is he not ouchi the God of Gentiles ethnos as kai well ? Yes nai, of Gentiles ethnos as kai well . 30 Since eiper God theos is one heis, · ho he hos will justify dikaioō the circumcised peritomē on ek the basis of their faith pistis and kai the uncircumcised akrobystia by dia the ho same faith pistis. 31 Do we katargeō therefore oun nullify katargeō the law nomos through dia · ho faith pistis? By no means mē! On the contrary alla, we uphold histēmi the law nomos.
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
- Romans 3:2 That is, the sacred writings, the Scriptures.
- Romans 3:3 Or, What then? If some. Paul now refutes three objections to or false inferences from his teaching.
- Romans 3:3 Or, did not believe, were unfaithful, with reference to the oracles they were given.
- Romans 3:3 Or, unbelief.
- Romans 3:4 Or, vindicated.
- Romans 3:4 Or, in your judging.
- Romans 3:5 That is, Israel’s; the some who were faithless, v 3.
- Romans 3:5 Or, exhibits.
- Romans 3:5 Or, with mankind.
- Romans 3:7 Or, falsehood. Note 11:11-12.
- Romans 3:8 Or, deserved.
- Romans 3:9 Or, Do we [Jews] have an advantage? Or, Are we [Jews] excused?
- Romans 3:9 Or, previously-charged. That is, in 1:18-2:29.
- Romans 3:12 Or, worthless.
- Romans 3:14 That is, calling down evil on someone.
- Romans 3:19 Or, shut.
- Romans 3:19 Or, liable, answerable.
- Romans 3:20 Or, ‘of the Law’.
- Romans 3:21 That is, any kind of law, Jewish or Gentile. Or, Law, the Law of Moses.
- Romans 3:22 Or, through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ (to what God sent Him to do).
- Romans 3:24 Or, freely, without a cause.
- Romans 3:25 Or, presented, publicly displayed.
- 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.
- 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.
- Romans 3:25 Or, proof.
- Romans 3:26 Or, holding back, clemency, delay of punishment.
- Romans 3:26 That is, characterized by.
- Romans 3:27 Or, excluded.
- 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).
- Romans 3:29 This would be the conclusion if we were saved through a Law of Jewish works.
- Romans 3:30 Lit, ‘the faith’ just mentioned.
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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
