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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 commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do. May it never be! For then how will God judge the world? For if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let’s do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.

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