Romans 3 - Common English Bible (CEB)

God’s faithfulness and justice

3 So what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Or what’s the benefit of circumcision? 2 Plenty in every way. First of all, the Jews were trusted with God’s revelations. 3 What does it matter, then, if some weren’t faithful? Their lack of faith won’t cancel God’s faithfulness, will it? 4 Absolutely not! God must be true, even if every human being is a liar, as it is written:

So that it can show that you are right in your words;
and you will triumph when you are judged.[a]

5 But if our lack of righteousness confirms God’s justice, what will we say? That God, who brings wrath upon us, isn’t just (I’m speaking rhetorically)? 6 Absolutely not! If God weren’t just, how could he judge the world? 7 But if God’s truth is demonstrated by my lie and it increases his glory, why am I still judged as a sinner? 8 Why not say, “Let’s do evil things so that good things will come out of it”? (Some people who slander us accuse us of saying that, but these people deserve criticism.)

All are under the power of sin

9 So what are we saying? Are we better off? Not at all. We have already stated the charge: both Jews and Greeks are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written,

There is no righteous person, not even one.
11 There is no one who understands.
There is no one who looks for God.
12 They all turned away.
They have become worthless together.
There is no one who shows kindness.
There is not even one.[b]
13 Their throat is a grave that has been opened.
They are deceitful with their tongues,
and the poison of vipers is under their lips.[c]
14 Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.[d]
15 Their feet are quick to shed blood;
16 destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 and they don’t know the way of peace.[e]
18 There is no fear of God in their view of the world.[f]

19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, in order to shut every mouth and make it so the whole world has to answer to God. 20 It follows that no human being will be treated as righteous in his presence by doing what the Law says, because the knowledge of sin comes through the Law.

God’s righteousness through faithfulness of Christ

21 But now God’s righteousness has been revealed apart from the Law, which is confirmed by the Law and the Prophets. 22 God’s righteousness comes through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who have faith in him. There’s no distinction. 23 All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, 24 but all are treated as righteous freely by his grace because of a ransom that was paid by Christ Jesus. 25 Through his faithfulness, God displayed Jesus as the place of sacrifice where mercy is found by means of his blood. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness in passing over sins that happened before, 26 during the time of God’s patient tolerance. He also did this to demonstrate that he is righteous in the present time, and to treat the one who has faith in Jesus as righteous.

27 What happens to our bragging? It’s thrown out. With which law? With what we have accomplished under the Law? 28 No, not at all, but through the law of faith. We consider that a person is treated as righteous by faith, apart from what is accomplished under the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t God the God of Gentiles also? Yes, God is also the God of Gentiles. 30 Since God is one, then the one who makes the circumcised righteous by faith will also make the one who isn’t circumcised righteous through faith. 31 Do we then cancel the Law through this faith? Absolutely not! Instead, we confirm the Law.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:4 Ps 51:4
  2. Romans 3:12 Ps 14:1-3
  3. Romans 3:13 Ps 5:9
  4. Romans 3:14 Ps 10:7
  5. Romans 3:17 Isa 59:7-8
  6. Romans 3:18 Ps 36:1

You Might Also Like:

Romans 3 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

3 What, then, [is] the superiority of the Jew? or what the profit of the circumcision? 2 much in every way; for first, indeed, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God; 3 for what, if certain were faithless? shall their faithlessness the faithfulness of god make useless? 4 let it not be! and...
Read More

Romans 3 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

3 What then is more to a Jew, or what profit of circumcision? 2 Much by all wise [Much by all manner]; first, for the speakings of God were betaken to them. 3 And what if some of them believed not? Whether the unbelief of them hath voided the faith of God? 4 God forbid [Far be it]. For God is soo...
Read More

Romans 3 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

3 Then what does a Jew have that others do not have? Or what good is it if a person has been circumcised? 2 It is much better in every way. First, God's law was given to the Jews. 3 But some Jews did not keep his law. Does that mean that God cannot be trusted? 4 No, it does not mean that. God must b...
Read More

Romans 3 - World English Bible (WEB)

3 Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of God. 3 For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 May it never be! Yes, let ...
Read More

Romans 3 - The Voice (VOICE)

When God’s people—or people who claim to be God’s people—are hypocrites, then God is the one who gets the bad name. How often do we say one thing and do another? How often have we set a standard for others only to break it ourselves? The saying is true: we practice every day what we believe; all the...
Read More

Romans 3 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

No One Is Acceptable3 Then what is the advantage of being Jewish? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. First of all, they were entrusted with the sayings of God. 3 So what if some did not trust? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 May it never be! Let Go...
Read More

Romans 3 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

3 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews are entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every man be...
Read More

Romans 3 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

3 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews are entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every man be...
Read More

Romans 3 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

3 What, then, is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Firstly, because indeed the oracles of God were entrusted to them. 3 For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 Absolutely not! Indeed, let God ...
Read More

Romans 3 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

God’s Determined Faithfulness3 What advantage, then, does the Jew possess? What, indeed, is the point of circumcision? 2 A great deal, in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with God’s oracles. 3 What follows from that? If some of them were unfaithful to their commission, does their ...
Read More

Romans 3 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

3 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much, in every way. For in the first place the Jews[a] were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Although everyone is a...
Read More

Romans 3 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

3 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much, in every way. For in the first place, the Jews[a] were entrusted with the oracles of God.(A)3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?(B)4 By no means! Although every human...
Read More

Romans 3 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

Paul shows what preferment the Jews have, and that both Jews and Gentiles are under sin, and are justified only by the grace of God in Christ. 3 What preferment, then, has the Jew? Or what advantage from circumcision? 2 Surely very much. The word of God was committed first to them. 3 What, then, i...
Read More

Romans 3 - New Living Translation (NLT)

God Remains Faithful3 Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? 2 Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.[a] 3 True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful,...
Read More

Romans 3 - New Life Version (NLV)

3 Do the Jews have anything that those who are not Jews do not have? What good does it do to go through the religious act of becoming a Jew? 2 Yes, the Jews have much more in every way. First of all, God gave the Jews His Law. 3 If some of them were not faithful, does it mean that God will not be ...
Read More

Romans 3 - New King James Version (NKJV)

God’s Judgment Defended3 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because (A)to them were committed the [a]oracles of God. 3 For what if (B)some did not believe? (C)Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 (D)Ce...
Read More