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.