E. All Under Sin (3:9-20)

If a privilege of the Jews is to have the words of God (3:2), are Jews better off than Gentiles? Not at all. Paul has previously charged that both Jews and Gentiles are under the power of sin.

He now quotes from the Scriptures to press his point upon the Jews. In vv.10-12 Paul quotes Ps 14:1-3 to make evident the presence of sin in human character. And vv.13-14 appeal to Pss 5:9; 140:3; and 10:7 to point to sin in human speech. Isa 59:7-8 is cited in vv.15-17 to show sin in human conduct. And v.18 quotes Ps 36:1 to summarize and point to the source of human sin. The basic problem with the human race is that there is no fear of God before their eyes. “Fear of God” is an OT expression for piety. In v.19 Paul emphasizes that these OT quotations speak particularly to the Jews who are under the law. If these scriptural quotations accuse the Jews as sinners, how much more the Gentiles. In v.20 Paul cites and slightly modifies Ps 143:2 to conclude that no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by observing the law. Rather, the law brings the knowledge of sin.