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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

  1. Romans 3:2 That is, the sacred writings, the Scriptures.
  2. Romans 3:3 Or, What then? If some. Paul now refutes three objections to or false inferences from his teaching.
  3. Romans 3:3 Or, did not believe, were unfaithful, with reference to the oracles they were given.
  4. Romans 3:3 Or, unbelief.
  5. Romans 3:4 Or, vindicated.
  6. Romans 3:4 Or, in your judging.
  7. Romans 3:5 That is, Israel’s; the some who were faithless, v 3.
  8. Romans 3:5 Or, exhibits.
  9. Romans 3:5 Or, with mankind.
  10. Romans 3:7 Or, falsehood. Note 11:11-12.
  11. Romans 3:8 Or, deserved.
  12. Romans 3:9 Or, Do we [Jews] have an advantage? Or, Are we [Jews] excused?
  13. Romans 3:9 Or, previously-charged. That is, in 1:18-2:29.
  14. Romans 3:12 Or, worthless.
  15. Romans 3:14 That is, calling down evil on someone.
  16. Romans 3:19 Or, shut.
  17. Romans 3:19 Or, liable, answerable.
  18. Romans 3:20 Or, ‘of the Law’.
  19. Romans 3:21 That is, any kind of law, Jewish or Gentile. Or, Law, the Law of Moses.
  20. Romans 3:22 Or, through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ (to what God sent Him to do).
  21. Romans 3:24 Or, freely, without a cause.
  22. Romans 3:25 Or, presented, publicly displayed.
  23. 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.
  24. 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.
  25. Romans 3:25 Or, proof.
  26. Romans 3:26 Or, holding back, clemency, delay of punishment.
  27. Romans 3:26 That is, characterized by.
  28. Romans 3:27 Or, excluded.
  29. 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).
  30. Romans 3:29 This would be the conclusion if we were saved through a Law of Jewish works.
  31. Romans 3:30 Lit, ‘the faith’ just mentioned.
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Romans 3
New International Version

God’s Faithfulness

3 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way!(A) First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.(B)

3 What if some were unfaithful?(C) Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?(D) 4 Not at all! Let God be true,(E) and every human being a liar.(F) As it is written:

“So that you may be proved right when you speak
    and prevail when you judge.”[a](G)

5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly,(H) what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.)(I) 6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?(J) 7 Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory,(K) why am I still condemned as a sinner?”(L) 8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”?(M) Their condemnation is just!

No One Is Righteous

9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage?(N) Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.(O) 10 As it is written:

“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,
    they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
    not even one.”[b](P)
13 “Their throats are open graves;
    their tongues practice deceit.”[c](Q)
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”[d](R)
14     “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[e](S)
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16     ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”[f](T)
18     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”[g](U)

19 Now we know that whatever the law says,(V) it says to those who are under the law,(W) so that every mouth may be silenced(X) and the whole world held accountable to God.(Y) 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;(Z) rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.(AA)

Righteousness Through Faith

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God(AB) has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.(AC) 22 This righteousness(AD) is given through faith(AE) in[h] Jesus Christ(AF) to all who believe.(AG) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,(AH) 23 for all have sinned(AI) and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified(AJ) freely by his grace(AK) through the redemption(AL) that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i](AM) through the shedding of his blood(AN)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished(AO)— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

27 Where, then, is boasting?(AP) It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.(AQ) 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,(AR) 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.(AS) 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:4 Psalm 51:4
  2. Romans 3:12 Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Eccles. 7:20
  3. Romans 3:13 Psalm 5:9
  4. Romans 3:13 Psalm 140:3
  5. Romans 3:14 Psalm 10:7 (see Septuagint)
  6. Romans 3:17 Isaiah 59:7,8
  7. Romans 3:18 Psalm 36:1
  8. Romans 3:22 Or through the faithfulness of
  9. Romans 3:25 The Greek for sacrifice of atonement refers to the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant (see Lev. 16:15,16).
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