Romans 3

1Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2#Deut 4.8; Ps 147.19Much, in every way. For in the first place, the Jews#3.2 Gk they were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3#2 Tim 2.13; Heb 4.2What if some were unfaithful? Will their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4#Ps 51.4; 116.11; Jn 3.33By no means! Although every human is a liar, let God be proved true, as it is written,

“So that you may be justified in your words

and you will prevail#3.4 Other ancient authorities read you may prevail when you go to trial.”

5 # Rom 6.19; Gal 3.15 But if our injustice serves to confirm the justice of God, what should we say? That God is unjust to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7But if through my falsehood God’s truthfulness abounds to his glory, why am I still being judged as a sinner? 8#Rom 6.1And why not say (as some people slander us by saying that we say), “Let us do evil so that good may come”? Their judgment is deserved!

None Is Righteous

9 # Gal 3.22 What then? Are we any better off?#3.9 Or at any disadvantage? No, not at all, for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin, 10#Ps 14.1–3as it is written:

“There is no one who is righteous, not even one;

11there is no one who has understanding;

there is no one who seeks God.

12All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;

there is no one who shows kindness;

there is not even one.”

13 # Ps 5.9 “Their throats are opened graves;

they use their tongues to deceive.”

“The venom of vipers is under their lips.”

14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

15 # Isa 59.7, 8 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16ruin and misery are in their paths,

17and the way of peace they have not known.”

18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19 # Jn 10.34; Rom 2.12 Now we know that, whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20#Ps 143.2; Acts 13.39; Rom 7.7; Gal 2.16For no human will be justified before him by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

Righteousness through Faith

21 # Acts 10.43; Rom 1.2, 17; 9.30 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed and is attested by the Law and the Prophets, 22#Rom 10.12; Gal 3.28; Col 3.11the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christ#3.22 Or through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.#3.22 Or trust For there is no distinction, 23#Gal 3.22since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24#Rom 4.16; Eph 1.7; 2.8; Col 1.14; Heb 9.12, 15they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25#Heb 9.14, 28; 1 Pet 1.19; 1 Jn 2.2whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement#3.25 Or a place of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; 26it was to demonstrate at the present time his own righteousness, so that he is righteous and he justifies the one who has the faith of Jesus.#3.26 Or has faith in Jesus

27 # Rom 2.17, 23; 4.2; 1 Cor 1.29–31; Eph 2.9 Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. Through what kind of law? That of works? No, rather through the law of faith. 28#Acts 13.39; Eph 2.9For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law. 29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of gentiles also? Yes, of gentiles also, 30#Gal 3.8since God is one, and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31Do we then overthrow the law through this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

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