Romans
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Romans 3
Romans 3
1What advantage then hath the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision?
1What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
Commentary · verse 1
2Much every way: first of all, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God.
2Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
Commentary · verse 2
Doctrine: God trusted the Jews with information to help everyone else. They were oracles of God.
3For what if some were without faith? shall their want of faith make of none effect the faithfulness of God?
4God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment.
3For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
4God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Commentary · verses 3-4
Paul stated that the unfaithfulness of people did not negate God's decision to make the Jews the oracles of God. Paul referenced Psalm 116:11 and Psalm 51:4.
5But if our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.)
5But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
Commentary · verse 5
Paul argued the contrastive point. This was not his point. Paul seemed to realize that the reader may become confused by Paul arguing the opposite point, so he parenthetically commented to the reader that he was making an argument for his opponent in order to show how this perspective was flawed. Paul began with the premise that if our good works proved God's goodness, then God must not be able to punish. The contrastive question was "Was God not Right and not Just if He punished us?"
6God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
6God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
Commentary · verse 6
Paul then asked, "If God was not Right and not Just, how would He judge the world?" Judging is the assessing of the source of injustice and the beginning of the process of equaling out the injustice. God had to be able to punish if He was going to equal out the injustice.
7But if the truth of God through my lie abounded unto his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
8and why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil, that good may come? whose condemnation is just.
7For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
8And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
Commentary · verses 7-8
Paul now stated with the contrastive perspective from verse 5: our good works proved God was good. This contrastive perspective was stated: "If my sinning leads to the truth of God growing, then I shouldn't be judged as a sinner." Paul parenthetically stated that people were slanderously stating that Paul was teaching this flawed perspective to rationalize why he preached that Gentiles could also be saved. Paul concluded that sentence by saying the condemnation was Just for those who slanderously stated this about Paul.
Doctrines on this passage
9What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin;
9What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
Commentary · verse 9
There was a benefit to being a Jew but that did not mean the Jews were better than the Gentiles, they were all under sin.
10as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one; 11There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God; 12They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not so much as one: 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; With their tongues they have used deceit: The poison of asps is under their lips: 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17And the way of peace have they not known: 18There is no fear of God before their eyes.
10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17And the way of peace have they not known:
18There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Commentary · verses 10-18
Doctrine: All good comes from God, regardless of whether the person is a Jew or a Gentile.
19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God: 20because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law cometh the knowledge of sin.
19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Commentary · verses 19-20
Doctrine: The Law brought knowledge of sin. The Law proved everyone sins. Before the Law, people did not know what was sin until they sinned and felt guilt. Then they knew what was sin if they had previously experienced this guilt. The Book of Genesis documented the time before the Dispensation of the Law. We have seen in this commentary during the Book of Genesis that people did not know what was sin until after they had sinned and felt the guilt. The Law was meant to help people avoid sin.
21But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Commentary · verse 21
Doctrine: At the time of the writing of this letter, a Righteousness of God without the Law was manifested (made visible), this is the Dispensation of Grace. God administers this (current) dispensation by grace to individuals upon the heart via the Holy Spirit. This dispensation was spoken of in the Law and the prophets.
22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction;
22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Commentary · verse 22
Doctrine: This Righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ unto all that believe, regardless of being a Jew or a Gentile.
23for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Commentary · verse 23
Doctrine: All have sinned and do not earn the Salvation by their works. Paul consistently stated that if judgment could be applied to all, then Salvation had to be available to all, otherwise God would not be Right and God would not be Just.
24being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Commentary · verse 24
Doctrine: Salvation/Justification comes by grace which was a result of the redemption of Christ. Without Christ, we would not have grace.
25whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God;
25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Commentary · verse 25
Doctrine: Jesus died in our place, He was the propitiation.
26for the showing, I say, of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus.
26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Commentary · verse 26
Doctrine: Christ is Just and the Justifier of those who believe in Him.
Doctrines on this passage
27Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. By what manner of law? of works? Nay: but by a law of faith.
28We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
27Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Commentary · verses 27-28
Doctrine: People cannot credit themselves for their Salvation. Salvation is obtained by grace through faith. Jesus provided the grace. We are responsible for the faith, for allowing God to work through us. The works done through us do not justify us, our faith in allowing God to work through us justifies us, which requires humility and is something we cannot brag about. We ought to recognize the value within Jesus and the value He gave to us, meaning we ought to glorify Jesus!
29Or is God the God of Jews only? is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yea, of Gentiles also: 30if so be that God is one, and he shall justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.
29Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
30Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Commentary · verses 29-30
Doctrine: God is the God of all. If He was not the God of all, He would be something less than God.
31Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law.
31Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Commentary · verse 31
Doctrine: Faith results in the Law being established/proven to be good. Faith does not make the Law useless.
Theme of Chapter 3: Paul built on the foundation of the previous chapter which removed the division between the Jews and the Gentiles because Salvation was available to all. Paul showed HOW/WHY Salvation was available to all: God is the God of all people. Jesus died for all people which provided the ability to be saved by grace. Everyone is able to have faith and demonstrate it by allowing God's influence to direct our actions/works. This process of Salvation requires humility and does not give the individual the opportunity to brag or see themselves above others.
In the previous chapter Paul showed that being a Jew opened a person up to greater judgment because they ought to know better. It sounded like being a Jew was worse than being a Gentile. Paul immediately addressed that thought by addressing the benefits of being a Jew.