Romans 3:1-20

Romans 3:1-20

3 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written:

“That You may be justified in Your words,
And may overcome when You are judged.”

Vs 1- the best way to understand this verse is to say it this was “is there any benefit in being a jew”?  this is based on chapter 2

Much in every way- the answer to the question is YES

the oracles of God- The law, history and prophets

without effect- Will god judge all because of some

vs 4—Ps 51:4

5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) 6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?

Vs 5- Gods love is best seen in loving us in our sin. This thought is completed with this thought—if his love is seen in loving the evil is God wrong in judging the wicked. 

7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.

Vs 7-8 –this is the same question as in vs 5-6.

            If my false hood makes God truthfulness better, why am I wrong to lie. 

as we are– some said Paul taught this lets do evil so good may come

some affirm- some taught this

Their condemnation is just- To suggest, as did these two questions (3:5, 7), that God is unfair in condemning sin is to blaspheme the very nature of God. Such persons who question God’s condemning are therefore themselves condemned![1]

9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

What then.. Are we better than they – this is a question posed by the Jews.

Not at all-The Jews before chapter 2 would say we are better than the gentiles but Paul makes it clear we are all on the same playing field. 

10 As it is written:

“There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
13 “Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Vs 10-18 – These are quotes from —Ps 14:1–3; 53:1–3, ps 5:9, Ps 16:9; 57:8, Ps 140:3, So 4:11; Pr 10:21, Ps 10:7, So 5:16, Pr 1:16; Is 59:7, Ps 119:32

            What Paul is doing here is backing up his argument that we are sinners, through and through. 

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

those who are under the law- The Jews

may be stopped- Our self-defense of our innocents

all the world-Even those without the law

no flesh will be justified-The law was not meant to justify

knowledge of sin-The law was to point out peoples sin. 

[1] Witmer, J. A. (1985). Romans. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 449). Victor Books.