BibleWord.ai›Bible›Romans›Chapter 3

Romans Chapter 3

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) 31 Verses

What is Romans 3 about?

Paul's systematic exposition of the gospel — justification by faith, the sovereignty of God, sin's universality, and life in the Spirit. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1What advantage then hath the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision?
2Much every way: first of all, that they were intrusted with the 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.
5But if our righteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.)
6God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
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.
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;
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.
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.
21But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, being witnessed by 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;
23for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
24being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
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;
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.
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.
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.
31Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law.
← Romans 2Romans 4 →

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 2
“Much every way, etc..] The circumcised Jew has greatly the advantage of the uncircumcised Gentile, µynp lkm, “in all respects”, dx lk l[, “on every side”, as the Rabbins speak; phrases to which this in the text answers: chiefly; more especially, particularly, and in the first place; because that unto them were committed the oracles of God; by which are meant the law of Moses, and the writings of the prophets, the institutions of the ceremonial law, and the prophecies of the Messiah and the Gospel church state; and in a word, all the books of the Old Testament, and whatsoever is contained in them; which are called…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“JEWISH OBJECTIONS ANSWERED. (Rom 3:1-8) What advantage then hath the Jew?--that is, "If the final judgment will turn solely on the state of the heart, and this may be as good in the Gentile without, as in the Jew within, the sacred enclosure of God's covenant, what better are we Jews for all our advantages?" Answer:”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“What advantage ... - The design of the first part of this chapter is to answer some of the objections which might be offered by a Jew to the statements in the last chapter. The first objection is stated in this verse. A Jew would naturally ask, if the view which the apostle had given were correct, what special benefit could the Jew derive from his religion? The objection would arise particularly from the position advanced Romans 2:25-26, that if a pagan should do the things required by the Law, he would be treated as “if” he had been circumcised. Hence, the question, “what profit is there of circumcision?” return…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“What then, may some say, is the advantage of the Jew, or of the circumcision - That is, those that are circumcised, above the gentiles? Romans 3:2”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“3:1 what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Paul moves his argument along by raising questions. After preaching the Good News for over twenty years, he knew what questions people would ask when they heard a particular teaching. His emphasis on the equality of Jews and Gentiles before God (ch 2) inevitably led people to ask whether he was eliminating all Jewish privileges. The question-and-answer style follows the pattern of the diatribe (see study note on 2:1-5).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“advantage: Rom 2:25-29; Gen 25:32; Ecc 6:8, Ecc 6:11; Isa 1:11-15; Mal 3:14; Co1 15:32; Heb 13:9 Romans 3:2”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Romans overviewCompare translationsOpen this chapter in the study reader

Sources and verification