Romans 3:1

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Romans 3:1 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision?
Romans 3:1 — American Standard Version

Context — Romans 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1What advantage then hath the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision?

What do historical commentaries say?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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:”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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 to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“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”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“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).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“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”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification