Romans 3:9

“What then? are we better than they? etc..] The apostle returns to what he was treating of in the beginning of the chapter, and suggests, that though the Jew has the advantage of the Gentile, with respect to some external privileges, yet not with regard to their state and condition Godward, and as in his sight; “are we [Jews] better than they [Gentiles]?” no, in no wise; upon no consideration whatever, neither as men, nor as Jews; which is directly opposite to a notion that people have of themselves: “in mankind (they say f40) there are high degrees, one higher than another, and the Israelites µda ˆym lkm hl[ml, “are above all mankind”; they are the head, and the nations of the world are the…”

“THAT THE JEW IS SHUT UP UNDER LIKE CONDEMNATION WITH THE GENTILE IS PROVED BY HIS OWN SCRIPTURE. (Rom 3:9-20) are we better than they?--"do we excel them?" No, in no wise--Better off the Jews certainly were, for having the oracles of God to teach them better; but as they were no better, that only aggravated their guilt.”

“What then? - This is another remark supposed to be made by a Jewish objector. “What follows? or are we to infer that we are better than others? Are we better than they? - Are we Jews better than the Gentiles? Or rather, have we any preference, or advantage as to character and prospects, over the Gentiles? These questions refer only to the great point in debate, to wit, about justification before God. The apostle had admitted Romans 3:2 that the Jews had important advantages in some respects, but he now affirms that those advantages did not make a difference between them and the Gentiles about justification. No, in no wise - Not at all. That is, the Jews have no preference or advantage over…”

“What then - Here he resumes what he said, Rom 3:1. Under sin - Under the guilt and power of it: the Jews, by transgressing the written law; the gentiles, by transgressing the law of nature. Romans 3:10”

“3:9 No, not at all: Paul’s emphatic answer does not contradict his claim in 3:1-2 that Jews have an advantage. But that advantage has not done them any good because they have disobeyed God’s word and incurred God’s punishment. Jews, like Gentiles, have sinned against the revelation of God and stand condemned. • under the power of sin (literally under sin): Being “under” something carries the sense of being under its power. The ultimate problem of human beings is not the fact of sin, but the situation of being slaves to sin. The solution to this problem requires the liberation provided in Christ Jesus, who frees us from both the penalty and the power of sin.”

“what then: Rom 3:5, Rom 6:15, Rom 11:7; Co1 10:19, Co1 14:15; Phi 1:18 are we: Rom 3:22, Rom 3:23; Isa 65:5; Luk 7:39, Luk 18:9-14; Co1 4:7 proved: Gr. charged, Rom 1:28-32, 2:1-16 that they: Gal 3:10, Gal 3:22 Romans 3:10”