The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?

Much in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words

(a)

of God.

What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?

Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”(b)

But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms.

Certainly not! In that case, how could God judge the world?

However, if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?

Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved!

There Is No One Righteous

(Psalm 14:1–7; Psalm 53:1–6; Isaiah 59:1–17)

What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin.

As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one.

There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.

All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”(c)

“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.”(d) “The venom of vipers is on their lips.”(e)

“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”(f)

“Their feet are swift to shed blood;

ruin and misery lie in their wake,

and the way of peace they have not known.”(g)

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”(h)

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.

Righteousness through Faith in Christ

(Philippians 3:1–11)

But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets.

And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice (i) through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith.

For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,

since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.

Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.

Footnotes

(a)3:2 Or the oracles

(b)3:4 Or when You are judged; Psalms 51:4 (see also LXX)

(d)3:13 Psalms 5:9

(e)3:13 Psalms 140:3

(f)3:14 Psalms 10:7 (see also LXX)

(g)3:17 Isaiah 59:7–8 (see also LXX)

(h)3:18 Psalms 36:1

(i)3:25 Or as a propitiation

Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision?

Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of God.

For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God?

May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “that you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.”(a)

But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.

May it never be! For then how will God judge the world?

For if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?

Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let’s do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.

There Is No One Righteous

(Psalm 14:1–7; Psalm 53:1–6; Isaiah 59:1–17)

What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one.

There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God.

They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one.”(b)

“Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit.”(c) “The poison of vipers is under their lips.”(d)

“Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”(e)

“Their feet are swift to shed blood.

Destruction and misery are in their ways.

The way of peace, they haven’t known.”(f)

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”(g)

Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.

Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

Righteousness through Faith in Christ

(Philippians 3:1–11)

But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;

even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,

for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice(h) through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;

to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time, that he might himself be just and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.

Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,

since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.

Footnotes

(a)3:4 ℘ Psalms 51:4

(b)3:12 ℘ Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7:20

(d)3:13 ℘ Psalms 140:3

(e)3:14 ℘ Psalms 10:7

(f)3:17 ℘ Isaiah 59:7-8

(g)3:18 ℘ Psalms 36:1

(h)3:25 or, a propitiation