Romans 3

King James Version

Full text for Romans Chapter 3

1¶ What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit [is there] of circumcision?

2Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

3For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

4God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

5But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? [Is] God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

6God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

7For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

8And not [rather], (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

9What then? are we better [than they]? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, 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 are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not 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.

19¶ Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.

21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

29[Is he] the God of the Jews only? [is he] not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30Seeing [it is] one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

31Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Romans chapter three establishes that while the Jews had the advantage of receiving God's oracles, both Jews and Gentiles are universally under the power of sin. The chapter asserts that no one can be justified by the works of the law, as the law only brings the knowledge of sin. Instead, God's righteousness is now manifested apart from the law, being given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, freely by His grace.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins by affirming the significant advantage of the Jews, primarily that they were entrusted with the oracles of God, and asserts that human unbelief does not nullify God's faithfulness. Paul then refutes the notion that God is unrighteous in judging sin, or that evil should be done for good to come. He conclusively demonstrates that both Jews and Gentiles are equally under sin, citing various Old Testament scriptures to illustrate humanity's pervasive unrighteousness and lack of the fear of God. The law's function is shown to be that of revealing sin and making all the world guilty before God, not providing justification. Consequently, justification cannot be achieved by the deeds of the law. Instead, God's righteousness is now revealed through faith in Jesus Christ, available to all who believe, because all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. This justification is a free gift by God's grace, through the redemption found in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation through faith in His blood, demonstrating His righteousness for the remission of past sins and as the justifier of those who believe.

Long Summary

Romans chapter three opens with an inquiry into the advantage of the Jew and the profit of circumcision, to which Paul responds that it is much every way, chiefly because they were entrusted with the oracles of God. He addresses the question of whether some Jews' unbelief negates God's faithfulness, firmly stating that God remains true, even if every man is a liar, thereby upholding God's justice in judgment. Paul then refutes the sophistry that unrighteousness might commend God's righteousness, or that one should do evil for good to come, condemning such ideas. He then pivots to the central argument that neither Jews nor Gentiles are superior, for he has already proven that all are under sin. This universal sinfulness is extensively supported by Old Testament passages, depicting humanity as unrighteous, lacking understanding, not seeking God, unprofitable, full of deceit, cursing, bitterness, swift to shed blood, and devoid of the fear of God. The law's purpose is clarified: it speaks to those under it, ensuring every mouth is stopped and all the world becomes guilty before God. Therefore, no one can be justified by the deeds of the law, as the law serves only to give the knowledge of sin. However, the chapter then introduces a pivotal theological shift, declaring that the righteousness of God is now manifested apart from the law, though witnessed by the law and the prophets. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, for there is no distinction, as all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Justification is presented as a free gift by God's grace, achieved through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God set forth Christ as a propitiation through faith in His blood, demonstrating His righteousness for the remission of sins committed in the past, through God's forbearance, and to declare His righteousness in the present, so that He might be just and the justifier of those who believe in Jesus. This system of justification by faith utterly excludes boasting, as it is not by the law of works but by the law of faith. Paul concludes that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law, affirming that God is the God of both Jews and Gentiles, justifying both the circumcised and uncircumcised through faith, and thereby establishing the law rather than making it void.

Core Concepts

  • Jewish AdvantageThe Jews possessed a significant advantage, primarily because they were entrusted with the 'oracles of God,' meaning the divine revelations and scriptures.
  • God's FaithfulnessGod's truth and faithfulness remain steadfast, even if some individuals do not believe; their unbelief cannot nullify God's character or promises.
  • Universal SinfulnessBoth Jews and Gentiles are equally under the power of sin, as evidenced by numerous Old Testament scriptures, concluding that 'there is none righteous, no, not one.'
  • Inadequacy of LawThe law's primary function is to reveal sin and make humanity guilty before God, not to provide justification; therefore, no one can be justified by the deeds of the law.
  • Righteousness by FaithGod's righteousness is now manifested apart from the law, being given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, as all have sinned and fall short of God's glory.
  • PropitiationGod set forth Jesus Christ as a 'propitiation' through faith in His blood, which means He is the atoning sacrifice that satisfies divine justice and remits sins.
  • Exclusion of BoastingJustification by faith entirely excludes human boasting, as it is a free gift of grace and not based on works or any human merit.