Romans 3

1 So then, what more is the Jew, or what is the usefulness of circumcision?2 Much in every way: First of all, certainly, because the eloquence of God was entrusted to them.3 But what if some of them have not believed? Shall their unbelief nullify the faith of God? Let it not be so!4 For God is truthful, but every man is deceitful; just as it was written: “Therefore, you are justified in your words, and you will prevail when you give judgment.”5 But if even our injustice points to the justice of God, what shall we say? Could God be unfair for inflicting wrath?6 (I am speaking in human terms.) Let it not be so! Otherwise, how would God judge this world?7 For if the truth of God has abounded, through my falseness, unto his glory, why should I still be judged as such a sinner?8 And should we not do evil, so that good may result? For so we have been slandered, and so some have claimed we said; their condemnation is just.9 What is next? Should we try to excel ahead of them? By no means! For we have accused all Jews and Greeks to be under sin,10 just as it was written: “There is no one who is just.11 There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks God.12 All have gone astray; together they have become useless. There is no one who does good; there is not even one.13 Their throat is an open sepulcher. With their tongues, they have been acting deceitfully. The venom of asps is under their lips.14 Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.15 Their feet are swift to shed blood.16 Grief and unhappiness are in their ways.17 And the way of peace they have not known.18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.”19 But we know that whatever the law speaks, it speaks to those who are in the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the entire world may be subject to God.20 For in his presence no flesh shall be justified by the works of the law. For knowledge of sin is through the law.21 But now, without the law, the justice of God, to which the law and the prophets have testified, has been made manifest.22 And the justice of God, though the faith of Jesus Christ, is in all those and over all those who believe in him. For there is no distinction.23 For all have sinned and all are in need of the glory of God.24 We have been justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,25 whom God has offered as a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to reveal his justice for the remission of the former offenses,26 and by the forbearance of God, to reveal his justice in this time, so that he himself might be both the Just One and the Justifier of anyone who is of the faith of Jesus Christ.27 So then, where is your self-exaltation? It is excluded. Through what law? That of works? No, but rather through the law of faith.28 For we judge a man to be justified by faith, without the works of the law.29 Is God of the Jews only and not also of the Gentiles? On the contrary, of the Gentiles also.30 For One is the God who justifies circumcision by faith and uncircumcision through faith.31 Are we then destroying the law through faith? Let it not be so! Instead, we are making the law stand.

Romans 3

1 Therefore what advantage does the Jew have, or what is the value of circumcision?2 Actually, there are many advantages.t First of all,st the Jewst were entrusted with the oracles of God.t3 What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God?

4 Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human beingt shown up as a liar,t just as it is written: “so that you will be justifiedtin your words and will prevail when you are judged.”t
5 But if our unrighteousness demonstratest the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he?t (I am speaking in human terms.)s6 Absolutely not! For otherwise how could God judge the world?7 For if by my lie the truth of God enhancest his glory, why am I still actually being judged as a sinner?

8 And why not say, “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”? – as some who slander us allege that we say.t (Theirt condemnation is deserved!)

The Condemnation of the World

9 What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin,

10 just as it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one,

11 there is no one who understands,
there is no one who seeks God.

12 All have turned away,
together they have become worthless;
there is no one who shows kindness, not even one.”s

13 “Their throats are open graves,t
they deceive with their tongues,
the poison of asps is under their lips.”s

14 “Their mouths aretfull of cursing and bitterness.”s

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood,

16 ruin and misery are in their paths,

17 and the way of peace they have not known.”s

18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”s
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are undert the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God.20 For no one is declared righteous before hims by the works of the law,t for through the law comest the knowledge of sin.21 But nowt apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets)t has been disclosed –22 namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christts for all who believe. For there is no distinction,23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.24 But they are justifiedt freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.25 God publicly displayedt himt at his deatht as the mercy seatt accessible through faith.t This was to demonstratet his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed.t

26 This wast also to demonstratet his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be justt and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness.t
27 Where, then, is boasting?t It is excluded! By what principle?t Of works? No, but by the principle of faith!28 For we consider that a persont is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law.t29 Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too!30 Since God is one,t he will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

31 Do we then nullifyt the law through faith? Absolutely not! Insteadt we uphold the law.