Romans 3#Verse 23

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 31 verses.

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

• Papyrus 40 (~AD 250; extant verses 21–31)
• Codex Vaticanus (325–350)
• Codex Sinaiticus (330–360)
• Codex Alexandrinus (400–440)
• Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (~450; extant verses 22–31)

• Romans 3:4 references Psalm 51:4{{sfn|Kirkpatrick|1901|page=839}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/The-Epistle-to-the-Romanes_3_1611/|title=Biblical concordances of Romans 4 in the 1611 King James Version}}
• Romans 3:10–12 references Psalm 14:1–3,{{sfn|Kirkpatrick|1901|page=838}} Psalm 53:1–3{{sfn|Kirkpatrick|1901|page=839}} and Ecclesiastes 7:20
• Romans 3:13 references Psalm 5:9{{sfn|Kirkpatrick|1901|page=838}} and Psalm 140:3{{sfn|Kirkpatrick|1901|page=840}}
• Romans 3:14 references Psalm 10:7{{sfn|Kirkpatrick|1901|page=838}}
• Romans 3:17 references Isaiah 59:7–8
• Romans 3:18 references Psalm 36:1{{sfn|Kirkpatrick|1901|page=838}}
• Romans 3:20 references Psalm 143:2b{{sfn|Kirkpatrick|1901|page=840}}

In verse 2, the chief advantage, or benefit, or responsibility, or superiority[http://biblehub.com/interlinear/ Interlinear Bible] of the Jewish people is their possession of the Hebrew Bible ({{langx|grc|τα λογια του θεου|ta logia tou theou|the very words of God|label=none}} New International Version). Traditional translations (the Geneva Bible, King James Version, American Standard Version and Revised Standard Version) refer to the "oracles of God".

{{quote|Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?{{bibleverse|Romans|3:1|ESV}}: English Standard Version}}

The first of a Jew's objections is stated here. "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 follows from Romans 2:26: if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the requirements of the Law, his uncircumcision will be regarded as circumcision.{{bibleverse|Romans|2:26|ISV}}: International Standard Version (ISV)

{{quote|Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.|Romans 3:2, New International Version{{bibleverse|Romans|3:2|NIV}} NIV}}

The Jewish "advantage" ({{langx|grc|το περισσον|to perisson|label=none}}) is really an act of entrustment. Nonconformist theologian Matthew Poole stated that "to the Jews were credited, or given in custody, the Holy Scriptures". Stephen, whose martyrdom Paul had witnessed before his conversion, called the scriptures the 'living oracles' ({{langx|grc|λογια ζωντα|logia zōnta|label=none}}).{{bibleverse|Acts|7:38|KJV}}: KJV Handley Moule, in the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, notes that this verse anticipates a more complete summary of the Jewish "advantage" in Romans 9:4, where "the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises" are listed as the inheritance of the Jewish people.{{bibleverse|Romans|9:4|NKJV}}: NKJV

In verse 8, Paul refers to slanderous accusations made by "some people",{{bibleverse|Romans|3:8|ISV}}: ISV that believers say "Let's do evil that good may result".

Bishop Charles Ellicott suggests that these accusers might have been the Jews or "the Judaizing party";[http://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/romans/3.htm Ellicott's Commentary for Modern Readers] on Romans 3, accessed 17 September 2016 Barnes says it is "doubtless" that they were Jews; Moule argues that they were Paul's "inveterate adversaries in the Church".H. C. G. Moule, [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/romans/3.htm Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges] on Romans 3, accessed on 17 September 2016

Paul's statement that "both Jews and Greeks are under the power of sin" (verse 9) exposes the impossibility of either Gentile or Jew, unaided by God, being able to become righteous (contra Romans 2:7,13, etc.; consistent with Romans 7:7–24), as supported by a compilation of citations from the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament texts) in verses 10–18 describing humanity's utter depravity or incapability of not sinning (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Psalm 5:10; 10:7; 14:1—3; 53:2—4; 36:2; 140:4; Isaiah 59:7—8; Proverbs 1:16).{{sfn|Hill|2007|p=1092}} Only Christ can break sin's power for Jews as well as for Gentiles.{{sfn|Hill|2007|p=1092}}

This section (extending to verse 31) revisits 'the grand theme', "the righteousness of God", which is introduced in the Thanksgiving part of chapter 1.{{sfn|Hill|2007|p=1092}} Comprising one paragraph, verses 21–26 is called by Stuhlmacher as "the heart of the letter to the Romans",Stuhlmacher, P. (1994), Paul's Letter to the Romans: A Commentary, trans. S. J. Hafemann. Louisville, Ky: Westminster/John Knox. p. 57; apud Hill 2007, p. 1092 stating that "the divine character—faithful, gracious, forgiving, and merciful—has been revealed in Jesus Christ, specifically in his death as "a sacrifice for sin effective through faith"."{{sfn|Hill|2007|p=1092}} With that actions, "altogether apart from human initiative", God has fulfilled "what God always intended to do" ("attested by the law and the prophets") "and so is proved righteous".{{sfn|Hill|2007|p=1092}}

{{quote|For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;|Romans 3:23, King James Version{{bibleverse|Romans|3:23|KJV}} KJV}}

• "Come short" (RSV, NKJV: "fall short) is translated from {{langx|grc|ὑστεροῦνται|{{Strong-number|hysterountai|G|5302}}}},[https://biblehub.com/text/romans/3-23.htm Greek Text Analysis: Romans 3:23]. Biblehub also rendered as 'to be in want/impoverished' (Luke 15:14);{{bibleverse|Luke|15:14|KJV}} 'to suffer need" (Philippians 4:12);{{bibleverse|Philippians|4:12|KJV}} 'to be destitute' (Hebrews 11:37),{{bibleverse|Hebrews|11:37|KJV}} and here in the sense of 'to suffer from defect, to fail to attain'.Exell, Joseph S.; Spence-Jones, Henry Donald Maurice (Editors). [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/romans/3.htm On "Romans 3".] In: The Pulpit Commentary. 23 volumes. First publication: 1890. Accessed 24 April 2019.

{{quote|whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed|Romans 3:25, New King James Version{{bibleverse|Romans|3:25|NKJV}} NKJV}}

"Propitiation" (RSV, NAB: "expiation") is translated from the Greek word {{transliteration|grc|hilasterion}}, which specifically means the lid of the Ark of the Covenant.Strong's Greek Dictionary G2435 The only other occurrence of {{transliteration|grc|hilasterion}} in the New Testament is in Hebrews 9:5, where the KJV, NKJV, RSV, and NASB all translate it as 'mercy seat'.

{{quote|Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.|Romans 3:28, New King James Version{{bibleverse|Romans|3:28|NKJV}} NKJV}}

• "We conclude" is translated from {{langx|grc|λογιζόμεθα|logizometha|label=none}}. The verb {{transliteration|grc|logizometha}} is plural:[http://biblehub.com/greek/logizometha_3049.htm Englishman's Concordance - λογιζόμεθα] "we conclude" in the King James Version and New King James Version, "we hold" in the Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version, "we consider" in the New American Bible, "as we see it" in the Jerusalem Bible and New Jerusalem Bible, "we maintain" in the New American Standard Version, "we reason" or "we maintain" in the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, {{lang|la|arbitramur}} in the Vulgate. Anglican bishop Charles Ellicott considers that we conclude "conveys too much the idea of an inference; the statement is rather made in the form of an assertion, we consider or we hold",[http://biblehub.com/commentaries/romans/3-28.htm Ellicott's Commentary for Modern Readers] on Romans 3, accessed 8 September 2016 whereas the 18th-century English Baptist theologian John Gill treats the phrase as a "conclusion from the premises".[http://biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/romans/3.htm Gill's Exposition] on Romans 3, accessed 8 September 2016

{{quote|Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also.|Romans 3:29{{bibleverse|Romans|3:29|NKJV}} NKJV}}

Romans 3:29 has been interpreted as Paul saying that "God's perfect, ultimate, righteous judgment would carry the same standards for all people".BibleRef.com, [https://www.bibleref.com/Romans/3/Romans-3-29.html What does Romans 3:29 mean?], accessed on 28 September 2024

• Torah
• Related Bible parts: Psalm 5, Psalm 10, Psalm 14, Psalm 36, Psalm 51, Psalm 53, Psalm 140, Ecclesiastes 7, Isaiah 59

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{{reflist}}

• {{cite book

|last= Coogan

|first = Michael David

|title = The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48

|editor-last1=Coogan

|editor-first1=Michael David

|editor-first2=Marc Zvi

|editor-last2= Brettler

|editor-first3=Carol Ann

|editor-last3= Newsom

|editor-first4= Pheme

|editor-last4= Perkins

|edition=Augmented 3rd

|publisher = Oxford University Press

|year =2007

|isbn = 9780195288810

|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HmpMPgAACAAJ

}}

• {{cite book|last=Hill | first= Craig C. |chapter = 64. Romans | title=The Oxford Bible Commentary | editor-first1=John| editor-last1=Barton | editor-first2=John| editor-last2= Muddiman | publisher = Oxford University Press |edition= first (paperback) | date = 2007 | pages = 1083–1108 | isbn = 978-0199277186 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ| access-date=February 6, 2019}}
• {{cite book|last= Kirkpatrick| first= A. F. |author-link=Alexander Kirkpatrick| title= The Book of Psalms: with Introduction and Notes |series=The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges | volume = Book IV and V: Psalms XC-CL | place = Cambridge |publisher= At the University Press | year = 1901| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=SLJzlHElr6cC | access-date= February 28, 2019}}

• {{bibleverse|Romans|3|KJV}} King James Bible - Wikisource
• [http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=1&b=6&c=3 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate]
• [http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=Romans+3 Online Bible at GospelHall.org] (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=52&chapter=3 Multiple bible versions at Bible Gateway] (NKJV, NIV, NRSV etc.)

{{Epistle to the Romans}}

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