1What 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.19Now 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.29Is 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.
Romans 3
English Standard Version
God’s Righteousness Upheld
1Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?2Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. (De 4:8; Ps 147:19; Joh 4:22; Ac 7:38)3What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? (Ro 9:6; Ro 10:16; 2Ti 2:13; Heb 4:2)4By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” (Job 9:32; Ps 51:4; Ps 62:9; Ps 116:11; Joh 8:26; Ro 3:7)5But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) (Ro 2:5; Ro 6:19; 1Co 9:8; 1Co 15:32; Ga 3:15)6By no means! For then how could God judge the world? (Ge 18:25; Job 8:3; Ro 2:16)7But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? (Ro 9:19)8And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. (Ro 6:1; Ro 6:15)
No One Is Righteous
9What then? Are we Jews[1] any better off?[2] No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, (Pr 20:9; Ro 1:18; Ro 2:1; Ro 3:19; Ro 3:23; Ro 11:32; Ga 3:22)10as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; (Ps 14:1; Ps 53:1)11no one understands; no one seeks for God.12All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”13“Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” (Ps 5:9; Ps 140:3; Jer 5:16)14“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” (Ps 10:7)15“Their feet are swift to shed blood; (Pr 1:16; Isa 59:7)16in their paths are ruin and misery,17and the way of peace they have not known.” (Lu 1:79)18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Ps 36:1)19Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. (Job 5:16; Ps 63:11; Ps 107:42; Eze 16:63; Joh 10:34; Joh 15:25; Ro 1:20; Ro 2:1; Ro 3:9)20For by works of the law no human being[3] will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Ps 143:2; Ac 13:39; Ro 4:15; Ro 5:13; Ro 5:20; Ro 7:7; Ga 2:16)
The Righteousness of God Through Faith
21But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— (Joh 5:46; Ac 10:43; Ro 1:2; Ro 1:17; Ro 16:26; 2Ti 1:10)22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: (Ro 4:5; Ro 10:12; Ga 3:28; Col 3:11; 2Ti 3:15)23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Ro 3:9)24and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (Ac 15:11; Ro 4:4; Ro 4:16; 1Co 1:30; Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; Tit 3:7; Heb 9:15)25whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (Ac 17:30; Ro 2:4; Ro 5:9; Eph 1:9; Eph 2:13; 1Jo 2:2)26It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.27Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. (Ac 13:39; Ro 2:17; Ro 2:23; Ro 4:2; 1Co 1:29; Eph 2:9; 2Ti 1:9)28For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (Jas 2:18)29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, (Ro 9:24; Ro 10:12; Ro 15:9)30since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. (Ro 2:26; Ro 4:9; Ro 10:12; Ga 3:8; Ga 3:20)31Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.