Romans 3 — NETB
3Verse 1Therefore what advantage does the Jew have, or what is the value of circumcision?Verse 2Actually, there are many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.Verse 3What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God?Verse 4Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: “so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged.”Verse 5But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he? (I am speaking in human terms.)Verse 6Absolutely not! For otherwise how could God judge the world?Verse 7For if by my lie the truth of God enhances his glory, why am I still actually being judged as a sinner?Verse 8And why not say, “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”? – as some who slander us allege that we say. (Their condemnation is deserved!)
Verse 11there is no one who understands,
there is no one who seeks God.
Verse 12All have turned away,
together they have become worthless;
there is no one who shows kindness, not even one.”
Verse 13“Their throats are open graves,
they deceive with their tongues,
the poison of asps is under their lips.”
Verse 14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
Verse 15“Their feet are swift to shed blood,
Verse 16ruin and misery are in their paths,
Verse 17and the way of peace they have not known.”
Verse 18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”Verse 19Now 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 may be held accountable to God.Verse 20For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.Verse 21But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed –Verse 22namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction,Verse 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.Verse 24But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.Verse 25God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed.Verse 26This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness.Verse 27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith!Verse 28For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law.Verse 29Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too!Verse 30Since God is one, he will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.Verse 31Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold the law.
The Condemnation of the World
Verse 9What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin,Verse 10just as it is written:“There is no one righteous, not even one,Verse 11there is no one who understands,
there is no one who seeks God.
Verse 12All have turned away,
together they have become worthless;
there is no one who shows kindness, not even one.”
Verse 13“Their throats are open graves,
they deceive with their tongues,
the poison of asps is under their lips.”
Verse 14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
Verse 15“Their feet are swift to shed blood,
Verse 16ruin and misery are in their paths,
Verse 17and the way of peace they have not known.”
Verse 18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”Verse 19Now 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 may be held accountable to God.Verse 20For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.Verse 21But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed –Verse 22namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction,Verse 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.Verse 24But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.Verse 25God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed.Verse 26This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness.Verse 27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith!Verse 28For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law.Verse 29Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too!Verse 30Since God is one, he will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.Verse 31Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold the law.