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Romans 3 |
King James Version
Author: Youssef Rank: Bishop Posted on: 2023-01-25
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
Romans 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit [is there] of circumcision?
Paul continues the theme of the guilt of the Jews in the first eight verses of this chapter. Here, a Jew appears who raises objections and challenges Paul. The conversation proceeds as follows:
Question: Let's assume that everything you said in [Rom 2:17-29] is true. What, then, is the advantage "of being a Jew," or what "benefit" is there in "circumcision"?
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-01 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 1]. After considering the previous section, you might have started to think being a Jew wasn’t much of an advantage even though God had called them His elect people. Likewise, the advantage of circumcision might come into question even though it had been given by God as a sign of His covenant with His earthly people. Paul now deals with this thought. It is advantageous in many ways to belong to the people of God.
[Verse 2]. Among these many advantages, they were entrusted with the oracles (the words) of God. For us who live in so-called Christian countries, it also is an advantage to have the Bible, but this advantage made the Jews and make us more responsible.
[Verse 3-4]. The way we deal with the Bible does not affect its contents. God remains faithful to His Word even if there are those who claim to belong to His people, but who do not respect His Word. This only confirms that God is true and every man is false.
Maybe you have heard someone say (or perhaps you said it yourself): ‘God doesn’t exist.’ This is not a new thought. Someone who speaks like this is just expressing what God wrote down a long time ago. Psalm 14 says: “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God”” [Ps 14:1]. God’s Word provides proof that God is true and every man false.
If man acts according to his evil heart, he only proves what God has said in His Word long ago. In this way God justifies Himself by His own words. If man is presumptuous enough to judge God and make Him responsible, it will be clear that God is the winner and man is the loser.
[Verse 5-6]. God’s righteous acts are confirmed by our unrighteous acts. Nothing can refute this. A way of life that doesn’t respect God must bring God’s wrath upon that life. God cannot act in any other way. He is obligated to do so because He is holy and righteous. He cannot overlook His holy and righteous features as we sometimes do.
When God observes everything in this world, He cannot act as if nothing is wrong. He must execute judgment over this world. He has not executed this judgment yet because He is patient. He is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” [2Pet 3:9]. Yet a time will come when He will have to judge. His patience has an end. Then righteousness will take its course and wrath will be executed: the punishment must come. Denying this only indicates that one doesn’t take God seriously.
[Verse 7-8]. Another way that some do not take God seriously is when they misuse God’s righteous dealings. They say: ”If I lie, it increases the truth of God. With my evil walk, I only contribute to His glory because this makes the sacrifice of Christ worth even more. Isn’t this pleasing to God? In fact I deserve a reward, so why should I be judged as a sinner?” They reason: “Let us do evil things that good may come.”
At the time the apostle Paul wrote this letter, people were spreading the false rumor that Paul was teaching this false doctrine. In this way they tried to vindicate their own ungodly walk while slandering the apostle. Paul doesn’t refute them. There’s no arguing with people like that. His answer is simple: “Their condemnation is just.”
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
The law could not save in or from sins, yet it gave the Jews advantages for obtaining salvation. Their stated ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God and his service, and many favors shown to the children of Abraham, all were means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the conversion of many. But especially the Scriptures were committed to them. Enjoyment of God’s word and ordinances, is the chief happiness of a people. But God’s promises are made only to believers; therefore the unbelief of some, or of many professors, cannot make this faithfulness of no effect. He will fulfill his promises to his people, and bring his threatened vengeance upon unbelievers. God’s judging the world, should for ever silence all doubtings and reflections upon his justice. The wickedness and obstinate unbelief of the Jews, proved man’s need of the righteousness of God by faith, and also his justice in punishing for sin. Let us do evil, that good may come, is oftener in the heart than in the mouth of sinners; for few thus justify themselves in their wicked ways. The believer knows that duty belongs to him, and events to God; and that he must not commit any sin, or speak one falsehood, upon the hope, or even assurance, that God may thereby glorify himself. If any speak and act thus, their condemnation is just.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
The Jews protested against the teachings of Paul the apostle, thinking that he has denied the value of the Mosaic Law and the preference of the covenants made by God to His people in the past. For if according to the teaching of the apostle, God wants inward devotion to Him, and this can be achieved even by a Gentile who walks according to the natural law, what then is the advantage of the Jew or the profit of circumcision? In other words what will distinguish a Jew from a Gentile and set him in a higher rank?
The Old Testament has mentioned what distinguishes God's people from the other nations, as in the Book of Deuteronomy: "For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?" [Deut 4:7-8] The apostle himself referred in the same Epistle to what distinguished God's people in the past, saying, "... who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen." [Rom 9:4-5]
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
If Paul means that there is no use in being a Jew or in circumcision, why was that nation called, and why was circumcision given? How does Paul solve this problem? By the same means as he did before: he speaks not of their praises but of the benefits of God.
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Romans 3:2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
Answer: The Jews have had many privileges. The most important privilege was that "the oracles of God were entrusted to them." The Old Testament Scriptures were given to the Jews to copy and preserve, but how did the Jews handle their great privilege? Overall, they demonstrated a frightening lack of faith.
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-01 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 1]. After considering the previous section, you might have started to think being a Jew wasn’t much of an advantage even though God had called them His elect people. Likewise, the advantage of circumcision might come into question even though it had been given by God as a sign of His covenant with His earthly people. Paul now deals with this thought. It is advantageous in many ways to belong to the people of God.
[Verse 2]. Among these many advantages, they were entrusted with the oracles (the words) of God. For us who live in so-called Christian countries, it also is an advantage to have the Bible, but this advantage made the Jews and make us more responsible.
[Verse 3-4]. The way we deal with the Bible does not affect its contents. God remains faithful to His Word even if there are those who claim to belong to His people, but who do not respect His Word. This only confirms that God is true and every man is false.
Maybe you have heard someone say (or perhaps you said it yourself): ‘God doesn’t exist.’ This is not a new thought. Someone who speaks like this is just expressing what God wrote down a long time ago. Psalm 14 says: “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God”” [Ps 14:1]. God’s Word provides proof that God is true and every man false.
If man acts according to his evil heart, he only proves what God has said in His Word long ago. In this way God justifies Himself by His own words. If man is presumptuous enough to judge God and make Him responsible, it will be clear that God is the winner and man is the loser.
[Verse 5-6]. God’s righteous acts are confirmed by our unrighteous acts. Nothing can refute this. A way of life that doesn’t respect God must bring God’s wrath upon that life. God cannot act in any other way. He is obligated to do so because He is holy and righteous. He cannot overlook His holy and righteous features as we sometimes do.
When God observes everything in this world, He cannot act as if nothing is wrong. He must execute judgment over this world. He has not executed this judgment yet because He is patient. He is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” [2Pet 3:9]. Yet a time will come when He will have to judge. His patience has an end. Then righteousness will take its course and wrath will be executed: the punishment must come. Denying this only indicates that one doesn’t take God seriously.
[Verse 7-8]. Another way that some do not take God seriously is when they misuse God’s righteous dealings. They say: ”If I lie, it increases the truth of God. With my evil walk, I only contribute to His glory because this makes the sacrifice of Christ worth even more. Isn’t this pleasing to God? In fact I deserve a reward, so why should I be judged as a sinner?” They reason: “Let us do evil things that good may come.”
At the time the apostle Paul wrote this letter, people were spreading the false rumor that Paul was teaching this false doctrine. In this way they tried to vindicate their own ungodly walk while slandering the apostle. Paul doesn’t refute them. There’s no arguing with people like that. His answer is simple: “Their condemnation is just.”
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
The law could not save in or from sins, yet it gave the Jews advantages for obtaining salvation. Their stated ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God and his service, and many favors shown to the children of Abraham, all were means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the conversion of many. But especially the Scriptures were committed to them. Enjoyment of God’s word and ordinances, is the chief happiness of a people. But God’s promises are made only to believers; therefore the unbelief of some, or of many professors, cannot make this faithfulness of no effect. He will fulfill his promises to his people, and bring his threatened vengeance upon unbelievers. God’s judging the world, should for ever silence all doubtings and reflections upon his justice. The wickedness and obstinate unbelief of the Jews, proved man’s need of the righteousness of God by faith, and also his justice in punishing for sin. Let us do evil, that good may come, is oftener in the heart than in the mouth of sinners; for few thus justify themselves in their wicked ways. The believer knows that duty belongs to him, and events to God; and that he must not commit any sin, or speak one falsehood, upon the hope, or even assurance, that God may thereby glorify himself. If any speak and act thus, their condemnation is just.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
Paul the apostle objected to their protesting, for God does nothing for no avail. There are actually many advantages which the people in the past had obtained, but the apostle did not mention all of these advantages, but was satisfied with the principal and most important of them, which is God's trust in the people and entrusting them with His covenants. David the prophet mentioned the same, saying, "He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any nation; and as for His judgments, they have not known them." [Ps 147:19-20] And also, "He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel." [Ps 103:7]
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
What does entrusted mean? It means that the Jews had the law put into their hands because God thought so highly of them that he entrusted them with oracles which came down from on high. I know that some people take the entrusted not of the Jews but of the oracles, as if to say: “The law was believed in.” But the context does not allow this interpretation. For in the first place he is saying this in order to accuse them and to show that, in spite of the fact that they enjoyed many blessings from above, they still showed great ingratitude. Then look at [verse ]. If some of the Jews did not believe, how is it that some say that the oracles were believed in? So what does Paul mean? He means that God entrusted the oracles to the Jews, not that the Jews entrusted themselves to the oracles, for the context does not make sense otherwise.
When Paul says “To begin with,” he does not go on to list a second or third item. He means rather that what he begins with is comprehensive of all good things. For what could be better than to believe the words of God? Pauline Commentary from the Greek Church.
Although Paul says that there are many things which pertain to the honor and merit of the seed of Abraham, he records only one of them openly, because it is their greatest boast: They were judged worthy to receive the law, by which they learned to distinguish right from wrong. Only after that was it possible for the value of other things to be understood. But as far as the Jews according to the flesh are concerned (that is, the unbelievers among them), Paul shows that the witness of their race is of no advantage to them. But so as not to appear to be treating them all, including the believers among them, badly, he teaches that the law is very useful to Jewish believers, because they are children of Abraham. For it was to them that the oracles of God were entrusted. It is by the merits of their ancestors that they received the law and were called God’s people…. Egypt was hit by different plagues because of the wrongs which it did to them. They dined on heavenly manna; they were a terror to all nations, as Rahab the harlot bore witness. Moreover, it was to them that Christ the Savior was promised for their sanctification. Therefore, Paul says that in many ways it was useful to the Jews, because they were the children of Abraham and came before the Gentiles. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
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Romans 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
Question: Admittedly, not all Jews have believed, but does that mean that God retracts His promises? After all, He chose the Israelites as His people and made clear covenants with them. Can the "unfaithfulness" of some cause God to break His word?
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-01 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 1]. After considering the previous section, you might have started to think being a Jew wasn’t much of an advantage even though God had called them His elect people. Likewise, the advantage of circumcision might come into question even though it had been given by God as a sign of His covenant with His earthly people. Paul now deals with this thought. It is advantageous in many ways to belong to the people of God.
[Verse 2]. Among these many advantages, they were entrusted with the oracles (the words) of God. For us who live in so-called Christian countries, it also is an advantage to have the Bible, but this advantage made the Jews and make us more responsible.
[Verse 3-4]. The way we deal with the Bible does not affect its contents. God remains faithful to His Word even if there are those who claim to belong to His people, but who do not respect His Word. This only confirms that God is true and every man is false.
Maybe you have heard someone say (or perhaps you said it yourself): ‘God doesn’t exist.’ This is not a new thought. Someone who speaks like this is just expressing what God wrote down a long time ago. Psalm 14 says: “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God”” [Ps 14:1]. God’s Word provides proof that God is true and every man false.
If man acts according to his evil heart, he only proves what God has said in His Word long ago. In this way God justifies Himself by His own words. If man is presumptuous enough to judge God and make Him responsible, it will be clear that God is the winner and man is the loser.
[Verse 5-6]. God’s righteous acts are confirmed by our unrighteous acts. Nothing can refute this. A way of life that doesn’t respect God must bring God’s wrath upon that life. God cannot act in any other way. He is obligated to do so because He is holy and righteous. He cannot overlook His holy and righteous features as we sometimes do.
When God observes everything in this world, He cannot act as if nothing is wrong. He must execute judgment over this world. He has not executed this judgment yet because He is patient. He is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” [2Pet 3:9]. Yet a time will come when He will have to judge. His patience has an end. Then righteousness will take its course and wrath will be executed: the punishment must come. Denying this only indicates that one doesn’t take God seriously.
[Verse 7-8]. Another way that some do not take God seriously is when they misuse God’s righteous dealings. They say: ”If I lie, it increases the truth of God. With my evil walk, I only contribute to His glory because this makes the sacrifice of Christ worth even more. Isn’t this pleasing to God? In fact I deserve a reward, so why should I be judged as a sinner?” They reason: “Let us do evil things that good may come.”
At the time the apostle Paul wrote this letter, people were spreading the false rumor that Paul was teaching this false doctrine. In this way they tried to vindicate their own ungodly walk while slandering the apostle. Paul doesn’t refute them. There’s no arguing with people like that. His answer is simple: “Their condemnation is just.”
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
The law could not save in or from sins, yet it gave the Jews advantages for obtaining salvation. Their stated ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God and his service, and many favors shown to the children of Abraham, all were means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the conversion of many. But especially the Scriptures were committed to them. Enjoyment of God’s word and ordinances, is the chief happiness of a people. But God’s promises are made only to believers; therefore the unbelief of some, or of many professors, cannot make this faithfulness of no effect. He will fulfill his promises to his people, and bring his threatened vengeance upon unbelievers. God’s judging the world, should for ever silence all doubtings and reflections upon his justice. The wickedness and obstinate unbelief of the Jews, proved man’s need of the righteousness of God by faith, and also his justice in punishing for sin. Let us do evil, that good may come, is oftener in the heart than in the mouth of sinners; for few thus justify themselves in their wicked ways. The believer knows that duty belongs to him, and events to God; and that he must not commit any sin, or speak one falsehood, upon the hope, or even assurance, that God may thereby glorify himself. If any speak and act thus, their condemnation is just.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
However, some Jews were not faithful for what they had received, therefore the question arises: Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Will their unfaithfulness in keeping God's covenants and promises make God's faithfulness and love of righteousness futile? God's faithfulness means that He is true in fulfilling His covenants and promises. God never waives His covenants because of the violations of some Jews or their disobedience. That is why Paul the apostle says in his Second Epistle to Timothy, "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself." [2Tim 2:13]
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
The unbelief of the Jews does not reflect badly on God but rather shows his honor and love of man to be all the greater, in that God is seen to have bestowed honor on people who would dishonor him. Look how he has revealed them to be guilty of misdeeds because of what they gloried in. The honor God showed to them was so great that even when he saw what the result of it would be, he did not withhold his good will toward them. But the Jews made the honors bestowed on them a means of insulting him who honored them. Paul said: “What if some of them did not believe?” Wasn’t it clear that it was all of them who did not believe? If Paul had told the truth directly he might have appeared to be a severe and hostile accuser.
"For what "he says, "if some of them have departed from the faith? Hath their unbelief made the faith of God of none effect? God forbid! For God is true, but every man a liar.".
Nor does the perfidy of others press down the Christian faith into ruin, but rather stimulates and exalts it to glory, according to what the blessed Apostle Paul exhorts, and says: "For what if some of these have fallen from their faith: hath their unbelief made the faith of God of none effect? God forbid. For God is true, but every man a liar.".
Nor does the Lord, the protector of His people, and their guardian, suffer the wheat to be snatched from His floor; but the chaff alone can be separated from the Church, since also the apostle says, "For what if some of them have departed from the faith? shall their unbelief make the faith of God of none effect? God forbid; for God is true, but every man a liar.".
The blessed Apostle Paul in his epistle speaks in this manner: "For what if some of them fall away from the faith, shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: for God is true, though every man be a liar.".
Said: It does not disturb me if any man does not assert the faith and truth of the Church, since the apostle says, "For what if some of them have fallen away from the faith? Has their unbelief made the faith of God of no effect? By no means. For God is true, but every man a liar."
Paul says this because it was not foreordained that believing Jews would not be thought worthy of receiving what God had promised just because the others were unbelieving, for the promise was such that the gift of grace would be given to those who believed. Therefore God is not put out because of the unbelief of the Jews and will grant eternal life to their believers, which he promised would be given to those who believed in Christ. Those who did not believe excluded themselves from consideration without doing the rest any injury. Having said this, Paul commends Jewish believers, because it was not their fault that many of their kinsmen refused to believe. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
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Romans 3:4 God 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.
Answer: "Certainly not!" Whenever the question arises of whether God or man is right, one should proceed on the assumption that "God" is right and "every man a liar." This is also David's statement in [Ps 51:4]. Essentially, he says: "One must hold that everything you say is pure truth, and whenever you are questioned by sinful men, you must be justified." Our sins only serve to confirm the truth of God's words.
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-01 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 1]. After considering the previous section, you might have started to think being a Jew wasn’t much of an advantage even though God had called them His elect people. Likewise, the advantage of circumcision might come into question even though it had been given by God as a sign of His covenant with His earthly people. Paul now deals with this thought. It is advantageous in many ways to belong to the people of God.
[Verse 2]. Among these many advantages, they were entrusted with the oracles (the words) of God. For us who live in so-called Christian countries, it also is an advantage to have the Bible, but this advantage made the Jews and make us more responsible.
[Verse 3-4]. The way we deal with the Bible does not affect its contents. God remains faithful to His Word even if there are those who claim to belong to His people, but who do not respect His Word. This only confirms that God is true and every man is false.
Maybe you have heard someone say (or perhaps you said it yourself): ‘God doesn’t exist.’ This is not a new thought. Someone who speaks like this is just expressing what God wrote down a long time ago. Psalm 14 says: “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God”” [Ps 14:1]. God’s Word provides proof that God is true and every man false.
If man acts according to his evil heart, he only proves what God has said in His Word long ago. In this way God justifies Himself by His own words. If man is presumptuous enough to judge God and make Him responsible, it will be clear that God is the winner and man is the loser.
[Verse 5-6]. God’s righteous acts are confirmed by our unrighteous acts. Nothing can refute this. A way of life that doesn’t respect God must bring God’s wrath upon that life. God cannot act in any other way. He is obligated to do so because He is holy and righteous. He cannot overlook His holy and righteous features as we sometimes do.
When God observes everything in this world, He cannot act as if nothing is wrong. He must execute judgment over this world. He has not executed this judgment yet because He is patient. He is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” [2Pet 3:9]. Yet a time will come when He will have to judge. His patience has an end. Then righteousness will take its course and wrath will be executed: the punishment must come. Denying this only indicates that one doesn’t take God seriously.
[Verse 7-8]. Another way that some do not take God seriously is when they misuse God’s righteous dealings. They say: ”If I lie, it increases the truth of God. With my evil walk, I only contribute to His glory because this makes the sacrifice of Christ worth even more. Isn’t this pleasing to God? In fact I deserve a reward, so why should I be judged as a sinner?” They reason: “Let us do evil things that good may come.”
At the time the apostle Paul wrote this letter, people were spreading the false rumor that Paul was teaching this false doctrine. In this way they tried to vindicate their own ungodly walk while slandering the apostle. Paul doesn’t refute them. There’s no arguing with people like that. His answer is simple: “Their condemnation is just.”
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
The law could not save in or from sins, yet it gave the Jews advantages for obtaining salvation. Their stated ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God and his service, and many favors shown to the children of Abraham, all were means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the conversion of many. But especially the Scriptures were committed to them. Enjoyment of God’s word and ordinances, is the chief happiness of a people. But God’s promises are made only to believers; therefore the unbelief of some, or of many professors, cannot make this faithfulness of no effect. He will fulfill his promises to his people, and bring his threatened vengeance upon unbelievers. God’s judging the world, should for ever silence all doubtings and reflections upon his justice. The wickedness and obstinate unbelief of the Jews, proved man’s need of the righteousness of God by faith, and also his justice in punishing for sin. Let us do evil, that good may come, is oftener in the heart than in the mouth of sinners; for few thus justify themselves in their wicked ways. The believer knows that duty belongs to him, and events to God; and that he must not commit any sin, or speak one falsehood, upon the hope, or even assurance, that God may thereby glorify himself. If any speak and act thus, their condemnation is just.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
Nobody can claim that God would waive the covenants and promises He has given to mankind. Actually all things assert and prove that God is true in His word, whereas man is a liar concerning his false accusations against God that He does not fulfill His promises. If people would put God in a trial, all matters will reveal that God is righteous in His words and true in His promises. This is what David the prophet expressed in his Psalms, saying, "... that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge." [Ps 51:4] "I said in my haste, all men are liars." [Ps 116:11]
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
Paul is saying something like this: “Even if every one of the Jews was an unbeliever … God would only be the more justified.” What does the word justified mean? It means that if there were a trial and an examination of the things which God had done for the Jews and also of what they had done to him, the victory would be with God, and all the right would be on his side.
If everyone who utters a lie has already destroyed his soul, and all of us are liars, are we all going to perish? What Scripture says … we should interpret as referring to heretics…. The doer of the deed has indeed killed his own soul, but the heretic—the liar—has killed as many souls as he has seduced.
Even if all men loved a lie before the coming of the truth, the true God nevertheless remained just, holding fast to the things which were proper to God and fulfilling everything which was said that was fitting. .
If every man is a liar and God alone is true, what else ought we servants and bishops of God to do except to reject human errors and lies and to remain in the truth of God, obeying the precepts of the Lord? Letter
Because God is true, he gives what he has promised. To fail is human, for the times and the foolishness of nature make man unstable in that he does not have foreknowledge. But God, for whom there is no future, remains unchanging, as he says: “I the Lord do not change.” Therefore Paul says that all men are liars, and this is true. For nature is fallible and is not unreasonably called a liar. It may be a liar intentionally or accidentally, but we must not expect God to be like that, for he is perfect and full of good will and will accomplish what he has promised. He even confirms this by the prophetic oracle: “Thou art justified in thy sentence and blameless in thy judgment.” Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
Does God tell a lie? He does not. It is impossible for God to tell a lie. Is this an impossibility because of some weakness? Certainly not! How could he be the cause of all things if there were something which he could not cause? What then is impossible to him? Nothing that is difficult for his power but only that which is contrary to his nature. It is impossible, it is said, for him to tell a lie. The impossibility comes not from weakness but from his power and greatness, for truth admits of no lie.
Author: Ambrosius von Mailand Rank: Bishop AD: 397
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
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Romans 3:5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? [Is] God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
Question: If that is the case, why does God condemn us then? "If our unrighteousness highlights God's righteousness," how can God bring His "wrath" upon us? (Paul notes here that, in asking this, he is presenting a typical human argument.)
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-01 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 1]. After considering the previous section, you might have started to think being a Jew wasn’t much of an advantage even though God had called them His elect people. Likewise, the advantage of circumcision might come into question even though it had been given by God as a sign of His covenant with His earthly people. Paul now deals with this thought. It is advantageous in many ways to belong to the people of God.
[Verse 2]. Among these many advantages, they were entrusted with the oracles (the words) of God. For us who live in so-called Christian countries, it also is an advantage to have the Bible, but this advantage made the Jews and make us more responsible.
[Verse 3-4]. The way we deal with the Bible does not affect its contents. God remains faithful to His Word even if there are those who claim to belong to His people, but who do not respect His Word. This only confirms that God is true and every man is false.
Maybe you have heard someone say (or perhaps you said it yourself): ‘God doesn’t exist.’ This is not a new thought. Someone who speaks like this is just expressing what God wrote down a long time ago. Psalm 14 says: “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God”” [Ps 14:1]. God’s Word provides proof that God is true and every man false.
If man acts according to his evil heart, he only proves what God has said in His Word long ago. In this way God justifies Himself by His own words. If man is presumptuous enough to judge God and make Him responsible, it will be clear that God is the winner and man is the loser.
[Verse 5-6]. God’s righteous acts are confirmed by our unrighteous acts. Nothing can refute this. A way of life that doesn’t respect God must bring God’s wrath upon that life. God cannot act in any other way. He is obligated to do so because He is holy and righteous. He cannot overlook His holy and righteous features as we sometimes do.
When God observes everything in this world, He cannot act as if nothing is wrong. He must execute judgment over this world. He has not executed this judgment yet because He is patient. He is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” [2Pet 3:9]. Yet a time will come when He will have to judge. His patience has an end. Then righteousness will take its course and wrath will be executed: the punishment must come. Denying this only indicates that one doesn’t take God seriously.
[Verse 7-8]. Another way that some do not take God seriously is when they misuse God’s righteous dealings. They say: ”If I lie, it increases the truth of God. With my evil walk, I only contribute to His glory because this makes the sacrifice of Christ worth even more. Isn’t this pleasing to God? In fact I deserve a reward, so why should I be judged as a sinner?” They reason: “Let us do evil things that good may come.”
At the time the apostle Paul wrote this letter, people were spreading the false rumor that Paul was teaching this false doctrine. In this way they tried to vindicate their own ungodly walk while slandering the apostle. Paul doesn’t refute them. There’s no arguing with people like that. His answer is simple: “Their condemnation is just.”
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
The law could not save in or from sins, yet it gave the Jews advantages for obtaining salvation. Their stated ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God and his service, and many favors shown to the children of Abraham, all were means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the conversion of many. But especially the Scriptures were committed to them. Enjoyment of God’s word and ordinances, is the chief happiness of a people. But God’s promises are made only to believers; therefore the unbelief of some, or of many professors, cannot make this faithfulness of no effect. He will fulfill his promises to his people, and bring his threatened vengeance upon unbelievers. God’s judging the world, should for ever silence all doubtings and reflections upon his justice. The wickedness and obstinate unbelief of the Jews, proved man’s need of the righteousness of God by faith, and also his justice in punishing for sin. Let us do evil, that good may come, is oftener in the heart than in the mouth of sinners; for few thus justify themselves in their wicked ways. The believer knows that duty belongs to him, and events to God; and that he must not commit any sin, or speak one falsehood, upon the hope, or even assurance, that God may thereby glorify himself. If any speak and act thus, their condemnation is just.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
From the above it is evident that God's truthfulness and righteousness are demonstrated the more when compared to man's lies and evil as also asserted by David in his Psalms. So if this is the case, and our evil has such good results, demonstrating God's glory and love of righteousness and true promises, there should be – according to man's logic – nothing justifying God's wrath against our evil. Also it will not be fair that the evil and the wicked be exposed to punishment.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 5-6
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?
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
What does Paul mean? God honored the Jews, but they dishonored him. This gives God the victory and shows the greatness of his love toward man, in that he continued to honor them in spite of what they were like. But if this is true of us (someone might say), why am I to be punished when I have contributed to God’s victory by dishonoring him? Paul answers this by a corresponding absurdity. In effect, he says that if this man were the cause of God’s victory and he was punished as a result, it was an injustice. But if God is not unjust and the man was punished, then he could not have been the cause of God’s victory…. For God’s justice far exceeds what we think of as justice and is based on other ineffable criteria.
David had sinned in the case of Uriah the Hittite. Because he knew that the promise would not be given to sinners, he pleaded that the righteousness of the words of God might overrule the judgment which said that the promise should not be given to sinners and that it might sanctify the penitent in order to give him what God had promised he would give to the righteous. To this Paul adds that … if God is justified because we are sinners, it would be wrong of him to pardon us on that account. If it can really be said that our wickedness is of some advantage to God, then there is some measure of truth in this reasoning. But it is dangerous to speak like that. God is not unjust if he judges, because our unrighteousness is of no benefit to him. It is not as if he would somehow be justified by our sins or as if he would somehow rejoice at our sins, by which he alone would then appear to be righteous. This way of thinking suits men but not God, because it does not happen that God should ever be unjust, only man. Nor does our unrighteousness make God righteous if he gives to us sinners what he promised to the saints, for although we are sinners, we are reformed by repentance so that it is not as sinners but as those who have been cleansed that we are readied to receive the promise. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
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Romans 3:6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
Answer: Such an argument doesn't even need to be taken seriously. If there were the slightest possibility that God could be unjust, how would He be fit to "judge the world"? And yet, we all agree that He will judge the world.
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-01 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 1]. After considering the previous section, you might have started to think being a Jew wasn’t much of an advantage even though God had called them His elect people. Likewise, the advantage of circumcision might come into question even though it had been given by God as a sign of His covenant with His earthly people. Paul now deals with this thought. It is advantageous in many ways to belong to the people of God.
[Verse 2]. Among these many advantages, they were entrusted with the oracles (the words) of God. For us who live in so-called Christian countries, it also is an advantage to have the Bible, but this advantage made the Jews and make us more responsible.
[Verse 3-4]. The way we deal with the Bible does not affect its contents. God remains faithful to His Word even if there are those who claim to belong to His people, but who do not respect His Word. This only confirms that God is true and every man is false.
Maybe you have heard someone say (or perhaps you said it yourself): ‘God doesn’t exist.’ This is not a new thought. Someone who speaks like this is just expressing what God wrote down a long time ago. Psalm 14 says: “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God”” [Ps 14:1]. God’s Word provides proof that God is true and every man false.
If man acts according to his evil heart, he only proves what God has said in His Word long ago. In this way God justifies Himself by His own words. If man is presumptuous enough to judge God and make Him responsible, it will be clear that God is the winner and man is the loser.
[Verse 5-6]. God’s righteous acts are confirmed by our unrighteous acts. Nothing can refute this. A way of life that doesn’t respect God must bring God’s wrath upon that life. God cannot act in any other way. He is obligated to do so because He is holy and righteous. He cannot overlook His holy and righteous features as we sometimes do.
When God observes everything in this world, He cannot act as if nothing is wrong. He must execute judgment over this world. He has not executed this judgment yet because He is patient. He is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” [2Pet 3:9]. Yet a time will come when He will have to judge. His patience has an end. Then righteousness will take its course and wrath will be executed: the punishment must come. Denying this only indicates that one doesn’t take God seriously.
[Verse 7-8]. Another way that some do not take God seriously is when they misuse God’s righteous dealings. They say: ”If I lie, it increases the truth of God. With my evil walk, I only contribute to His glory because this makes the sacrifice of Christ worth even more. Isn’t this pleasing to God? In fact I deserve a reward, so why should I be judged as a sinner?” They reason: “Let us do evil things that good may come.”
At the time the apostle Paul wrote this letter, people were spreading the false rumor that Paul was teaching this false doctrine. In this way they tried to vindicate their own ungodly walk while slandering the apostle. Paul doesn’t refute them. There’s no arguing with people like that. His answer is simple: “Their condemnation is just.”
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
The law could not save in or from sins, yet it gave the Jews advantages for obtaining salvation. Their stated ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God and his service, and many favors shown to the children of Abraham, all were means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the conversion of many. But especially the Scriptures were committed to them. Enjoyment of God’s word and ordinances, is the chief happiness of a people. But God’s promises are made only to believers; therefore the unbelief of some, or of many professors, cannot make this faithfulness of no effect. He will fulfill his promises to his people, and bring his threatened vengeance upon unbelievers. God’s judging the world, should for ever silence all doubtings and reflections upon his justice. The wickedness and obstinate unbelief of the Jews, proved man’s need of the righteousness of God by faith, and also his justice in punishing for sin. Let us do evil, that good may come, is oftener in the heart than in the mouth of sinners; for few thus justify themselves in their wicked ways. The believer knows that duty belongs to him, and events to God; and that he must not commit any sin, or speak one falsehood, upon the hope, or even assurance, that God may thereby glorify himself. If any speak and act thus, their condemnation is just.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
From the above it is evident that God's truthfulness and righteousness are demonstrated the more when compared to man's lies and evil as also asserted by David in his Psalms. So if this is the case, and our evil has such good results, demonstrating God's glory and love of righteousness and true promises, there should be – according to man's logic – nothing justifying God's wrath against our evil. Also it will not be fair that the evil and the wicked be exposed to punishment.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 5-6
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?
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
It is true that it would not have been just if God had judged the world if its sins were of some benefit to him, so that whenever sinners received forgiveness at his nod, God would appear to be good. Then if they had not sinned, according to this reasoning, he would not appear to be righteous. For if they had not sinned there would be nothing to forgive, and God would not be good. But this kind of thinking is absurd! Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
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Romans 3:7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
Question: But if my sin brings glory to God, if "my lie" highlights the "truth of God," if He uses man's wrath to gain glory, how can He still "accuse me as a sinner"?
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-01 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 1]. After considering the previous section, you might have started to think being a Jew wasn’t much of an advantage even though God had called them His elect people. Likewise, the advantage of circumcision might come into question even though it had been given by God as a sign of His covenant with His earthly people. Paul now deals with this thought. It is advantageous in many ways to belong to the people of God.
[Verse 2]. Among these many advantages, they were entrusted with the oracles (the words) of God. For us who live in so-called Christian countries, it also is an advantage to have the Bible, but this advantage made the Jews and make us more responsible.
[Verse 3-4]. The way we deal with the Bible does not affect its contents. God remains faithful to His Word even if there are those who claim to belong to His people, but who do not respect His Word. This only confirms that God is true and every man is false.
Maybe you have heard someone say (or perhaps you said it yourself): ‘God doesn’t exist.’ This is not a new thought. Someone who speaks like this is just expressing what God wrote down a long time ago. Psalm 14 says: “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God”” [Ps 14:1]. God’s Word provides proof that God is true and every man false.
If man acts according to his evil heart, he only proves what God has said in His Word long ago. In this way God justifies Himself by His own words. If man is presumptuous enough to judge God and make Him responsible, it will be clear that God is the winner and man is the loser.
[Verse 5-6]. God’s righteous acts are confirmed by our unrighteous acts. Nothing can refute this. A way of life that doesn’t respect God must bring God’s wrath upon that life. God cannot act in any other way. He is obligated to do so because He is holy and righteous. He cannot overlook His holy and righteous features as we sometimes do.
When God observes everything in this world, He cannot act as if nothing is wrong. He must execute judgment over this world. He has not executed this judgment yet because He is patient. He is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” [2Pet 3:9]. Yet a time will come when He will have to judge. His patience has an end. Then righteousness will take its course and wrath will be executed: the punishment must come. Denying this only indicates that one doesn’t take God seriously.
[Verse 7-8]. Another way that some do not take God seriously is when they misuse God’s righteous dealings. They say: ”If I lie, it increases the truth of God. With my evil walk, I only contribute to His glory because this makes the sacrifice of Christ worth even more. Isn’t this pleasing to God? In fact I deserve a reward, so why should I be judged as a sinner?” They reason: “Let us do evil things that good may come.”
At the time the apostle Paul wrote this letter, people were spreading the false rumor that Paul was teaching this false doctrine. In this way they tried to vindicate their own ungodly walk while slandering the apostle. Paul doesn’t refute them. There’s no arguing with people like that. His answer is simple: “Their condemnation is just.”
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
The law could not save in or from sins, yet it gave the Jews advantages for obtaining salvation. Their stated ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God and his service, and many favors shown to the children of Abraham, all were means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the conversion of many. But especially the Scriptures were committed to them. Enjoyment of God’s word and ordinances, is the chief happiness of a people. But God’s promises are made only to believers; therefore the unbelief of some, or of many professors, cannot make this faithfulness of no effect. He will fulfill his promises to his people, and bring his threatened vengeance upon unbelievers. God’s judging the world, should for ever silence all doubtings and reflections upon his justice. The wickedness and obstinate unbelief of the Jews, proved man’s need of the righteousness of God by faith, and also his justice in punishing for sin. Let us do evil, that good may come, is oftener in the heart than in the mouth of sinners; for few thus justify themselves in their wicked ways. The believer knows that duty belongs to him, and events to God; and that he must not commit any sin, or speak one falsehood, upon the hope, or even assurance, that God may thereby glorify himself. If any speak and act thus, their condemnation is just.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
Every sinner may protest against God's punishment, saying, 'If God's love of truth and His truthfulness have increased to a greater glory to Him due to my sin, when then should I be punished as a sinner?' This means that sin should not be counted as sin, nor the wicked be judged as a sinner so long as such sin led to righteousness and revealed God's glory.
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
The logic of this argument can easily tend toward the absurdity that good comes out of evil and that evil is the cause of good. In that case, one of two options follows: Either God is clearly unjust in punishing, or if he does not punish, then he gets his victory from our vices. Either of these conclusions is absurd.
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Romans 3:8 And 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.
Why would it be illogical to say – Answer: I want to interrupt you here to say that there really are "some" who accuse us Christians of using this argument, but that is slander. Question: Why would it be illogical to say, "Let us do evil so that good may come"? Answer: I can only say that the "judgment" on those who claim such things is "just."
(This last argument, as foolish as it may seem, is indeed repeatedly brought up against the gospel of God's grace. People say, "If one is saved simply by faith in Christ, then one can go on and sin happily. Since God's grace is so much greater than human sin, His grace will be even greater the more one sins." The apostle addresses this objection in chapter 6.)
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-01 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 1]. After considering the previous section, you might have started to think being a Jew wasn’t much of an advantage even though God had called them His elect people. Likewise, the advantage of circumcision might come into question even though it had been given by God as a sign of His covenant with His earthly people. Paul now deals with this thought. It is advantageous in many ways to belong to the people of God.
[Verse 2]. Among these many advantages, they were entrusted with the oracles (the words) of God. For us who live in so-called Christian countries, it also is an advantage to have the Bible, but this advantage made the Jews and make us more responsible.
[Verse 3-4]. The way we deal with the Bible does not affect its contents. God remains faithful to His Word even if there are those who claim to belong to His people, but who do not respect His Word. This only confirms that God is true and every man is false.
Maybe you have heard someone say (or perhaps you said it yourself): ‘God doesn’t exist.’ This is not a new thought. Someone who speaks like this is just expressing what God wrote down a long time ago. Psalm 14 says: “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God”” [Ps 14:1]. God’s Word provides proof that God is true and every man false.
If man acts according to his evil heart, he only proves what God has said in His Word long ago. In this way God justifies Himself by His own words. If man is presumptuous enough to judge God and make Him responsible, it will be clear that God is the winner and man is the loser.
[Verse 5-6]. God’s righteous acts are confirmed by our unrighteous acts. Nothing can refute this. A way of life that doesn’t respect God must bring God’s wrath upon that life. God cannot act in any other way. He is obligated to do so because He is holy and righteous. He cannot overlook His holy and righteous features as we sometimes do.
When God observes everything in this world, He cannot act as if nothing is wrong. He must execute judgment over this world. He has not executed this judgment yet because He is patient. He is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” [2Pet 3:9]. Yet a time will come when He will have to judge. His patience has an end. Then righteousness will take its course and wrath will be executed: the punishment must come. Denying this only indicates that one doesn’t take God seriously.
[Verse 7-8]. Another way that some do not take God seriously is when they misuse God’s righteous dealings. They say: ”If I lie, it increases the truth of God. With my evil walk, I only contribute to His glory because this makes the sacrifice of Christ worth even more. Isn’t this pleasing to God? In fact I deserve a reward, so why should I be judged as a sinner?” They reason: “Let us do evil things that good may come.”
At the time the apostle Paul wrote this letter, people were spreading the false rumor that Paul was teaching this false doctrine. In this way they tried to vindicate their own ungodly walk while slandering the apostle. Paul doesn’t refute them. There’s no arguing with people like that. His answer is simple: “Their condemnation is just.”
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
The law could not save in or from sins, yet it gave the Jews advantages for obtaining salvation. Their stated ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God and his service, and many favors shown to the children of Abraham, all were means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the conversion of many. But especially the Scriptures were committed to them. Enjoyment of God’s word and ordinances, is the chief happiness of a people. But God’s promises are made only to believers; therefore the unbelief of some, or of many professors, cannot make this faithfulness of no effect. He will fulfill his promises to his people, and bring his threatened vengeance upon unbelievers. God’s judging the world, should for ever silence all doubtings and reflections upon his justice. The wickedness and obstinate unbelief of the Jews, proved man’s need of the righteousness of God by faith, and also his justice in punishing for sin. Let us do evil, that good may come, is oftener in the heart than in the mouth of sinners; for few thus justify themselves in their wicked ways. The believer knows that duty belongs to him, and events to God; and that he must not commit any sin, or speak one falsehood, upon the hope, or even assurance, that God may thereby glorify himself. If any speak and act thus, their condemnation is just.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
Paul the apostle was accused for his teachings, as if he permitted committing sin and doing evil as lawful things and even necessary to bring good! It is a strange logic disapproved by the apostle Paul. And if good came from evil doings, this does not mean that evil is necessary for bringing good. For good may be realized without need for the existence of evil, and God's truth may be demonstrated without need that man lie. Moreover, when the wicked commits evil, he does not do that with an aim to realize righteousness or to reveal God's love. Briefly speaking, evil is not linked essentially with good, so a sinner deserves punishment for his sin even if this sin or wrongdoing caused God's glory to be revealed.
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
These people twist the Scriptures when they read them by their tone of voice, in order to serve their own preferences. They alter some of the accents and punctuation marks in order to force wise and constructive precepts to support their taste for luxury. .
Author: Clement Of Alexandria Rank: Author AD: 215
Nun quid autem ad hos verba sua dirigens, scribit Apostolus in Epistola ad Romanos: "Et non sicut blasphemamur, et sicut dicunt aliqui nos dicere: Facia Mus mala, ut eveniant bona, quorum justa est damnatio? "
Author: Clement Of Alexandria Rank: Author AD: 215
This is why the apostle asked himself this question. The matter was raised by opponents, as if this were the meaning of the preaching of the forgiveness of sins—that they should do evil and good would come of it. That is, they should sin so that by forgiving their sins God should appear to be good, according to what has just been said above. Paul calls this blasphemy and rejects it as a bad interpretation of God’s teaching. Faith is not meant to encourage people to sin by preaching that God will ultimately be vindicated. Rather, it gives sinners a remedy so that having recovered their health they may live under the law of God and not sin again. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
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Romans 3:9 What 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;
Question: Are you then saying that "we" Jews "have an advantage" over these sinful Gentiles? According to some manuscripts, the question could also be: "Are we Jews worse than the Gentiles?" In any case, the answer is that Jews are neither better nor worse. All are sinners.
This brings us to the next question in Paul's argument, which is very similar to the above question. He has shown that the Gentiles are just as lost as the self-righteous moralists (whether Gentiles or Jews) and the Jews. Now he turns to the question of whether all people are lost.
The answer is: Yes, "we have" already established that "all" people are "under" the power "of sin." This means that, in this regard, the Jew is no different from the Gentile.
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-01 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 9]. After having disproved the evil objections of unbelief in [Verse 3-8], in [Verse 9] Paul referred to [Verse 1] where he asked about the advantages of being Jewish. He then showed that everything in which the Jews boasted actually witnessed against them. Had God’s Word been entrusted to them? Well, God’s Word was quite clear about man’s nature and practice. At this point the Jew was not far superior to the Greek.
[Verse 10-11]. The accusation that all are under sin is emphatically stressed by some Old Testament quotations. The description is held before them, and before you and me, as a mirror in which they must recognize themselves, as we also must. There is no one righteous. No one understands and none seeks for God. This account used to describe you. Maybe you previously thought you conducted yourself righteously and had understanding, but when God met you it became clear you were living for yourself.
[Verse 12]. You had disregarded God’s goal for your life and you had become useless and unprofitable. Maybe you thought you were useful to those around you, but when God met you, it turned out you weren’t living for Him. Consequently you realized you had never done anything good by yourself, even if perhaps you had boasted in your many good deeds. True good deeds are only those which are done out of love for God.
[Verse 13-17]. What is on the inside will find its expression through your body – through words and deeds. We read some examples of this in [Verse 13-18]. The throat, tongue, lips and mouth are all connected with death and corruption. The words we spoke, when we were ignoring God, lacked life. These can still be heard in what people say around us. This should no longer be the case with us.
Regarding our feet and ways, we misused them before our conversion and therefore the same must be said. The way of peace was “not known” to us. We were willing to teach someone a lesson if they hurt us. Maybe we have not committed murder, but we sought revenge on someone with or without literally shedding blood. To shed blood means to make life impossible for someone. Behind us we left a trail of destruction and misery.
[Verse 18]. How many have been hurt by our godless behavior? It was all because the “fear of God” was not before our eyes until God met us and held this mirror up to us. Then we recognized ourselves in it. Not that we were all guilty of these things to the same degree, but all of this was in our hearts. And since we still have an old nature, it is still in our hearts.
The above was directed especially at the Jews to convince them of their sins from their Scriptures in which they boasted. Yet every person who checks himself honestly using this description will recognize it applies to him as well.
[Verse 19]. Then in this verse a conclusion is drawn. This conclusion applies to the whole portion of Romans beginning with [Rom 1:18] until here. The conclusion is “that every mouth” – both of the heathen and the Jew – “may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God”.
[Verse 20]. It is impossible to obtain God’s approval for our acts carried out under our own strength. The law makes it clear we have sinned because we have transgressed it.
Only one Man exists to Whom the preceding doesn’t apply. This is the Man Christ Jesus. All through His life He lived completely God-centered and did everything for Him. And so, He is God’s answer to all guilt and sin which man has heaped on himself and from which he could never free himself. This is what the next portion covers.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-20
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
Here again is shown that all mankind are under the guilt of sin, as a burden; and under the government and dominion of sin, as enslaved to it, to work wickedness. This is made plain by several passages of Scripture from the Old Testament, which describe the corrupt and depraved state of all men, till grace restrain or change them. Great as our advantages are, these texts describe multitudes who call themselves Christians. Their principles and conduct prove that there is no fear of God before their eyes. And where no fear of God is, no good is to be looked for.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-18
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
In the two preceding chapters, the apostle Paul stated that sin prevailed over all mankind and extended to the Jews and Gentiles together. As for the Gentiles, the apostle says, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness." [Rom 1:18] For the Jew on the other hand the apostle says, "... he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter." [Rom 2:29] This means that the Jews were not better than the Gentiles concerning abiding by the moral and spiritual commandments, for all were under sin.
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
Paul is saying: “Why go on talking like this? For we have shown by the examples given that all, Jews and Gentiles alike, are guilty and that the law is being pursued in vain.” For Paul first showed that the Gentiles are guilty according to the law of nature and also because they did not accept the law of Moses, for which reason their case is very dire indeed. Then he showed that the Jews were also guilty. While they appeared to be living under God’s law and defended their privilege by the merit of their ancestors, they in fact brought the grace of God into disrepute because they rejected the promise made to their ancestors. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
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Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
If we desire further evidence, we should look in the Old Testament. First, we see that sin affects everyone who descends from human parents [Rom 3:10-12]. Then, we recognize that sin impacts every aspect of a person [Rom 3:13-18]. We can paraphrase it as follows: There is not a single person who is "righteous" [Ps 14:1].
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-01 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 9]. After having disproved the evil objections of unbelief in [Verse 3-8], in [Verse 9] Paul referred to [Verse 1] where he asked about the advantages of being Jewish. He then showed that everything in which the Jews boasted actually witnessed against them. Had God’s Word been entrusted to them? Well, God’s Word was quite clear about man’s nature and practice. At this point the Jew was not far superior to the Greek.
[Verse 10-11]. The accusation that all are under sin is emphatically stressed by some Old Testament quotations. The description is held before them, and before you and me, as a mirror in which they must recognize themselves, as we also must. There is no one righteous. No one understands and none seeks for God. This account used to describe you. Maybe you previously thought you conducted yourself righteously and had understanding, but when God met you it became clear you were living for yourself.
[Verse 12]. You had disregarded God’s goal for your life and you had become useless and unprofitable. Maybe you thought you were useful to those around you, but when God met you, it turned out you weren’t living for Him. Consequently you realized you had never done anything good by yourself, even if perhaps you had boasted in your many good deeds. True good deeds are only those which are done out of love for God.
[Verse 13-17]. What is on the inside will find its expression through your body – through words and deeds. We read some examples of this in [Verse 13-18]. The throat, tongue, lips and mouth are all connected with death and corruption. The words we spoke, when we were ignoring God, lacked life. These can still be heard in what people say around us. This should no longer be the case with us.
Regarding our feet and ways, we misused them before our conversion and therefore the same must be said. The way of peace was “not known” to us. We were willing to teach someone a lesson if they hurt us. Maybe we have not committed murder, but we sought revenge on someone with or without literally shedding blood. To shed blood means to make life impossible for someone. Behind us we left a trail of destruction and misery.
[Verse 18]. How many have been hurt by our godless behavior? It was all because the “fear of God” was not before our eyes until God met us and held this mirror up to us. Then we recognized ourselves in it. Not that we were all guilty of these things to the same degree, but all of this was in our hearts. And since we still have an old nature, it is still in our hearts.
The above was directed especially at the Jews to convince them of their sins from their Scriptures in which they boasted. Yet every person who checks himself honestly using this description will recognize it applies to him as well.
[Verse 19]. Then in this verse a conclusion is drawn. This conclusion applies to the whole portion of Romans beginning with [Rom 1:18] until here. The conclusion is “that every mouth” – both of the heathen and the Jew – “may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God”.
[Verse 20]. It is impossible to obtain God’s approval for our acts carried out under our own strength. The law makes it clear we have sinned because we have transgressed it.
Only one Man exists to Whom the preceding doesn’t apply. This is the Man Christ Jesus. All through His life He lived completely God-centered and did everything for Him. And so, He is God’s answer to all guilt and sin which man has heaped on himself and from which he could never free himself. This is what the next portion covers.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-20
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
Here again is shown that all mankind are under the guilt of sin, as a burden; and under the government and dominion of sin, as enslaved to it, to work wickedness. This is made plain by several passages of Scripture from the Old Testament, which describe the corrupt and depraved state of all men, till grace restrain or change them. Great as our advantages are, these texts describe multitudes who call themselves Christians. Their principles and conduct prove that there is no fear of God before their eyes. And where no fear of God is, no good is to be looked for.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-18
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
The state of humanity worsened to the extent that there is no more any one who is righteous. If such a righteous one exists, God will support him as He had done in the days of Noah when He supported Noah, and as He had done for Sodom and Gomorrah when He supported Lot. However, the apostle here declares it that all have gone astray, and the human mind has become corrupt, no one understands. People no more distinguish between truth and falsity, and between good and evil. Therefore they dropped into the corruption of sin, and there is no more one who seeks earnestly to know God. All have gone out of the way of virtue, and none walks in good, as David the prophet had said before in his Psalms, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no good.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one." [Ps 14:1-3] Solomon the wise likewise said, "For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin." [Eccl 7:20] So humanity lacked the pure mind, and became connected with the darkness of sin. Man became unable to understand and know the moral and religious facts, and none seeks the knowledge of God.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 10-12
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.
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
With their tongues they have practised deceit, their throat is an open sepulchre, the poison of asps is under their lips, destruction and misery are in their paths, and the way of peace they have not known.'
From unrighteousness Paul goes on to list their evil deeds and even adds some worse ones, in order to show that there was no hope for them unless they cried out for the mercy of Christ, who forgives sins. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
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Romans 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
There is no one who has the right understanding of God. "There is no one who seeks God" [Ps 14:2]. If left to himself, fallen man would never seek God. It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit that people are brought to do so.
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-01 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 9]. After having disproved the evil objections of unbelief in [Verse 3-8], in [Verse 9] Paul referred to [Verse 1] where he asked about the advantages of being Jewish. He then showed that everything in which the Jews boasted actually witnessed against them. Had God’s Word been entrusted to them? Well, God’s Word was quite clear about man’s nature and practice. At this point the Jew was not far superior to the Greek.
[Verse 10-11]. The accusation that all are under sin is emphatically stressed by some Old Testament quotations. The description is held before them, and before you and me, as a mirror in which they must recognize themselves, as we also must. There is no one righteous. No one understands and none seeks for God. This account used to describe you. Maybe you previously thought you conducted yourself righteously and had understanding, but when God met you it became clear you were living for yourself.
[Verse 12]. You had disregarded God’s goal for your life and you had become useless and unprofitable. Maybe you thought you were useful to those around you, but when God met you, it turned out you weren’t living for Him. Consequently you realized you had never done anything good by yourself, even if perhaps you had boasted in your many good deeds. True good deeds are only those which are done out of love for God.
[Verse 13-17]. What is on the inside will find its expression through your body – through words and deeds. We read some examples of this in [Verse 13-18]. The throat, tongue, lips and mouth are all connected with death and corruption. The words we spoke, when we were ignoring God, lacked life. These can still be heard in what people say around us. This should no longer be the case with us.
Regarding our feet and ways, we misused them before our conversion and therefore the same must be said. The way of peace was “not known” to us. We were willing to teach someone a lesson if they hurt us. Maybe we have not committed murder, but we sought revenge on someone with or without literally shedding blood. To shed blood means to make life impossible for someone. Behind us we left a trail of destruction and misery.
[Verse 18]. How many have been hurt by our godless behavior? It was all because the “fear of God” was not before our eyes until God met us and held this mirror up to us. Then we recognized ourselves in it. Not that we were all guilty of these things to the same degree, but all of this was in our hearts. And since we still have an old nature, it is still in our hearts.
The above was directed especially at the Jews to convince them of their sins from their Scriptures in which they boasted. Yet every person who checks himself honestly using this description will recognize it applies to him as well.
[Verse 19]. Then in this verse a conclusion is drawn. This conclusion applies to the whole portion of Romans beginning with [Rom 1:18] until here. The conclusion is “that every mouth” – both of the heathen and the Jew – “may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God”.
[Verse 20]. It is impossible to obtain God’s approval for our acts carried out under our own strength. The law makes it clear we have sinned because we have transgressed it.
Only one Man exists to Whom the preceding doesn’t apply. This is the Man Christ Jesus. All through His life He lived completely God-centered and did everything for Him. And so, He is God’s answer to all guilt and sin which man has heaped on himself and from which he could never free himself. This is what the next portion covers.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-20
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
Here again is shown that all mankind are under the guilt of sin, as a burden; and under the government and dominion of sin, as enslaved to it, to work wickedness. This is made plain by several passages of Scripture from the Old Testament, which describe the corrupt and depraved state of all men, till grace restrain or change them. Great as our advantages are, these texts describe multitudes who call themselves Christians. Their principles and conduct prove that there is no fear of God before their eyes. And where no fear of God is, no good is to be looked for.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-18
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
The state of humanity worsened to the extent that there is no more any one who is righteous. If such a righteous one exists, God will support him as He had done in the days of Noah when He supported Noah, and as He had done for Sodom and Gomorrah when He supported Lot. However, the apostle here declares it that all have gone astray, and the human mind has become corrupt, no one understands. People no more distinguish between truth and falsity, and between good and evil. Therefore they dropped into the corruption of sin, and there is no more one who seeks earnestly to know God. All have gone out of the way of virtue, and none walks in good, as David the prophet had said before in his Psalms, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no good.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one." [Ps 14:1-3] Solomon the wise likewise said, "For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin." [Eccl 7:20] So humanity lacked the pure mind, and became connected with the darkness of sin. Man became unable to understand and know the moral and religious facts, and none seeks the knowledge of God.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 10-12
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.
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
Seek God. Do not be like Asa the king of Judah, who after receiving many blessings from God fell so far that when he suffered lameness in his feet he would not seek God even though there was a prophet present. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
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Romans 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
"All" have turned away from God. The entire human race is corrupt. No one does good, "not even one" [Ps 14:3].
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-02 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 9]. After having disproved the evil objections of unbelief in [Verse 3-8], in [Verse 9] Paul referred to [Verse 1] where he asked about the advantages of being Jewish. He then showed that everything in which the Jews boasted actually witnessed against them. Had God’s Word been entrusted to them? Well, God’s Word was quite clear about man’s nature and practice. At this point the Jew was not far superior to the Greek.
[Verse 10-11]. The accusation that all are under sin is emphatically stressed by some Old Testament quotations. The description is held before them, and before you and me, as a mirror in which they must recognize themselves, as we also must. There is no one righteous. No one understands and none seeks for God. This account used to describe you. Maybe you previously thought you conducted yourself righteously and had understanding, but when God met you it became clear you were living for yourself.
[Verse 12]. You had disregarded God’s goal for your life and you had become useless and unprofitable. Maybe you thought you were useful to those around you, but when God met you, it turned out you weren’t living for Him. Consequently you realized you had never done anything good by yourself, even if perhaps you had boasted in your many good deeds. True good deeds are only those which are done out of love for God.
[Verse 13-17]. What is on the inside will find its expression through your body – through words and deeds. We read some examples of this in [Verse 13-18]. The throat, tongue, lips and mouth are all connected with death and corruption. The words we spoke, when we were ignoring God, lacked life. These can still be heard in what people say around us. This should no longer be the case with us.
Regarding our feet and ways, we misused them before our conversion and therefore the same must be said. The way of peace was “not known” to us. We were willing to teach someone a lesson if they hurt us. Maybe we have not committed murder, but we sought revenge on someone with or without literally shedding blood. To shed blood means to make life impossible for someone. Behind us we left a trail of destruction and misery.
[Verse 18]. How many have been hurt by our godless behavior? It was all because the “fear of God” was not before our eyes until God met us and held this mirror up to us. Then we recognized ourselves in it. Not that we were all guilty of these things to the same degree, but all of this was in our hearts. And since we still have an old nature, it is still in our hearts.
The above was directed especially at the Jews to convince them of their sins from their Scriptures in which they boasted. Yet every person who checks himself honestly using this description will recognize it applies to him as well.
[Verse 19]. Then in this verse a conclusion is drawn. This conclusion applies to the whole portion of Romans beginning with [Rom 1:18] until here. The conclusion is “that every mouth” – both of the heathen and the Jew – “may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God”.
[Verse 20]. It is impossible to obtain God’s approval for our acts carried out under our own strength. The law makes it clear we have sinned because we have transgressed it.
Only one Man exists to Whom the preceding doesn’t apply. This is the Man Christ Jesus. All through His life He lived completely God-centered and did everything for Him. And so, He is God’s answer to all guilt and sin which man has heaped on himself and from which he could never free himself. This is what the next portion covers.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-20
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
Here again is shown that all mankind are under the guilt of sin, as a burden; and under the government and dominion of sin, as enslaved to it, to work wickedness. This is made plain by several passages of Scripture from the Old Testament, which describe the corrupt and depraved state of all men, till grace restrain or change them. Great as our advantages are, these texts describe multitudes who call themselves Christians. Their principles and conduct prove that there is no fear of God before their eyes. And where no fear of God is, no good is to be looked for.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-18
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
The state of humanity worsened to the extent that there is no more any one who is righteous. If such a righteous one exists, God will support him as He had done in the days of Noah when He supported Noah, and as He had done for Sodom and Gomorrah when He supported Lot. However, the apostle here declares it that all have gone astray, and the human mind has become corrupt, no one understands. People no more distinguish between truth and falsity, and between good and evil. Therefore they dropped into the corruption of sin, and there is no more one who seeks earnestly to know God. All have gone out of the way of virtue, and none walks in good, as David the prophet had said before in his Psalms, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no good.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one." [Ps 14:1-3] Solomon the wise likewise said, "For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin." [Eccl 7:20] So humanity lacked the pure mind, and became connected with the darkness of sin. Man became unable to understand and know the moral and religious facts, and none seeks the knowledge of God.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 10-12
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.
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
No one doubts that those who do not look to God for help are inclined to seek help from vain things, and vanity is an idol. Thus they become useless. Once that happens they cannot do good either, for those who have already fallen just go from bad to worse. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
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Romans 3:13 Their throat [is] an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps [is] under their lips:
The "throat" of man is "an open grave." Their speech is always deceitful [Ps 5:9]. Their conversations are filled with venomous tongues [Ps 140:3].
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-02 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 9]. After having disproved the evil objections of unbelief in [Verse 3-8], in [Verse 9] Paul referred to [Verse 1] where he asked about the advantages of being Jewish. He then showed that everything in which the Jews boasted actually witnessed against them. Had God’s Word been entrusted to them? Well, God’s Word was quite clear about man’s nature and practice. At this point the Jew was not far superior to the Greek.
[Verse 10-11]. The accusation that all are under sin is emphatically stressed by some Old Testament quotations. The description is held before them, and before you and me, as a mirror in which they must recognize themselves, as we also must. There is no one righteous. No one understands and none seeks for God. This account used to describe you. Maybe you previously thought you conducted yourself righteously and had understanding, but when God met you it became clear you were living for yourself.
[Verse 12]. You had disregarded God’s goal for your life and you had become useless and unprofitable. Maybe you thought you were useful to those around you, but when God met you, it turned out you weren’t living for Him. Consequently you realized you had never done anything good by yourself, even if perhaps you had boasted in your many good deeds. True good deeds are only those which are done out of love for God.
[Verse 13-17]. What is on the inside will find its expression through your body – through words and deeds. We read some examples of this in [Verse 13-18]. The throat, tongue, lips and mouth are all connected with death and corruption. The words we spoke, when we were ignoring God, lacked life. These can still be heard in what people say around us. This should no longer be the case with us.
Regarding our feet and ways, we misused them before our conversion and therefore the same must be said. The way of peace was “not known” to us. We were willing to teach someone a lesson if they hurt us. Maybe we have not committed murder, but we sought revenge on someone with or without literally shedding blood. To shed blood means to make life impossible for someone. Behind us we left a trail of destruction and misery.
[Verse 18]. How many have been hurt by our godless behavior? It was all because the “fear of God” was not before our eyes until God met us and held this mirror up to us. Then we recognized ourselves in it. Not that we were all guilty of these things to the same degree, but all of this was in our hearts. And since we still have an old nature, it is still in our hearts.
The above was directed especially at the Jews to convince them of their sins from their Scriptures in which they boasted. Yet every person who checks himself honestly using this description will recognize it applies to him as well.
[Verse 19]. Then in this verse a conclusion is drawn. This conclusion applies to the whole portion of Romans beginning with [Rom 1:18] until here. The conclusion is “that every mouth” – both of the heathen and the Jew – “may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God”.
[Verse 20]. It is impossible to obtain God’s approval for our acts carried out under our own strength. The law makes it clear we have sinned because we have transgressed it.
Only one Man exists to Whom the preceding doesn’t apply. This is the Man Christ Jesus. All through His life He lived completely God-centered and did everything for Him. And so, He is God’s answer to all guilt and sin which man has heaped on himself and from which he could never free himself. This is what the next portion covers.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-20
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
Here again is shown that all mankind are under the guilt of sin, as a burden; and under the government and dominion of sin, as enslaved to it, to work wickedness. This is made plain by several passages of Scripture from the Old Testament, which describe the corrupt and depraved state of all men, till grace restrain or change them. Great as our advantages are, these texts describe multitudes who call themselves Christians. Their principles and conduct prove that there is no fear of God before their eyes. And where no fear of God is, no good is to be looked for.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-18
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
The apostle Paul continues his talk about the corruption in which mankind fell, and he quotes from the Psalms some similes, as from Psalm five, "For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is destruction; their throat is an open tomb; they flatter with their tongue. Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against You." [Ps 5:9-10] This description of the wicked also is found in Psalm one hundred and forty, "... who plan evil things n their hearts; they continually gather together for war. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; the poison of asps is under their lips ... who have purposed to make my steps stumble. The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set traps for me." [Ps 140:2-5]
The throats of the wicked are like open tombs, for they plan death and dig tombs for the others. With their tongues they deceive and flatter hiding evil purposes behind their flatteries. Death is under their lips like the poison of asps. They are described in this way because they speak evil words that come from their sinful lips like poison. So they are like asps pouring poison from their mouths like poison.
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
Their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their ways, who have not known the way of peace; neither is the fear of God before their eyes."
Already chained to evil, they wanted if possible to devour the good, so that just as a sepulchre is open to receive corpses, so their throat is open to devour the good…. The words of men are like tiny mice. They speak in order to deceive, and just as poison flows from the lips of a serpent, so trickery and deceit flow from their lips. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
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Romans 3:14 Whose mouth [is] full of cursing and bitterness:
Their words are full of "cursing" and filled with hatred [Ps 10:7].
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-02 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 9]. After having disproved the evil objections of unbelief in [Verse 3-8], in [Verse 9] Paul referred to [Verse 1] where he asked about the advantages of being Jewish. He then showed that everything in which the Jews boasted actually witnessed against them. Had God’s Word been entrusted to them? Well, God’s Word was quite clear about man’s nature and practice. At this point the Jew was not far superior to the Greek.
[Verse 10-11]. The accusation that all are under sin is emphatically stressed by some Old Testament quotations. The description is held before them, and before you and me, as a mirror in which they must recognize themselves, as we also must. There is no one righteous. No one understands and none seeks for God. This account used to describe you. Maybe you previously thought you conducted yourself righteously and had understanding, but when God met you it became clear you were living for yourself.
[Verse 12]. You had disregarded God’s goal for your life and you had become useless and unprofitable. Maybe you thought you were useful to those around you, but when God met you, it turned out you weren’t living for Him. Consequently you realized you had never done anything good by yourself, even if perhaps you had boasted in your many good deeds. True good deeds are only those which are done out of love for God.
[Verse 13-17]. What is on the inside will find its expression through your body – through words and deeds. We read some examples of this in [Verse 13-18]. The throat, tongue, lips and mouth are all connected with death and corruption. The words we spoke, when we were ignoring God, lacked life. These can still be heard in what people say around us. This should no longer be the case with us.
Regarding our feet and ways, we misused them before our conversion and therefore the same must be said. The way of peace was “not known” to us. We were willing to teach someone a lesson if they hurt us. Maybe we have not committed murder, but we sought revenge on someone with or without literally shedding blood. To shed blood means to make life impossible for someone. Behind us we left a trail of destruction and misery.
[Verse 18]. How many have been hurt by our godless behavior? It was all because the “fear of God” was not before our eyes until God met us and held this mirror up to us. Then we recognized ourselves in it. Not that we were all guilty of these things to the same degree, but all of this was in our hearts. And since we still have an old nature, it is still in our hearts.
The above was directed especially at the Jews to convince them of their sins from their Scriptures in which they boasted. Yet every person who checks himself honestly using this description will recognize it applies to him as well.
[Verse 19]. Then in this verse a conclusion is drawn. This conclusion applies to the whole portion of Romans beginning with [Rom 1:18] until here. The conclusion is “that every mouth” – both of the heathen and the Jew – “may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God”.
[Verse 20]. It is impossible to obtain God’s approval for our acts carried out under our own strength. The law makes it clear we have sinned because we have transgressed it.
Only one Man exists to Whom the preceding doesn’t apply. This is the Man Christ Jesus. All through His life He lived completely God-centered and did everything for Him. And so, He is God’s answer to all guilt and sin which man has heaped on himself and from which he could never free himself. This is what the next portion covers.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-20
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
Here again is shown that all mankind are under the guilt of sin, as a burden; and under the government and dominion of sin, as enslaved to it, to work wickedness. This is made plain by several passages of Scripture from the Old Testament, which describe the corrupt and depraved state of all men, till grace restrain or change them. Great as our advantages are, these texts describe multitudes who call themselves Christians. Their principles and conduct prove that there is no fear of God before their eyes. And where no fear of God is, no good is to be looked for.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-18
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
The mouths of those people are full of cursing against God, and full of bitterness, that is, bad words against others. In Psalm ten we have an example of such curses against God uttered by the wicked as well as bitter words against others. David the Prophet in this Psalm says, "His mouth (i.e., the mouth of the wicked) is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue is trouble and iniquity ... He has said in his heart, God has forgotten; he hides his face; he will never see it ... Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, 'You will not require an account.' ... The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless ... Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their hearts; You will cause Your ear to hear, to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may oppress no more." [Ps 10:7-18]
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
It is clear and obvious that evil people are always throwing curses and bitterness at the good in an attempt to harm and distract them. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
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Romans 3:15 Their feet [are] swift to shed blood:
"Their feet rush" to commit murder [Isa 59:7].
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-02 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 9]. After having disproved the evil objections of unbelief in [Verse 3-8], in [Verse 9] Paul referred to [Verse 1] where he asked about the advantages of being Jewish. He then showed that everything in which the Jews boasted actually witnessed against them. Had God’s Word been entrusted to them? Well, God’s Word was quite clear about man’s nature and practice. At this point the Jew was not far superior to the Greek.
[Verse 10-11]. The accusation that all are under sin is emphatically stressed by some Old Testament quotations. The description is held before them, and before you and me, as a mirror in which they must recognize themselves, as we also must. There is no one righteous. No one understands and none seeks for God. This account used to describe you. Maybe you previously thought you conducted yourself righteously and had understanding, but when God met you it became clear you were living for yourself.
[Verse 12]. You had disregarded God’s goal for your life and you had become useless and unprofitable. Maybe you thought you were useful to those around you, but when God met you, it turned out you weren’t living for Him. Consequently you realized you had never done anything good by yourself, even if perhaps you had boasted in your many good deeds. True good deeds are only those which are done out of love for God.
[Verse 13-17]. What is on the inside will find its expression through your body – through words and deeds. We read some examples of this in [Verse 13-18]. The throat, tongue, lips and mouth are all connected with death and corruption. The words we spoke, when we were ignoring God, lacked life. These can still be heard in what people say around us. This should no longer be the case with us.
Regarding our feet and ways, we misused them before our conversion and therefore the same must be said. The way of peace was “not known” to us. We were willing to teach someone a lesson if they hurt us. Maybe we have not committed murder, but we sought revenge on someone with or without literally shedding blood. To shed blood means to make life impossible for someone. Behind us we left a trail of destruction and misery.
[Verse 18]. How many have been hurt by our godless behavior? It was all because the “fear of God” was not before our eyes until God met us and held this mirror up to us. Then we recognized ourselves in it. Not that we were all guilty of these things to the same degree, but all of this was in our hearts. And since we still have an old nature, it is still in our hearts.
The above was directed especially at the Jews to convince them of their sins from their Scriptures in which they boasted. Yet every person who checks himself honestly using this description will recognize it applies to him as well.
[Verse 19]. Then in this verse a conclusion is drawn. This conclusion applies to the whole portion of Romans beginning with [Rom 1:18] until here. The conclusion is “that every mouth” – both of the heathen and the Jew – “may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God”.
[Verse 20]. It is impossible to obtain God’s approval for our acts carried out under our own strength. The law makes it clear we have sinned because we have transgressed it.
Only one Man exists to Whom the preceding doesn’t apply. This is the Man Christ Jesus. All through His life He lived completely God-centered and did everything for Him. And so, He is God’s answer to all guilt and sin which man has heaped on himself and from which he could never free himself. This is what the next portion covers.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-20
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
Here again is shown that all mankind are under the guilt of sin, as a burden; and under the government and dominion of sin, as enslaved to it, to work wickedness. This is made plain by several passages of Scripture from the Old Testament, which describe the corrupt and depraved state of all men, till grace restrain or change them. Great as our advantages are, these texts describe multitudes who call themselves Christians. Their principles and conduct prove that there is no fear of God before their eyes. And where no fear of God is, no good is to be looked for.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-18
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
Those wicked people are described as having strong desire to commit evil. They run to evil and their feet are swift to shedding blood. They usurp the rights and the dignity of the others. They lost peaceful life with the others. In this regard Isaiah the prophet likewise said, "Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace." [Isa 59:7-8] The same is stated by Solomon the wise, "For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood." [Prov 1:16]
Verses that belong to this explanation: 15-17
15Their feet [are] swift to shed blood:16Destruction and misery [are] in their ways:17And the way of peace have they not known:
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
Scripture says this about the murder of the prophets, whom they killed without hesitation—“slow to do good but swift to murder.” Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
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Romans 3:16 Destruction and misery [are] in their ways:
Their ways are directed towards ruin and "misery" [Isa 59:7].
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-02 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 9]. After having disproved the evil objections of unbelief in [Verse 3-8], in [Verse 9] Paul referred to [Verse 1] where he asked about the advantages of being Jewish. He then showed that everything in which the Jews boasted actually witnessed against them. Had God’s Word been entrusted to them? Well, God’s Word was quite clear about man’s nature and practice. At this point the Jew was not far superior to the Greek.
[Verse 10-11]. The accusation that all are under sin is emphatically stressed by some Old Testament quotations. The description is held before them, and before you and me, as a mirror in which they must recognize themselves, as we also must. There is no one righteous. No one understands and none seeks for God. This account used to describe you. Maybe you previously thought you conducted yourself righteously and had understanding, but when God met you it became clear you were living for yourself.
[Verse 12]. You had disregarded God’s goal for your life and you had become useless and unprofitable. Maybe you thought you were useful to those around you, but when God met you, it turned out you weren’t living for Him. Consequently you realized you had never done anything good by yourself, even if perhaps you had boasted in your many good deeds. True good deeds are only those which are done out of love for God.
[Verse 13-17]. What is on the inside will find its expression through your body – through words and deeds. We read some examples of this in [Verse 13-18]. The throat, tongue, lips and mouth are all connected with death and corruption. The words we spoke, when we were ignoring God, lacked life. These can still be heard in what people say around us. This should no longer be the case with us.
Regarding our feet and ways, we misused them before our conversion and therefore the same must be said. The way of peace was “not known” to us. We were willing to teach someone a lesson if they hurt us. Maybe we have not committed murder, but we sought revenge on someone with or without literally shedding blood. To shed blood means to make life impossible for someone. Behind us we left a trail of destruction and misery.
[Verse 18]. How many have been hurt by our godless behavior? It was all because the “fear of God” was not before our eyes until God met us and held this mirror up to us. Then we recognized ourselves in it. Not that we were all guilty of these things to the same degree, but all of this was in our hearts. And since we still have an old nature, it is still in our hearts.
The above was directed especially at the Jews to convince them of their sins from their Scriptures in which they boasted. Yet every person who checks himself honestly using this description will recognize it applies to him as well.
[Verse 19]. Then in this verse a conclusion is drawn. This conclusion applies to the whole portion of Romans beginning with [Rom 1:18] until here. The conclusion is “that every mouth” – both of the heathen and the Jew – “may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God”.
[Verse 20]. It is impossible to obtain God’s approval for our acts carried out under our own strength. The law makes it clear we have sinned because we have transgressed it.
Only one Man exists to Whom the preceding doesn’t apply. This is the Man Christ Jesus. All through His life He lived completely God-centered and did everything for Him. And so, He is God’s answer to all guilt and sin which man has heaped on himself and from which he could never free himself. This is what the next portion covers.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-20
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
Here again is shown that all mankind are under the guilt of sin, as a burden; and under the government and dominion of sin, as enslaved to it, to work wickedness. This is made plain by several passages of Scripture from the Old Testament, which describe the corrupt and depraved state of all men, till grace restrain or change them. Great as our advantages are, these texts describe multitudes who call themselves Christians. Their principles and conduct prove that there is no fear of God before their eyes. And where no fear of God is, no good is to be looked for.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-18
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
Those wicked people are described as having strong desire to commit evil. They run to evil and their feet are swift to shedding blood. They usurp the rights and the dignity of the others. They lost peaceful life with the others. In this regard Isaiah the prophet likewise said, "Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace." [Isa 59:7-8] The same is stated by Solomon the wise, "For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood." [Prov 1:16]
Verses that belong to this explanation: 15-17
15Their feet [are] swift to shed blood:16Destruction and misery [are] in their ways:17And the way of peace have they not known:
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
In the same way as Paul, prophecy upbraids the people with not understanding the law. "Destruction and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known."
Author: Clement Of Alexandria Rank: Author AD: 215
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Romans 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known:
They have never known the way of "peace" [Isa 59:8].
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-02 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 9]. After having disproved the evil objections of unbelief in [Verse 3-8], in [Verse 9] Paul referred to [Verse 1] where he asked about the advantages of being Jewish. He then showed that everything in which the Jews boasted actually witnessed against them. Had God’s Word been entrusted to them? Well, God’s Word was quite clear about man’s nature and practice. At this point the Jew was not far superior to the Greek.
[Verse 10-11]. The accusation that all are under sin is emphatically stressed by some Old Testament quotations. The description is held before them, and before you and me, as a mirror in which they must recognize themselves, as we also must. There is no one righteous. No one understands and none seeks for God. This account used to describe you. Maybe you previously thought you conducted yourself righteously and had understanding, but when God met you it became clear you were living for yourself.
[Verse 12]. You had disregarded God’s goal for your life and you had become useless and unprofitable. Maybe you thought you were useful to those around you, but when God met you, it turned out you weren’t living for Him. Consequently you realized you had never done anything good by yourself, even if perhaps you had boasted in your many good deeds. True good deeds are only those which are done out of love for God.
[Verse 13-17]. What is on the inside will find its expression through your body – through words and deeds. We read some examples of this in [Verse 13-18]. The throat, tongue, lips and mouth are all connected with death and corruption. The words we spoke, when we were ignoring God, lacked life. These can still be heard in what people say around us. This should no longer be the case with us.
Regarding our feet and ways, we misused them before our conversion and therefore the same must be said. The way of peace was “not known” to us. We were willing to teach someone a lesson if they hurt us. Maybe we have not committed murder, but we sought revenge on someone with or without literally shedding blood. To shed blood means to make life impossible for someone. Behind us we left a trail of destruction and misery.
[Verse 18]. How many have been hurt by our godless behavior? It was all because the “fear of God” was not before our eyes until God met us and held this mirror up to us. Then we recognized ourselves in it. Not that we were all guilty of these things to the same degree, but all of this was in our hearts. And since we still have an old nature, it is still in our hearts.
The above was directed especially at the Jews to convince them of their sins from their Scriptures in which they boasted. Yet every person who checks himself honestly using this description will recognize it applies to him as well.
[Verse 19]. Then in this verse a conclusion is drawn. This conclusion applies to the whole portion of Romans beginning with [Rom 1:18] until here. The conclusion is “that every mouth” – both of the heathen and the Jew – “may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God”.
[Verse 20]. It is impossible to obtain God’s approval for our acts carried out under our own strength. The law makes it clear we have sinned because we have transgressed it.
Only one Man exists to Whom the preceding doesn’t apply. This is the Man Christ Jesus. All through His life He lived completely God-centered and did everything for Him. And so, He is God’s answer to all guilt and sin which man has heaped on himself and from which he could never free himself. This is what the next portion covers.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-20
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
Here again is shown that all mankind are under the guilt of sin, as a burden; and under the government and dominion of sin, as enslaved to it, to work wickedness. This is made plain by several passages of Scripture from the Old Testament, which describe the corrupt and depraved state of all men, till grace restrain or change them. Great as our advantages are, these texts describe multitudes who call themselves Christians. Their principles and conduct prove that there is no fear of God before their eyes. And where no fear of God is, no good is to be looked for.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-18
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
Those wicked people are described as having strong desire to commit evil. They run to evil and their feet are swift to shedding blood. They usurp the rights and the dignity of the others. They lost peaceful life with the others. In this regard Isaiah the prophet likewise said, "Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace." [Isa 59:7-8] The same is stated by Solomon the wise, "For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood." [Prov 1:16]
Verses that belong to this explanation: 15-17
15Their feet [are] swift to shed blood:16Destruction and misery [are] in their ways:17And the way of peace have they not known:
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
Having chosen the way of hostility, along which they were heading toward the second death, they did not want to know about the way which leads to eternal life. This is called the way of peace, because with God as its guardian it will have no disturbance. Those who will the good have this rest with God. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
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Romans 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
They have no fear of "God" [Ps 36:1].
This is God's X-ray of humanity. It reveals universal unrighteousness [Verse 10], ignorance, and independence in relation to God [Verse 11], self-will, uselessness, and the absence of anything good [Verse 12]. Man's mouth overflows with corruption, his tongue spreads poison, his lips are deceitful. He curses [Verse 14], is constantly ready to murder [Verse 15], leaves problems and ruin in his wake [Verse 16], does not understand how to live in peace [Verse 17], and does not care about God [Verse 18]. Here we see the total depravity of man, meaning that sin has corrupted all humanity and every aspect of the human being. Obviously, not every person commits all these sins, but their nature is capable of all of them.
Had Paul wished to provide us with an even more complete catalog of sins, he could have listed sexual sins: adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, perversion, sodomy, prostitution, rape, lust, pornography, and obscene speech. He could have listed sins associated with war: the destruction of the innocent, atrocities, gas chambers, concentration camps, methods of torture, sadism. He could have enumerated sins within family life: infidelity, divorce, wife-beating, emotional cruelty, child abuse. We can add to this crimes such as murder, mutilation, theft, robbery, embezzlement, vandalism, corruption, and nepotism. Then there are the sins of speech: blasphemy, obscene jokes, lewd innuendos, cursing, slander, lying, gossip, defamation, insults, constant criticism. Other sins committed against oneself include: drunkenness, drug addiction, pride, envy, greed, ingratitude, impure thoughts, hatred, and bitterness. The list seems endless—pollution, racism, exploitation, fraud, betrayal, breaking promises, and so on and so forth. What further proof of human depravity do we need?
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-02 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 9]. After having disproved the evil objections of unbelief in [Verse 3-8], in [Verse 9] Paul referred to [Verse 1] where he asked about the advantages of being Jewish. He then showed that everything in which the Jews boasted actually witnessed against them. Had God’s Word been entrusted to them? Well, God’s Word was quite clear about man’s nature and practice. At this point the Jew was not far superior to the Greek.
[Verse 10-11]. The accusation that all are under sin is emphatically stressed by some Old Testament quotations. The description is held before them, and before you and me, as a mirror in which they must recognize themselves, as we also must. There is no one righteous. No one understands and none seeks for God. This account used to describe you. Maybe you previously thought you conducted yourself righteously and had understanding, but when God met you it became clear you were living for yourself.
[Verse 12]. You had disregarded God’s goal for your life and you had become useless and unprofitable. Maybe you thought you were useful to those around you, but when God met you, it turned out you weren’t living for Him. Consequently you realized you had never done anything good by yourself, even if perhaps you had boasted in your many good deeds. True good deeds are only those which are done out of love for God.
[Verse 13-17]. What is on the inside will find its expression through your body – through words and deeds. We read some examples of this in [Verse 13-18]. The throat, tongue, lips and mouth are all connected with death and corruption. The words we spoke, when we were ignoring God, lacked life. These can still be heard in what people say around us. This should no longer be the case with us.
Regarding our feet and ways, we misused them before our conversion and therefore the same must be said. The way of peace was “not known” to us. We were willing to teach someone a lesson if they hurt us. Maybe we have not committed murder, but we sought revenge on someone with or without literally shedding blood. To shed blood means to make life impossible for someone. Behind us we left a trail of destruction and misery.
[Verse 18]. How many have been hurt by our godless behavior? It was all because the “fear of God” was not before our eyes until God met us and held this mirror up to us. Then we recognized ourselves in it. Not that we were all guilty of these things to the same degree, but all of this was in our hearts. And since we still have an old nature, it is still in our hearts.
The above was directed especially at the Jews to convince them of their sins from their Scriptures in which they boasted. Yet every person who checks himself honestly using this description will recognize it applies to him as well.
[Verse 19]. Then in this verse a conclusion is drawn. This conclusion applies to the whole portion of Romans beginning with [Rom 1:18] until here. The conclusion is “that every mouth” – both of the heathen and the Jew – “may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God”.
[Verse 20]. It is impossible to obtain God’s approval for our acts carried out under our own strength. The law makes it clear we have sinned because we have transgressed it.
Only one Man exists to Whom the preceding doesn’t apply. This is the Man Christ Jesus. All through His life He lived completely God-centered and did everything for Him. And so, He is God’s answer to all guilt and sin which man has heaped on himself and from which he could never free himself. This is what the next portion covers.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-20
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
Here again is shown that all mankind are under the guilt of sin, as a burden; and under the government and dominion of sin, as enslaved to it, to work wickedness. This is made plain by several passages of Scripture from the Old Testament, which describe the corrupt and depraved state of all men, till grace restrain or change them. Great as our advantages are, these texts describe multitudes who call themselves Christians. Their principles and conduct prove that there is no fear of God before their eyes. And where no fear of God is, no good is to be looked for.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-18
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
Those wicked people removed away God's fear from their hearts, as David the prophet says in Psalm thirty five describing the life of those who have no fear of God: "Fierce witnesses rise up; they ask me things that I do not know. They reward me evil for good, to the sorrow of my soul ... Attackers gathered against me, and I did not know it ... they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful matters against those who are quiet in the land. They also opened their mouth wide against me." [Ps 35:11-28]
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
Since people of this kind have no sense, they have no fear of God. For “the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom,” says Solomon. But Scripture did not say that they did not have the fear of God. It said: “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” For seeing how evil their works were and not being horrified by them, they are said not to have the fear of God before their eyes. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
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Romans 3:19 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.
When God gave the law to Israel, Israel stood as a representative for all mankind. He saw that Israel failed and logically applied this realization to all of humanity. It is like a health official taking a water sample from a well: after analyzing it, he finds it contaminated and consequently declares the entire well contaminated.
Paul explains that whatever the law says, it speaks "to those who are under the law" (ESV)—namely, the people of Israel—"so that every mouth," whether Jewish or Gentile, "may be silenced and the whole world" held accountable to God.
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-02 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 9]. After having disproved the evil objections of unbelief in [Verse 3-8], in [Verse 9] Paul referred to [Verse 1] where he asked about the advantages of being Jewish. He then showed that everything in which the Jews boasted actually witnessed against them. Had God’s Word been entrusted to them? Well, God’s Word was quite clear about man’s nature and practice. At this point the Jew was not far superior to the Greek.
[Verse 10-11]. The accusation that all are under sin is emphatically stressed by some Old Testament quotations. The description is held before them, and before you and me, as a mirror in which they must recognize themselves, as we also must. There is no one righteous. No one understands and none seeks for God. This account used to describe you. Maybe you previously thought you conducted yourself righteously and had understanding, but when God met you it became clear you were living for yourself.
[Verse 12]. You had disregarded God’s goal for your life and you had become useless and unprofitable. Maybe you thought you were useful to those around you, but when God met you, it turned out you weren’t living for Him. Consequently you realized you had never done anything good by yourself, even if perhaps you had boasted in your many good deeds. True good deeds are only those which are done out of love for God.
[Verse 13-17]. What is on the inside will find its expression through your body – through words and deeds. We read some examples of this in [Verse 13-18]. The throat, tongue, lips and mouth are all connected with death and corruption. The words we spoke, when we were ignoring God, lacked life. These can still be heard in what people say around us. This should no longer be the case with us.
Regarding our feet and ways, we misused them before our conversion and therefore the same must be said. The way of peace was “not known” to us. We were willing to teach someone a lesson if they hurt us. Maybe we have not committed murder, but we sought revenge on someone with or without literally shedding blood. To shed blood means to make life impossible for someone. Behind us we left a trail of destruction and misery.
[Verse 18]. How many have been hurt by our godless behavior? It was all because the “fear of God” was not before our eyes until God met us and held this mirror up to us. Then we recognized ourselves in it. Not that we were all guilty of these things to the same degree, but all of this was in our hearts. And since we still have an old nature, it is still in our hearts.
The above was directed especially at the Jews to convince them of their sins from their Scriptures in which they boasted. Yet every person who checks himself honestly using this description will recognize it applies to him as well.
[Verse 19]. Then in this verse a conclusion is drawn. This conclusion applies to the whole portion of Romans beginning with [Rom 1:18] until here. The conclusion is “that every mouth” – both of the heathen and the Jew – “may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God”.
[Verse 20]. It is impossible to obtain God’s approval for our acts carried out under our own strength. The law makes it clear we have sinned because we have transgressed it.
Only one Man exists to Whom the preceding doesn’t apply. This is the Man Christ Jesus. All through His life He lived completely God-centered and did everything for Him. And so, He is God’s answer to all guilt and sin which man has heaped on himself and from which he could never free himself. This is what the next portion covers.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-20
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
It is in vain to seek for justification by the works of the law. All must plead guilty. Guilty before God, is a dreadful word; but no man can be justified by a law which condemns him for breaking it. The corruption in our nature, will for ever stop any justification by our own works.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 19-20
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
The law of the Old Testament was given to those who were subject to the law and its instructions, that is, the Jews. The law itself judges those Jews so that they will have nothing to object to, but God's justice and righteousness will be revealed in judging and punishing them. So, the situation of the Jews will not be better than that of the Gentiles with regard to deserving God's punishment. Paul the apostle again says in his Epistle to the Galatians, "But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." [Gal 3:22]
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
Note that Paul was in the habit of referring to the entire Old Testament as “the law” … for here he calls a psalm “the law.” When he talks about every mouth being stopped, he does not mean that the purpose of their sinning was to shut them up but that the reason they were rebuked was that they might not sin in ignorance. Furthermore, it was not just the Jews he was referring to but the whole of mankind.
It is clear that the law censures those who did not believe first of all their leader Moses nor their ancestors the prophets, whom they killed, nor the apostles who were their kinsmen according to the flesh, whose blood they spilled. They were always ungodly and rebellious against God, so as to be condemned by the law whose authority they thought should be despised. Paul says this because with the Jews bound in sin the whole world has become subject to God. For there is no doubt that the pagans were immersed in sins and wickedness and that for that reason the whole world bowed before God in order to obtain forgiveness. The “whole world” means Jews and Gentiles, from whom believers are set apart. Therefore when Paul affirms that the Jews, who had received God’s law and to whom the promise had been given, were bound in sin, there is no doubt that all the Gentiles were guilty of death … for all have been found guilty and need the mercy of God, whether they be Jews or Gentiles. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
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Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.
No one can be 'justified' by keeping the law. The law was not given to justify people, but to bring about 'the knowledge of sin' – not the knowledge of salvation, but 'the knowledge of sin'.
We would never know how crooked a line is if we didn't know what a straight line was. The law is like a straight line. When people apply this standard to themselves, they see how crooked they are.
We can use a mirror to find out that our face is dirty, but the mirror is not meant to wash our face with. A thermometer tells us if we have a fever, but the fever won't go away if we swallow the thermometer.
So, the law is properly used when it is applied to convict of sin, but as a means of salvation from sin, it is utterly unsuitable. Luther put it this way: The function of the law is not to justify but to terrify.
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-01-04 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 9]. After having disproved the evil objections of unbelief in [Verse 3-8], in [Verse 9] Paul referred to [Verse 1] where he asked about the advantages of being Jewish. He then showed that everything in which the Jews boasted actually witnessed against them. Had God’s Word been entrusted to them? Well, God’s Word was quite clear about man’s nature and practice. At this point the Jew was not far superior to the Greek.
[Verse 10-11]. The accusation that all are under sin is emphatically stressed by some Old Testament quotations. The description is held before them, and before you and me, as a mirror in which they must recognize themselves, as we also must. There is no one righteous. No one understands and none seeks for God. This account used to describe you. Maybe you previously thought you conducted yourself righteously and had understanding, but when God met you it became clear you were living for yourself.
[Verse 12]. You had disregarded God’s goal for your life and you had become useless and unprofitable. Maybe you thought you were useful to those around you, but when God met you, it turned out you weren’t living for Him. Consequently you realized you had never done anything good by yourself, even if perhaps you had boasted in your many good deeds. True good deeds are only those which are done out of love for God.
[Verse 13-17]. What is on the inside will find its expression through your body – through words and deeds. We read some examples of this in [Verse 13-18]. The throat, tongue, lips and mouth are all connected with death and corruption. The words we spoke, when we were ignoring God, lacked life. These can still be heard in what people say around us. This should no longer be the case with us.
Regarding our feet and ways, we misused them before our conversion and therefore the same must be said. The way of peace was “not known” to us. We were willing to teach someone a lesson if they hurt us. Maybe we have not committed murder, but we sought revenge on someone with or without literally shedding blood. To shed blood means to make life impossible for someone. Behind us we left a trail of destruction and misery.
[Verse 18]. How many have been hurt by our godless behavior? It was all because the “fear of God” was not before our eyes until God met us and held this mirror up to us. Then we recognized ourselves in it. Not that we were all guilty of these things to the same degree, but all of this was in our hearts. And since we still have an old nature, it is still in our hearts.
The above was directed especially at the Jews to convince them of their sins from their Scriptures in which they boasted. Yet every person who checks himself honestly using this description will recognize it applies to him as well.
[Verse 19]. Then in this verse a conclusion is drawn. This conclusion applies to the whole portion of Romans beginning with [Rom 1:18] until here. The conclusion is “that every mouth” – both of the heathen and the Jew – “may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God”.
[Verse 20]. It is impossible to obtain God’s approval for our acts carried out under our own strength. The law makes it clear we have sinned because we have transgressed it.
Only one Man exists to Whom the preceding doesn’t apply. This is the Man Christ Jesus. All through His life He lived completely God-centered and did everything for Him. And so, He is God’s answer to all guilt and sin which man has heaped on himself and from which he could never free himself. This is what the next portion covers.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 9-20
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
It is in vain to seek for justification by the works of the law. All must plead guilty. Guilty before God, is a dreadful word; but no man can be justified by a law which condemns him for breaking it. The corruption in our nature, will for ever stop any justification by our own works.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 19-20
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
As said before the Jews boasted of having the law. Mere receiving of the law ensured for them a life of righteousness and salvation. However the law itself judged the Jews and condemned them because they failed to fulfill its commandments fully. Moreover, the law was not given to grant righteousness, but to chastise and lead to Christ so that we may be justified by faith, as the apostle says in the Epistle to the Galatians: "If there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law ... But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." [Gal 3:21-26]
The fault of the Jews was clear in that they did not understand the purpose for which they were given the law. The apostle spoke in detail about this purpose in his Epistle to the Galatians and presented the reasons why the law was unable to give a life of righteousness to man. These reasons may be briefed in two main reasons:
1. The failure of the Jews to fulfill all the commandments of the law, "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.'" [Gal 3:10]
2. The promise of justification was not to be obtained by the law but by faith, as the apostle says, "But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for 'The just shall live by aith.'" [Gal 3:11] For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels [Gal 3:18-19] Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith [Gal 3:24]. Nevertheless the words of the apostle Paul: "By the law is the knowledge of sin," do not mean the law is the cause of sin, but they mean that through the law we discover our spiritual state. The law here is like a mirror which demonstrates the faults and sins of people.
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
Once more Paul jumps on the law but this time with restraint, for what he says is an accusation not against the law but against the negligence of the covenant people…. The law accomplished its task of disclosing sin to them, but then it was their duty to flee it. But since they did not flee it, they brought an even greater punishment on themselves, and the good deeds of the law have just provided an excuse for greater chastisement from God.
How, then, is the law still said to be not good by certain heresies that clamorously appeal to the apostle, who says, "For by the law is the knowledge of sin? ".
Well, the body tills the ground, and hastes to it; but the soul is raised to God: trained in the true philosophy, it speeds to its kindred above, turning away from the lusts of the body, and besides these, from toil and fear, although we have shown that patience and fear belong to the good man. For if "by the law is the knowledge of sin".
as those allege who disparage the law, and "till the law sin was in the world; "
Author: Clement Of Alexandria Rank: Author AD: 215
Some think that statements like this are an attack on the law. But they must be read very carefully, so that neither is the law condemned by the apostle nor is free will taken away from man. Therefore, let us distinguish the following four states of human existence: before the law, under the law, under grace and at rest. Before the law we follow the lust of the flesh. Under the law we are dragged along by it. Under grace we neither follow it nor are dragged along by it. At rest there is no lust of the flesh. Prior to being addressed by the law, we do not struggle, because not only do we lust and sin, we even approve of sinning. Under the law we struggle but are defeated. We admit that what we do is evil and that we do not want to do it, but because there is as yet no grace, we are defeated. In this state we discover how far down we lie, and when we want to rise up and yet we fall, we are all the more gravely afflicted. The law is good because it forbids what ought to be forbidden and requires what ought to be required. But when anyone thinks he can fulfill the law in his own strength and not through the grace of his Deliverer, this presumption does him no good but rather harms him so much that he is seized by an even stronger desire to sin and by his sins ends up as a transgressor. So when the man who has fallen realizes that he cannot raise himself, let him cry to his Deliverer for help. Then comes grace, which can pardon previous sins, give aid to the struggling, supplement justice with love and take away fear. When this takes place, although fleshly desires continue to fight against our spirit in this life and try to lead us into sin, yet our spirit does not give in to these desires because it is rooted in the grace and love of God and ceases to sin. For we do not sin by having these perverse desires but by giving in to them. These desires arise from the mortality of the flesh, which we inherit from the first sin of the first man, which is why we are born carnal. Nor will they cease until, by the resurrection of the body, we shall obtain the transformation which has been promised to us. Then we shall be in the fourth state, where there is perfect peace. Perfect peace is the state in which nothing will resist us because we do not resist God. Free will existed perfectly in the first man, but in us, prior to grace, there is no free will which would enable us not to sin but only enough that we do not want to sin. But grace makes it possible not only for us to want to do what is right but actually to do it not in our own strength but by the help of our Deliverer, who at the resurrection will give us that perfect peace which is the consequence of good will. –.
Paul never says that they will not be justified before God because they have not kept the law of righteousness in the commandments but because they have refused to believe the sacrament of the mystery of God, which is in Christ. For God has declared that they should be justified by Christ and not by the law, which may justify for a time, but not before God. Therefore those who keep the law are justified in time, not before God, because faith, by which they are justified before God, is not in them. For faith is greater than the law. The law pertains to us but faith pertains to God. The law has a temporary righteousness, but faith has an eternal one. When Paul says “all flesh” he means every human being … but when he says “in the flesh” he means those who are bound by sin. For just as righteousness makes them spiritual, so also sins make them carnal, and they take the name from the deed. By faith the law is abolished, and faith then follows. What then is this law through which he says that sin is made known? Made known how? It is evident that long before Moses the patriarchs were not ignorant of sin. Joseph was thrown into prison, albeit by the wickedness of others, and both the butler and the baker of Pharaoh were in prison because of their sins. In what way then did sin lie dormant? In fact, the law has three aspects to it. The first concerns the mystery of God’s divinity. The second is what is fitting according to natural law, which forbids sin. And the third is the deeds of the law, e. g., sabbaths, new moons, circumcision, etc. Here Paul refers to the natural law which was partly reformed and partly confirmed by Moses, which made sin known to all who were bound in wickedness…. The law shows the coming judgment of God and that no sinner will escape punishment, in case someone who has escaped for a time thinks that the law is an illusion. This is what the law shows: that sin will be dealt with by God. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
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Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
We now come to the heart of the letter to the Romans, where Paul answers the question: How can a godless sinner be justified by a righteous God according to the gospel?
Paul begins by saying that "the righteousness of God" has been revealed "apart from the law." This means that a plan of salvation has been "revealed" whereby God, in His righteousness, can redeem unrighteous sinners without requiring them to fulfill the law. Because God is holy, He cannot tolerate, overlook, or ignore sin. He must punish it, and the punishment for sin is death. Yet, God loves the sinner and wants to save him: this is the dilemma. The righteousness of God demands the death of the sinner, but His love desires the sinner's eternal joy. The gospel reveals how God can redeem sinners without compromising His righteousness.
This righteous plan was "witnessed by the law and the prophets." This plan was foreshadowed in the types and shadows of sacrifices that required the shedding of blood. Additionally, it was revealed through explicit prophecies (compare, for example, [Isa 51:5-8]; [Isa 56:1]; [Dan 9:24]).
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-02 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 21-24]. After the somber description of man living for himself, like you and I once did, the light breaks through in these verses. In this portion God tells what He has done to change man, fallen in sin, into someone who can be with Him without fear. Man turned out to be completely hopeless and useless for God. God looked for His own solution to this problem and He found it. In His solution He can declare a sinner justified [declared righteous] if that sinner believes in Jesus Christ. This is true for everyone without discrimination. Isn’t it true that “all have sinned”? Therefore all have fallen “short of the glory of God”. But God has this strong desire to have people with Him in His glory. What everyone needs then is the remission [release, forgiveness] of their sins, the evil deeds they have committed. God cannot permit any sin in His presence.
[Verse 25-26]. Christ Jesus brought about and accomplished this redemption and made it available for everyone: “Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation”, or “mercy-seat” (Darby Translation). A seat or throne reminds us of governmental authority and judgment. Justice is administered from a throne. God had to judge our sins, but the wonderful thing is that He judged our sins in His Son when He was hanging on the cross. Now the judgment-seat has become a mercy-seat to everyone who in faith accepts this salvation from God’s hands. The blood of Christ is the only way for God to forgive sins.
In Hebrews 9 we read: “Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” [Heb 9:22]. God does not accept the sinner by overlooking his sins. It is only because His holy and righteous demands were satisfied that He was able to justify you. This gives you the assurance of the remission of your sins. It is not what you think of it, but it is how God sees it.
God could pass over the sins of the Old Testament saints, who had believed God, because He foresaw the work of Christ. He did not overlook their sins, but He acted righteously when He forgave them because He knew Christ would shed His blood for them. Today, the same principle holds. To us who live after the death of Christ, the work of Christ is behind us. God cannot help but justify everyone who believes because He Himself is righteous. Has not the blood of Christ been shed? God knows its value and that it blots out sin.
So, God will no longer see sin within someone who has confessed that Christ shed his blood for his sins. His sins no longer exist. They are gone forever. To God, a believer is no longer a sinner, but someone who belongs to Him and with whom He desires to have a relationship. God has made you righteous. A righteous person is someone who is seen by God no longer in his former life of sin, but completely apart from his sinful life and who looks like Himself. What a change this is!
[Verse 27-28]. All of our boasting is excluded; this should be clear now. Everything came from God and was brought about by Him. The only thing for you to do was to believe. It is by faith and not works that you now have redemption, the forgiveness of sins and justification.
[Verse 29-31]. God is not the God of the Jews only, but He is also the God of the nations. God sees all unsaved people as sinners because everyone has sinned. It is then true that everyone can only be justified by faith. But what about the law? Is the law completely useless now? No, the law is still present and in its full power.
If we look at the law, it becomes clear we are sinners because we cannot keep the law. The law made it clear that we were sinners and powerless to redeem ourselves from the curse of the law. When we recognize this, we confirm the authority of the law. This means we were under the curse of the law, but Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by bearing the curse on the cross [Gal 3:13]. In this way He has fully confirmed the authority of the law.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-31
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
Must guilty man remain under wrath? Is the wound for ever incurable? No; blessed be God, there is another way laid open for us. This is the righteousness of God; righteousness of his ordaining, and providing, and accepting. It is by that faith which has Jesus Christ for its object; an anointed Savior, so Jesus Christ signifies. Justifying faith respects Christ as a Savior, in all his three anointed offices, as Prophet, Priest, and King; trusting in him, accepting him, and cleaving to him: in all these, Jews and Gentiles are alike welcome to God through Christ. There is no difference, his righteousness is upon all that believe; not only offered to them, but put upon them as a crown, as a robe. It is free grace, mere mercy; there is nothing in us to deserve such favors. It comes freely unto us, but Christ bought it, and paid the price. And faith has special regard to the blood of Christ, as that which made the atonement. God, in all this, declares his righteousness. It is plain that he hates sin, when nothing less than the blood of Christ would satisfy for it. And it would not agree with his justice to demand the debt, when the Surety has paid it, and he has accepted that payment in full satisfaction.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-26
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
Apart from the law, God's righteousness was manifested [1John 1:2]; [1John 4:9], and since this righteousness as we said before has nothing to do with the law, it will then be not confined to those who received the written law. Rather, faith, not the law, is the principal condition for obtaining justification. Moreover, since faith is something that all people can enjoy "without distinction", so justification from sin also can be obtained by all people, no difference between one person and another. Righteousness has been offered by God to whoever believes, therefore, the Gentiles also received the blessings of justification. By faith here is meant faith working through love.
The phrase "witness by law and the prophets," indicates that the teaching of the New Testament does not abolish the teaching of the Old Testament, but is rather witnessed by law and the prophets. The apostle declares that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." There is no distinction among people, for all have sinned and lacked that glory granted by God.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-23
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;
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
Paul does not say that the righteousness of God has been “given” but that it has been “manifested,” thus destroying the accusation that it is something new. For what is manifested is old but previously concealed. He reinforces this point by going on to mention that the Law and the Prophets had foretold it.
For verily I say unto you, Until heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall not pass from the law and the prophets till all come to pass."
And if, the Creator above all is confessed to be just, and the Lord to be the Son of the Creator; then the Lord is the Son of Him who is just. Wherefore also Paul says, "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested; "
Author: Clement Of Alexandria Rank: Author AD: 215
The righteousness of God is not that by which God is righteous but that with which he clothes man when he justifies the ungodly. To this the Law and the Prophets bear witness…. The righteousness of God is not manifested outside the law, since in that case it could not have been witnessed to in the law. It is a righteousness of God apart from the law because God confers it on the believer through the Spirit of grace without the help of the law.
It is clear that the righteousness of God has now appeared apart from the law, but this means apart from the law of the sabbath, the circumcision, the new moon and revenge, not apart from the sacrament of God’s divinity, because the righteousness of God is all about God’s divinity. For when the law held them guilty, the righteousness of God forgave them and did so apart from the law so that until the law was brought to bear God forgave them their sin. And lest someone think that this was done against the law, Paul added that the righteousness of God had a witness in the Law and the Prophets, which means that the law itself had said that in the future someone would come who would save mankind. But it was not allowed for the law to forgive sin. Therefore, what is called the righteousness of God appears to be mercy because it has its origin in the promise, and when God’s promise is fulfilled it is called “the righteousness of God.” For it is righteousness when what is promised has been delivered. And when God accepts those who flee to him for refuge, this is called righteousness, because wickedness would not accept such people. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
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Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
[Verse 21] has informed us that this righteousness cannot be obtained by keeping the law. Now the apostle explains how it is attained instead—"through faith in Jesus Christ." Here, faith means complete trust in the living Lord Jesus Christ as the only Savior of sinners and the only hope of heaven. Faith is based on the revelation of the person and work of Christ as found in the Bible.
Faith is not an irrational leap into the unknown. It requires solid evidence and finds it in the infallibility of the Word of God. Faith is neither illogical nor unreasonable. What could be more reasonable than for the creature to trust its Creator?
Faith is not a meritorious work by which a person can earn or achieve their salvation. One cannot boast about believing in the Lord; it would be foolish not to believe. Faith is not an attempt to earn salvation but the simple acceptance of the salvation that God gives us as a gift.
Paul continues that this salvation comes "to all and on all" [1] (KJV) who believe. It comes "to all" in the sense that it is accessible to all people, offered to all, and sufficient for all. But it is only "on" those "who believe," meaning it has an effect only in the lives of those who accept the Lord Jesus through an explicit act of faith. Forgiveness is available to all, but it becomes valid in an individual's life only when they accept it.
When Paul says that salvation is available to all, he means both Gentiles and Jews, because there is "no difference" anymore. The Jew has no advantage, nor does the Gentile have a disadvantage.
Footnote [1] NA omits "and on all."
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-02 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 21-24]. After the somber description of man living for himself, like you and I once did, the light breaks through in these verses. In this portion God tells what He has done to change man, fallen in sin, into someone who can be with Him without fear. Man turned out to be completely hopeless and useless for God. God looked for His own solution to this problem and He found it. In His solution He can declare a sinner justified [declared righteous] if that sinner believes in Jesus Christ. This is true for everyone without discrimination. Isn’t it true that “all have sinned”? Therefore all have fallen “short of the glory of God”. But God has this strong desire to have people with Him in His glory. What everyone needs then is the remission [release, forgiveness] of their sins, the evil deeds they have committed. God cannot permit any sin in His presence.
[Verse 25-26]. Christ Jesus brought about and accomplished this redemption and made it available for everyone: “Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation”, or “mercy-seat” (Darby Translation). A seat or throne reminds us of governmental authority and judgment. Justice is administered from a throne. God had to judge our sins, but the wonderful thing is that He judged our sins in His Son when He was hanging on the cross. Now the judgment-seat has become a mercy-seat to everyone who in faith accepts this salvation from God’s hands. The blood of Christ is the only way for God to forgive sins.
In Hebrews 9 we read: “Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” [Heb 9:22]. God does not accept the sinner by overlooking his sins. It is only because His holy and righteous demands were satisfied that He was able to justify you. This gives you the assurance of the remission of your sins. It is not what you think of it, but it is how God sees it.
God could pass over the sins of the Old Testament saints, who had believed God, because He foresaw the work of Christ. He did not overlook their sins, but He acted righteously when He forgave them because He knew Christ would shed His blood for them. Today, the same principle holds. To us who live after the death of Christ, the work of Christ is behind us. God cannot help but justify everyone who believes because He Himself is righteous. Has not the blood of Christ been shed? God knows its value and that it blots out sin.
So, God will no longer see sin within someone who has confessed that Christ shed his blood for his sins. His sins no longer exist. They are gone forever. To God, a believer is no longer a sinner, but someone who belongs to Him and with whom He desires to have a relationship. God has made you righteous. A righteous person is someone who is seen by God no longer in his former life of sin, but completely apart from his sinful life and who looks like Himself. What a change this is!
[Verse 27-28]. All of our boasting is excluded; this should be clear now. Everything came from God and was brought about by Him. The only thing for you to do was to believe. It is by faith and not works that you now have redemption, the forgiveness of sins and justification.
[Verse 29-31]. God is not the God of the Jews only, but He is also the God of the nations. God sees all unsaved people as sinners because everyone has sinned. It is then true that everyone can only be justified by faith. But what about the law? Is the law completely useless now? No, the law is still present and in its full power.
If we look at the law, it becomes clear we are sinners because we cannot keep the law. The law made it clear that we were sinners and powerless to redeem ourselves from the curse of the law. When we recognize this, we confirm the authority of the law. This means we were under the curse of the law, but Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by bearing the curse on the cross [Gal 3:13]. In this way He has fully confirmed the authority of the law.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-31
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
Must guilty man remain under wrath? Is the wound for ever incurable? No; blessed be God, there is another way laid open for us. This is the righteousness of God; righteousness of his ordaining, and providing, and accepting. It is by that faith which has Jesus Christ for its object; an anointed Savior, so Jesus Christ signifies. Justifying faith respects Christ as a Savior, in all his three anointed offices, as Prophet, Priest, and King; trusting in him, accepting him, and cleaving to him: in all these, Jews and Gentiles are alike welcome to God through Christ. There is no difference, his righteousness is upon all that believe; not only offered to them, but put upon them as a crown, as a robe. It is free grace, mere mercy; there is nothing in us to deserve such favors. It comes freely unto us, but Christ bought it, and paid the price. And faith has special regard to the blood of Christ, as that which made the atonement. God, in all this, declares his righteousness. It is plain that he hates sin, when nothing less than the blood of Christ would satisfy for it. And it would not agree with his justice to demand the debt, when the Surety has paid it, and he has accepted that payment in full satisfaction.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-26
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
Apart from the law, God's righteousness was manifested [1John 1:2]; [1John 4:9], and since this righteousness as we said before has nothing to do with the law, it will then be not confined to those who received the written law. Rather, faith, not the law, is the principal condition for obtaining justification. Moreover, since faith is something that all people can enjoy "without distinction", so justification from sin also can be obtained by all people, no difference between one person and another. Righteousness has been offered by God to whoever believes, therefore, the Gentiles also received the blessings of justification. By faith here is meant faith working through love.
The phrase "witness by law and the prophets," indicates that the teaching of the New Testament does not abolish the teaching of the Old Testament, but is rather witnessed by law and the prophets. The apostle declares that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." There is no distinction among people, for all have sinned and lacked that glory granted by God.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-23
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;
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
In order to stop anyone from asking: “How can we be saved without contributing anything at all to our salvation?” Paul shows that in fact we do contribute a great deal toward it—we supply our faith! Homilies on Romans
How could Paul have promised glory, honor and peace to the good works of Gentiles apart from the grace of the gospel? Because there otherwise is no acceptance of persons with God. And because it is not the hearers but the doers of the law who are justified, he argues that all, whether Jew or Gentile, shall alike have salvation in the gospel.
What else comes through faith in Jesus Christ except the righteousness of God which is the revelation of Christ? For it is by faith in the revelation of Jesus Christ that the gift long ago promised by God is acknowledged and received. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
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Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
The gospel is for everyone because everyone needs it. And the fact that everyone needs it is based on the reality that "all have sinned [1] and fall short of the glory of God." Each of us has sinned in Adam. When Adam sinned, he did so representatively for all his descendants. But people are not only sinners by nature but also by their practical behavior. Therefore, they "fall short of the glory of God."
Footnote [1] Literally "sinned," here the aorist is used, not the perfect tense.
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-02 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 21-24]. After the somber description of man living for himself, like you and I once did, the light breaks through in these verses. In this portion God tells what He has done to change man, fallen in sin, into someone who can be with Him without fear. Man turned out to be completely hopeless and useless for God. God looked for His own solution to this problem and He found it. In His solution He can declare a sinner justified [declared righteous] if that sinner believes in Jesus Christ. This is true for everyone without discrimination. Isn’t it true that “all have sinned”? Therefore all have fallen “short of the glory of God”. But God has this strong desire to have people with Him in His glory. What everyone needs then is the remission [release, forgiveness] of their sins, the evil deeds they have committed. God cannot permit any sin in His presence.
[Verse 25-26]. Christ Jesus brought about and accomplished this redemption and made it available for everyone: “Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation”, or “mercy-seat” (Darby Translation). A seat or throne reminds us of governmental authority and judgment. Justice is administered from a throne. God had to judge our sins, but the wonderful thing is that He judged our sins in His Son when He was hanging on the cross. Now the judgment-seat has become a mercy-seat to everyone who in faith accepts this salvation from God’s hands. The blood of Christ is the only way for God to forgive sins.
In Hebrews 9 we read: “Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” [Heb 9:22]. God does not accept the sinner by overlooking his sins. It is only because His holy and righteous demands were satisfied that He was able to justify you. This gives you the assurance of the remission of your sins. It is not what you think of it, but it is how God sees it.
God could pass over the sins of the Old Testament saints, who had believed God, because He foresaw the work of Christ. He did not overlook their sins, but He acted righteously when He forgave them because He knew Christ would shed His blood for them. Today, the same principle holds. To us who live after the death of Christ, the work of Christ is behind us. God cannot help but justify everyone who believes because He Himself is righteous. Has not the blood of Christ been shed? God knows its value and that it blots out sin.
So, God will no longer see sin within someone who has confessed that Christ shed his blood for his sins. His sins no longer exist. They are gone forever. To God, a believer is no longer a sinner, but someone who belongs to Him and with whom He desires to have a relationship. God has made you righteous. A righteous person is someone who is seen by God no longer in his former life of sin, but completely apart from his sinful life and who looks like Himself. What a change this is!
[Verse 27-28]. All of our boasting is excluded; this should be clear now. Everything came from God and was brought about by Him. The only thing for you to do was to believe. It is by faith and not works that you now have redemption, the forgiveness of sins and justification.
[Verse 29-31]. God is not the God of the Jews only, but He is also the God of the nations. God sees all unsaved people as sinners because everyone has sinned. It is then true that everyone can only be justified by faith. But what about the law? Is the law completely useless now? No, the law is still present and in its full power.
If we look at the law, it becomes clear we are sinners because we cannot keep the law. The law made it clear that we were sinners and powerless to redeem ourselves from the curse of the law. When we recognize this, we confirm the authority of the law. This means we were under the curse of the law, but Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by bearing the curse on the cross [Gal 3:13]. In this way He has fully confirmed the authority of the law.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-31
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
Must guilty man remain under wrath? Is the wound for ever incurable? No; blessed be God, there is another way laid open for us. This is the righteousness of God; righteousness of his ordaining, and providing, and accepting. It is by that faith which has Jesus Christ for its object; an anointed Savior, so Jesus Christ signifies. Justifying faith respects Christ as a Savior, in all his three anointed offices, as Prophet, Priest, and King; trusting in him, accepting him, and cleaving to him: in all these, Jews and Gentiles are alike welcome to God through Christ. There is no difference, his righteousness is upon all that believe; not only offered to them, but put upon them as a crown, as a robe. It is free grace, mere mercy; there is nothing in us to deserve such favors. It comes freely unto us, but Christ bought it, and paid the price. And faith has special regard to the blood of Christ, as that which made the atonement. God, in all this, declares his righteousness. It is plain that he hates sin, when nothing less than the blood of Christ would satisfy for it. And it would not agree with his justice to demand the debt, when the Surety has paid it, and he has accepted that payment in full satisfaction.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-26
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
Apart from the law, God's righteousness was manifested [1John 1:2]; [1John 4:9], and since this righteousness as we said before has nothing to do with the law, it will then be not confined to those who received the written law. Rather, faith, not the law, is the principal condition for obtaining justification. Moreover, since faith is something that all people can enjoy "without distinction", so justification from sin also can be obtained by all people, no difference between one person and another. Righteousness has been offered by God to whoever believes, therefore, the Gentiles also received the blessings of justification. By faith here is meant faith working through love.
The phrase "witness by law and the prophets," indicates that the teaching of the New Testament does not abolish the teaching of the Old Testament, but is rather witnessed by law and the prophets. The apostle declares that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." There is no distinction among people, for all have sinned and lacked that glory granted by God.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-23
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;
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
Paul shows that nature has failed the Gentiles and that both nature and the law have failed the Jews, before going on to mention the grace of the gospel and saying: “What do we have by grace which is special and superior? Faith, made effective by the righteousness of Christ.” … Paul does not say that all have broken the law but that all have sinned in a general sense. Now the one who is lacking something tries to make up his deficiency. The Jews had the law, but they were lacking the fullness of grace. .
There is no difference at all between the Greek, the Scythian, the Thracian or even the Jew, for all are in the same plight…. Even if you have not done the same sins as others, you have still been deprived of God’s glory just as they have been, because you are among those who have offended…. However, Paul was saying this not to cast them into despair but rather to show the love of the Lord toward man, as he goes on to say [in the following verses].
We ought not to be puffed up or severe on those of ancient times, but ought ourselves to fear, lest after we have come to the knowledge of Christ we obtain no further forgiveness of sins. If later we do things displeasing to God, we are shut out of his kingdom. .
For as these men did not impute unto us (the Gentiles) our transgressions, which we wrought before Christ was manifested among us, so also it is not right that we should lay blame upon those who sinned before Christ's coming. For "all men come short of the glory of God".
We ought not, therefore, as that presbyter remarks, to be puffed up, nor be severe upon those of old time, but ought ourselves to fear, lest perchance, after
Also to the Romans: "For all have sinned, and fail of the glory of God; but they are justified by His gift and grace, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus."
For the apostle says: "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ: whom 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; to declare, `I say, 'at this time His righteousness, that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
This includes both Jews and Greeks. For all here includes even the saints in order to show that nobody can keep the law without faith. For the law was given in such a way that faith was also embedded in it. This faith looked toward a future salvation. Thus the death of Christ benefits everyone, because it has here in this world taught what is to be believed and observed, and in the future it will deliver everyone from hell. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
Please log in to use all functions!
Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
We are "justified freely by His grace." The gospel proclaims how God justifies sinners by granting them a gift and bestowing His unmerited grace upon them. But what do we mean by justification?
To justify means to declare someone righteous. God declares a sinner righteous, for example, when that sinner believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is how the term is most often used in the New Testament.
However, a person can also justify God (see [Luke 7:29]) by believing and obeying God's word. In other words, they declare that God is righteous in everything He says and does.
Of course, a person can justify themselves, meaning they can claim their own righteousness (see [Luke 10:29]). But this is nothing more than a form of self-deception.
Justification does not mean that someone is actually made righteous. We cannot make God righteous—He already is. But we can declare or proclaim that He is righteous. God does not make the sinner inherently sinless or righteous; instead, God credits righteousness to their account. A. T. Pierson put it this way: "When God justifies sinners, He calls them righteous even though they are not—He does not impute sin where it actually exists and imputes righteousness where there is none." [1]
A simple definition of justification is: "It is a state as if I had never sinned." However, this definition does not go far enough. When God justifies a believing sinner, He not only frees them from guilt but also clothes them in His own righteousness, making them fully fit for a life in heaven. "Justification goes beyond acquittal—it includes acceptance. It also goes beyond pardon—it includes promotion." [2] Acquittal merely means being freed from a charge. Justification means that true righteousness is credited to us.
The reason for God's justification of ungodly sinners is that the Lord Jesus Christ fully paid the debt of their sins through His death and resurrection. When sinners accept Christ in faith, they are justified.
When James teaches that justification is by works [Jas 2:24], he does not mean that we are saved by good works alone or by faith and good works, but by a faith that results in good works.
It is important to recognize that justification is an accounting that takes place in God's mind. It is not a feeling, and the believer knows they are justified because the Bible tells them so. C. I. Scofield once expressed it this way: "Justification is the act of God by which He declares all who believe in Jesus to be righteous. This occurs in God's mind, not in the believer's nervous system or emotional realm."
In this verse, the apostle teaches that we are "justified freely." Justification cannot be earned or bought; it is given to us as a gift.
Next, we learn that we are "justified by His grace." This simply means that justification happens without any merit on our part. We did not earn, seek, or achieve it.
To avoid future confusion, we should briefly explain the six different aspects of justification found in the New Testament. The New Testament states that we are justified by grace, by faith, by the blood, by the power of the Lord, by God, and by works, but these statements are not contradictory or conflicting.
We are justified by grace—this means that we did not deserve justification.
We are justified by faith [Rom 5:1]—this means that we must receive justification by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are justified by the blood [Rom 5:9]—this refers to the price the Savior had to pay for us to be justified.
We are justified by divine power [Rom 4:24-25]—the same power that raised the Lord Jesus from the dead.
We are justified by God [Rom 8:33]—He is the one who declares us righteous.
We are justified by works [Jas 2:24]—this does not mean that we can earn justification through good works, but rather that they are the evidence that we have been justified.
Returning to [Verse 24], we read that we are "justified by the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." "Redemption" here means the purchasing of freedom at a price. The Lord Jesus bought us from the slave market of sin. His precious blood was the purchase price that had to be paid to meet the demands of a holy and righteous God. If one asks to whom the purchase price was paid, they have missed the point. The Scripture never implies that a specific payment was made to God or Satan. The purchase price was not paid literally but was an abstract agreement by which God could justly redeem the ungodly.
Footnote [1] Arthur T. Pierson, Shall We Continue in Sin?, S. 23.
[2] Paul Van Gorder in Our Daily Bread.
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-02 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 21-24]. After the somber description of man living for himself, like you and I once did, the light breaks through in these verses. In this portion God tells what He has done to change man, fallen in sin, into someone who can be with Him without fear. Man turned out to be completely hopeless and useless for God. God looked for His own solution to this problem and He found it. In His solution He can declare a sinner justified [declared righteous] if that sinner believes in Jesus Christ. This is true for everyone without discrimination. Isn’t it true that “all have sinned”? Therefore all have fallen “short of the glory of God”. But God has this strong desire to have people with Him in His glory. What everyone needs then is the remission [release, forgiveness] of their sins, the evil deeds they have committed. God cannot permit any sin in His presence.
[Verse 25-26]. Christ Jesus brought about and accomplished this redemption and made it available for everyone: “Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation”, or “mercy-seat” (Darby Translation). A seat or throne reminds us of governmental authority and judgment. Justice is administered from a throne. God had to judge our sins, but the wonderful thing is that He judged our sins in His Son when He was hanging on the cross. Now the judgment-seat has become a mercy-seat to everyone who in faith accepts this salvation from God’s hands. The blood of Christ is the only way for God to forgive sins.
In Hebrews 9 we read: “Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” [Heb 9:22]. God does not accept the sinner by overlooking his sins. It is only because His holy and righteous demands were satisfied that He was able to justify you. This gives you the assurance of the remission of your sins. It is not what you think of it, but it is how God sees it.
God could pass over the sins of the Old Testament saints, who had believed God, because He foresaw the work of Christ. He did not overlook their sins, but He acted righteously when He forgave them because He knew Christ would shed His blood for them. Today, the same principle holds. To us who live after the death of Christ, the work of Christ is behind us. God cannot help but justify everyone who believes because He Himself is righteous. Has not the blood of Christ been shed? God knows its value and that it blots out sin.
So, God will no longer see sin within someone who has confessed that Christ shed his blood for his sins. His sins no longer exist. They are gone forever. To God, a believer is no longer a sinner, but someone who belongs to Him and with whom He desires to have a relationship. God has made you righteous. A righteous person is someone who is seen by God no longer in his former life of sin, but completely apart from his sinful life and who looks like Himself. What a change this is!
[Verse 27-28]. All of our boasting is excluded; this should be clear now. Everything came from God and was brought about by Him. The only thing for you to do was to believe. It is by faith and not works that you now have redemption, the forgiveness of sins and justification.
[Verse 29-31]. God is not the God of the Jews only, but He is also the God of the nations. God sees all unsaved people as sinners because everyone has sinned. It is then true that everyone can only be justified by faith. But what about the law? Is the law completely useless now? No, the law is still present and in its full power.
If we look at the law, it becomes clear we are sinners because we cannot keep the law. The law made it clear that we were sinners and powerless to redeem ourselves from the curse of the law. When we recognize this, we confirm the authority of the law. This means we were under the curse of the law, but Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by bearing the curse on the cross [Gal 3:13]. In this way He has fully confirmed the authority of the law.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-31
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
Must guilty man remain under wrath? Is the wound for ever incurable? No; blessed be God, there is another way laid open for us. This is the righteousness of God; righteousness of his ordaining, and providing, and accepting. It is by that faith which has Jesus Christ for its object; an anointed Savior, so Jesus Christ signifies. Justifying faith respects Christ as a Savior, in all his three anointed offices, as Prophet, Priest, and King; trusting in him, accepting him, and cleaving to him: in all these, Jews and Gentiles are alike welcome to God through Christ. There is no difference, his righteousness is upon all that believe; not only offered to them, but put upon them as a crown, as a robe. It is free grace, mere mercy; there is nothing in us to deserve such favors. It comes freely unto us, but Christ bought it, and paid the price. And faith has special regard to the blood of Christ, as that which made the atonement. God, in all this, declares his righteousness. It is plain that he hates sin, when nothing less than the blood of Christ would satisfy for it. And it would not agree with his justice to demand the debt, when the Surety has paid it, and he has accepted that payment in full satisfaction.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-26
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
This means that all people have become justified and saved by the grace granted us, the sinners, by God. He freed us from sin by the redemption accomplished by Christ through the shedding of His blood on the cross. God's grace actually means His mercy upon the whole mankind, which has granted us freely without any virtue on our side the blessings of Salvation in Christ Jesus. So, justification and salvation are not given us for being worthy of them or as a reward for our works, since all have sinned as the apostle said. No human being has ever done anything by which mankind would deserve salvation. Nevertheless, in spite of the sins of all mankind, God's love for man granted them salvation freely. As the apostle says in other parts of his Epistles: "having been justified by the grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life" [Titus 3:7]; And you who were dead in trespasses and sins "who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loves us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." [Eph 2:1-9] "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." [2Cor 5:18-19]
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
They are justified freely because they have not done anything nor given anything in return, but by faith alone they have been made holy by the gift of God. Paul testifies that the grace of God is in Christ, because we have been redeemed by Christ according to the will of God so that once set free we may be justified, as he says to the Galatians: “Christ redeemed us by offering himself for us.” For he achieved this despite the fierce attacks of the devil, who was outwitted. For the devil received Christ (in hell) thinking that he could hold him there, but because he could not withstand his power he lost not only Christ but all those whom he held at the same time. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
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Romans 3:25 Whom 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;
"God presented" Jesus Christ "as a propitiation." A "propitiation" is a means by which justice is satisfied, God's wrath is averted, and grace can be shown to the sinner through an acceptable sacrifice.
Christ is referred to as the "propitiation" three times in the New Testament. Here in [Rom 3:25], we learn that those who trust in Christ find grace through His shed blood. In [1John 2:2], Christ is described as the propitiation for our sins and the sins of the whole world. His work is sufficient for the entire world, but it is effective only for those who place their trust in Him. Finally, in [1John 4:10], we see that God's love is demonstrated in sending His Son as the propitiation for our sins.
The word propitiation is also found in [Heb 2:17]: "Therefore, He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people." Here, "propitiation" means removing sin by paying the penalty.
The corresponding Old Testament term for propitiation or propitiatory place is "mercy seat" or "atonement cover" (footnote in the Elberfelder Bible). The mercy seat was the cover of the Ark of the Covenant. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest sprinkled this cover with the blood of a sacrificial animal. This atoned for, or covered, the sins of the high priest and the people.
When Christ became the "propitiation" for us, He went much further. He did not just cover sin but completely removed it.
Paul tells us here that God presented Christ "as a propitiation through faith in His blood." We are not told to believe in His blood, but rather to believe in Christ Himself. Only a resurrected and living Jesus Christ can save us. He is the propitiation. "Faith" in Him is the condition by which we obtain propitiation. "His blood" is the price that was paid.
The finished work of Christ declares God's "righteousness" for the forgiveness of "past sins." This refers to the sins committed before Christ's death. From Adam to Christ, God redeemed those who believed in Him based on the revelation He had given them. For example, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness [Gen 15:6]. But how could God do this justly? No sinless sacrifice had been slain for them. The blood of a perfect sacrifice had not yet been shed. In other words, Christ had not yet died. The debt had not yet been paid. God's righteous demands had not yet been met. How then could God redeem believing sinners in the Old Testament?
The answer is that although Christ had not yet died, God already knew that He would. Thus, He redeemed people based on the future work of Christ. Even if the Old Testament saints had not heard of Calvary, God credited them with the value of Christ's work when they believed in Him. In a very real sense, the salvation of Old Testament believers was "an act of grace granted in advance." They were redeemed based on a purchase price yet to be paid. They looked forward to the future Calvary, which we now look back on.
This is what Paul means when he says that Christ's propitiation demonstrates God's "righteousness" because of "the passing over of the sins previously committed in the forbearance of God." He is not referring to sins committed before one's conversion, as some mistakenly think. This would imply that Christ's work atoned for pre-conversion sins, but after conversion, one is on their own. No, Paul is addressing the apparent forbearance of God, who seemed to overlook the sins of those redeemed before the cross. It may appear that God excused or pretended not to see those sins. But that is not the case, Paul says. The Lord knew that Christ would achieve full propitiation, and therefore He redeemed people on that basis.
Thus, the Old Testament period was a time of God's "forbearance." For at least 4,000 years, He withheld His judgment on sin. When the time was fulfilled, He sent His Son to bear the sins. When the Lord Jesus took our sins upon Himself, God poured out the full wrath of His just and holy nature on His beloved Son.
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-02 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 21-24]. After the somber description of man living for himself, like you and I once did, the light breaks through in these verses. In this portion God tells what He has done to change man, fallen in sin, into someone who can be with Him without fear. Man turned out to be completely hopeless and useless for God. God looked for His own solution to this problem and He found it. In His solution He can declare a sinner justified [declared righteous] if that sinner believes in Jesus Christ. This is true for everyone without discrimination. Isn’t it true that “all have sinned”? Therefore all have fallen “short of the glory of God”. But God has this strong desire to have people with Him in His glory. What everyone needs then is the remission [release, forgiveness] of their sins, the evil deeds they have committed. God cannot permit any sin in His presence.
[Verse 25-26]. Christ Jesus brought about and accomplished this redemption and made it available for everyone: “Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation”, or “mercy-seat” (Darby Translation). A seat or throne reminds us of governmental authority and judgment. Justice is administered from a throne. God had to judge our sins, but the wonderful thing is that He judged our sins in His Son when He was hanging on the cross. Now the judgment-seat has become a mercy-seat to everyone who in faith accepts this salvation from God’s hands. The blood of Christ is the only way for God to forgive sins.
In Hebrews 9 we read: “Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” [Heb 9:22]. God does not accept the sinner by overlooking his sins. It is only because His holy and righteous demands were satisfied that He was able to justify you. This gives you the assurance of the remission of your sins. It is not what you think of it, but it is how God sees it.
God could pass over the sins of the Old Testament saints, who had believed God, because He foresaw the work of Christ. He did not overlook their sins, but He acted righteously when He forgave them because He knew Christ would shed His blood for them. Today, the same principle holds. To us who live after the death of Christ, the work of Christ is behind us. God cannot help but justify everyone who believes because He Himself is righteous. Has not the blood of Christ been shed? God knows its value and that it blots out sin.
So, God will no longer see sin within someone who has confessed that Christ shed his blood for his sins. His sins no longer exist. They are gone forever. To God, a believer is no longer a sinner, but someone who belongs to Him and with whom He desires to have a relationship. God has made you righteous. A righteous person is someone who is seen by God no longer in his former life of sin, but completely apart from his sinful life and who looks like Himself. What a change this is!
[Verse 27-28]. All of our boasting is excluded; this should be clear now. Everything came from God and was brought about by Him. The only thing for you to do was to believe. It is by faith and not works that you now have redemption, the forgiveness of sins and justification.
[Verse 29-31]. God is not the God of the Jews only, but He is also the God of the nations. God sees all unsaved people as sinners because everyone has sinned. It is then true that everyone can only be justified by faith. But what about the law? Is the law completely useless now? No, the law is still present and in its full power.
If we look at the law, it becomes clear we are sinners because we cannot keep the law. The law made it clear that we were sinners and powerless to redeem ourselves from the curse of the law. When we recognize this, we confirm the authority of the law. This means we were under the curse of the law, but Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by bearing the curse on the cross [Gal 3:13]. In this way He has fully confirmed the authority of the law.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-31
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
Must guilty man remain under wrath? Is the wound for ever incurable? No; blessed be God, there is another way laid open for us. This is the righteousness of God; righteousness of his ordaining, and providing, and accepting. It is by that faith which has Jesus Christ for its object; an anointed Savior, so Jesus Christ signifies. Justifying faith respects Christ as a Savior, in all his three anointed offices, as Prophet, Priest, and King; trusting in him, accepting him, and cleaving to him: in all these, Jews and Gentiles are alike welcome to God through Christ. There is no difference, his righteousness is upon all that believe; not only offered to them, but put upon them as a crown, as a robe. It is free grace, mere mercy; there is nothing in us to deserve such favors. It comes freely unto us, but Christ bought it, and paid the price. And faith has special regard to the blood of Christ, as that which made the atonement. God, in all this, declares his righteousness. It is plain that he hates sin, when nothing less than the blood of Christ would satisfy for it. And it would not agree with his justice to demand the debt, when the Surety has paid it, and he has accepted that payment in full satisfaction.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-26
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
God offered Christ, according to His previous dispensation, that He might be the mediator of reconciliation between God and man, for whoever accepts Christ in faith. The reconciliation has been accomplished by the blood of Christ shed on the cross, where God's justice and righteousness have been demonstrated in His forbearance over the sins and the punishment until the coming of Christ. In the present time (the time of the New Testament), the Lord Christ offered His blood as a propitiation, by which God's justice and righteousness were revealed. Therefore people have no excuse to misunderstand God's justice because of His forbearance. As for Christ's atonement St. John the apostle says, "He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world;" "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." [1John 2:2]; [1John 4:10]
Also in the Epistle to the Hebrews, in Chapter nine, the apostle Paul speaks about Christ's propitiation, and compares between it and the propitiation of the Old Testament which had merely been a symbol referring to that of the New Testament. The apostle says, "But into the second part (the holy of the holies) the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance; the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience – concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" [Heb 9:7-14]; compare with [Lev 16]
When comparing between the propitiation of the Old Testament and that of the New Testament, we notice the following:
1. The high priest had to go into the holy of holies once a year only, because the way to the Holies had not yet been demonstrated, meaning that the way to God was still concealed and sin was standing in the way as a wall of enmity between God and man.
2. The high priest had to offer a sin offering as a sacrifice for himself and for the people to atone for his and their sins. But the Lord Christ offered His blood once for all, and in this one time He accomplished everlasting salvation for the whole world, extending to all generations in the past, the present, and the future.
3. The propitiation of the Old Testament was not capable with regard to conscience to complete who serves, but the propitiation of Christ is capable of purging the conscience from dead works to serve the
living God (See our commentary on [Heb 9]).
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
Paul calls the redemption an expiation to show that, if the Old Testament type had such power, much more did its New Testament counterpart have it…. What does it mean “to show God’s righteousness”? It is like declaring his riches not only for him to be rich himself but also to make others rich…. Do not doubt, for righteousness is not of works but of faith.
Christ, being an “expiation by his blood,” teaches each one thinking of this to become himself a propitiation, sanctifying his soul by the mortification of his members. .
Paul says this, because in Christ God put forward, i.e., appointed, himself as a future expiation for the human race if they believed. This expiation was by his blood. We have been set free by his death so that God might reveal him and condemn death by his passion. This was in order to make his promise clear, by which he set us free from sin as he had promised before. And when he fulfilled this promise he showed himself to be righteous. God knew the purpose of his lovingkindness, by which he determined to come to the rescue of sinners, both those living on earth and those who were held bound in hell. He waited a very long time for both. He nullified the sentence by which it seemed just that everyone should be condemned in order to show us that long ago he had decided to liberate the human race, as he promised through Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more.” And in case it might be thought that this promise was for the Jews only, he said through Isaiah: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” For although the promise was made to the Jews, God knew in advance that the ungodly Jews would reject his gift. Therefore he promised that he would allow the Gentiles to share in his grace. In view of this the ungodly negligence of the Jews was thwarted. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
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Romans 3:26 To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Thus, the death of Christ declares the "righteousness" of God. God is just because He has demanded full payment for the debt of sin. And He can justify the ungodly without condoning their sins or compromising His own righteousness because the perfect substitute has died and risen again.
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-02 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 21-24]. After the somber description of man living for himself, like you and I once did, the light breaks through in these verses. In this portion God tells what He has done to change man, fallen in sin, into someone who can be with Him without fear. Man turned out to be completely hopeless and useless for God. God looked for His own solution to this problem and He found it. In His solution He can declare a sinner justified [declared righteous] if that sinner believes in Jesus Christ. This is true for everyone without discrimination. Isn’t it true that “all have sinned”? Therefore all have fallen “short of the glory of God”. But God has this strong desire to have people with Him in His glory. What everyone needs then is the remission [release, forgiveness] of their sins, the evil deeds they have committed. God cannot permit any sin in His presence.
[Verse 25-26]. Christ Jesus brought about and accomplished this redemption and made it available for everyone: “Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation”, or “mercy-seat” (Darby Translation). A seat or throne reminds us of governmental authority and judgment. Justice is administered from a throne. God had to judge our sins, but the wonderful thing is that He judged our sins in His Son when He was hanging on the cross. Now the judgment-seat has become a mercy-seat to everyone who in faith accepts this salvation from God’s hands. The blood of Christ is the only way for God to forgive sins.
In Hebrews 9 we read: “Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” [Heb 9:22]. God does not accept the sinner by overlooking his sins. It is only because His holy and righteous demands were satisfied that He was able to justify you. This gives you the assurance of the remission of your sins. It is not what you think of it, but it is how God sees it.
God could pass over the sins of the Old Testament saints, who had believed God, because He foresaw the work of Christ. He did not overlook their sins, but He acted righteously when He forgave them because He knew Christ would shed His blood for them. Today, the same principle holds. To us who live after the death of Christ, the work of Christ is behind us. God cannot help but justify everyone who believes because He Himself is righteous. Has not the blood of Christ been shed? God knows its value and that it blots out sin.
So, God will no longer see sin within someone who has confessed that Christ shed his blood for his sins. His sins no longer exist. They are gone forever. To God, a believer is no longer a sinner, but someone who belongs to Him and with whom He desires to have a relationship. God has made you righteous. A righteous person is someone who is seen by God no longer in his former life of sin, but completely apart from his sinful life and who looks like Himself. What a change this is!
[Verse 27-28]. All of our boasting is excluded; this should be clear now. Everything came from God and was brought about by Him. The only thing for you to do was to believe. It is by faith and not works that you now have redemption, the forgiveness of sins and justification.
[Verse 29-31]. God is not the God of the Jews only, but He is also the God of the nations. God sees all unsaved people as sinners because everyone has sinned. It is then true that everyone can only be justified by faith. But what about the law? Is the law completely useless now? No, the law is still present and in its full power.
If we look at the law, it becomes clear we are sinners because we cannot keep the law. The law made it clear that we were sinners and powerless to redeem ourselves from the curse of the law. When we recognize this, we confirm the authority of the law. This means we were under the curse of the law, but Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by bearing the curse on the cross [Gal 3:13]. In this way He has fully confirmed the authority of the law.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-31
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
Must guilty man remain under wrath? Is the wound for ever incurable? No; blessed be God, there is another way laid open for us. This is the righteousness of God; righteousness of his ordaining, and providing, and accepting. It is by that faith which has Jesus Christ for its object; an anointed Savior, so Jesus Christ signifies. Justifying faith respects Christ as a Savior, in all his three anointed offices, as Prophet, Priest, and King; trusting in him, accepting him, and cleaving to him: in all these, Jews and Gentiles are alike welcome to God through Christ. There is no difference, his righteousness is upon all that believe; not only offered to them, but put upon them as a crown, as a robe. It is free grace, mere mercy; there is nothing in us to deserve such favors. It comes freely unto us, but Christ bought it, and paid the price. And faith has special regard to the blood of Christ, as that which made the atonement. God, in all this, declares his righteousness. It is plain that he hates sin, when nothing less than the blood of Christ would satisfy for it. And it would not agree with his justice to demand the debt, when the Surety has paid it, and he has accepted that payment in full satisfaction.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-26
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
The Lord Christ offered His blood as a propitiation to demonstrate God's justice at the present time, because God's justice necessitates the sentence of death as punishment for sin. So, when the Lord Christ offered Himself on the cross, He paid the wages of sin, that is, death, thus demonstrating God's righteousness at the present time. God, in His righteousness (that He might be just) was pleased to accept the sacrifice of the Lord Christ offered for the sins of all mankind. At the same time, He forgave and justified men from their sins, granting righteousness to whoever believes in Christ. However, God's justification for man does not mean merely judging that man is innocent, but it also means transferring man from the state of sin in which he was abiding to a state of godliness and good.
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
The present time means our time, in which God has given what long before he had promised to give at the time at which he gave it. Paul has rightly said that God gave what he promised in order to be revealed as righteous. For he had promised that he would justify those who believe in Christ, as he says in Habakkuk: “The righteous will live by faith in me.” Whoever has faith in God and Christ is righteous. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
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Romans 3:27 Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
"Where, then, is boasting" in this wonderful plan of salvation? "It is excluded," banished, cast out. "By what principle is boasting excluded?" By the principle "of works"? "No." If salvation could be earned by works, there would be plenty of room for self-congratulation. But if salvation is granted solely on the principle "of faith," then there is no place for self-glorification. The justified person says, "I did all the sinning; Jesus did all the saving." True faith excludes any possibility of self-redemption, self-help, and self-improvement and expects everything from Christ, the Savior.
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-02 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 21-24]. After the somber description of man living for himself, like you and I once did, the light breaks through in these verses. In this portion God tells what He has done to change man, fallen in sin, into someone who can be with Him without fear. Man turned out to be completely hopeless and useless for God. God looked for His own solution to this problem and He found it. In His solution He can declare a sinner justified [declared righteous] if that sinner believes in Jesus Christ. This is true for everyone without discrimination. Isn’t it true that “all have sinned”? Therefore all have fallen “short of the glory of God”. But God has this strong desire to have people with Him in His glory. What everyone needs then is the remission [release, forgiveness] of their sins, the evil deeds they have committed. God cannot permit any sin in His presence.
[Verse 25-26]. Christ Jesus brought about and accomplished this redemption and made it available for everyone: “Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation”, or “mercy-seat” (Darby Translation). A seat or throne reminds us of governmental authority and judgment. Justice is administered from a throne. God had to judge our sins, but the wonderful thing is that He judged our sins in His Son when He was hanging on the cross. Now the judgment-seat has become a mercy-seat to everyone who in faith accepts this salvation from God’s hands. The blood of Christ is the only way for God to forgive sins.
In Hebrews 9 we read: “Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” [Heb 9:22]. God does not accept the sinner by overlooking his sins. It is only because His holy and righteous demands were satisfied that He was able to justify you. This gives you the assurance of the remission of your sins. It is not what you think of it, but it is how God sees it.
God could pass over the sins of the Old Testament saints, who had believed God, because He foresaw the work of Christ. He did not overlook their sins, but He acted righteously when He forgave them because He knew Christ would shed His blood for them. Today, the same principle holds. To us who live after the death of Christ, the work of Christ is behind us. God cannot help but justify everyone who believes because He Himself is righteous. Has not the blood of Christ been shed? God knows its value and that it blots out sin.
So, God will no longer see sin within someone who has confessed that Christ shed his blood for his sins. His sins no longer exist. They are gone forever. To God, a believer is no longer a sinner, but someone who belongs to Him and with whom He desires to have a relationship. God has made you righteous. A righteous person is someone who is seen by God no longer in his former life of sin, but completely apart from his sinful life and who looks like Himself. What a change this is!
[Verse 27-28]. All of our boasting is excluded; this should be clear now. Everything came from God and was brought about by Him. The only thing for you to do was to believe. It is by faith and not works that you now have redemption, the forgiveness of sins and justification.
[Verse 29-31]. God is not the God of the Jews only, but He is also the God of the nations. God sees all unsaved people as sinners because everyone has sinned. It is then true that everyone can only be justified by faith. But what about the law? Is the law completely useless now? No, the law is still present and in its full power.
If we look at the law, it becomes clear we are sinners because we cannot keep the law. The law made it clear that we were sinners and powerless to redeem ourselves from the curse of the law. When we recognize this, we confirm the authority of the law. This means we were under the curse of the law, but Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by bearing the curse on the cross [Gal 3:13]. In this way He has fully confirmed the authority of the law.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-31
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
God will have the great work of the justification and salvation of sinners carried on from first to last, so as to shut out boasting. Now, if we were saved by our own works, boasting would not be excluded. But the way of justification by faith for ever shuts out boasting. Yet believers are not left to be lawless; faith is a law, it is a working grace, wherever it is in truth. By faith, not in this matter an act of obedience, or a good work, but forming the relation between Christ and the sinner, which renders it proper that the believer should be pardoned and justified for the sake of the Savior, and that the unbeliever who is not thus united or related to him, should remain under condemnation. The law is still of use to convince us of what is past, and to direct us for the future. Though we cannot be saved by it as a covenant, yet we own and submit to it, as a rule in the hand of the Mediator.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 27-31
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
If justification is by faith, not by the works of the law as the Jews imagine, why then would people boast since their justification is not due to their works or virtues? Boasting should be by our faith in Christ "that no flesh should glory in His presence ... that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the Lord'" [1Cor 1:29-31]; "not of works lest anyone should boast" [Eph 2:9]; "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." [Rom 8:2]
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
Paul is at great pains to show that faith is powerful to a degree which no one ever imagined the law could be. For after saying that God justifies man by faith, he takes up the question of the law again. He does not say: “Where are the good works of the Jews?” but: “Where is their boasting?” Thus he takes every opportunity to demonstrate that it was all talk and that they had no deeds to back them up. What is “the principle of faith”? This is salvation by grace. Here Paul shows God’s power in that he has not only saved, he has also justified and led them to boast in a different way—not relying on works but glorying only in their faith. In saying this Paul is trying to get believing Jews to behave with moderation and to reassure unbelieving Jews so that they might be persuaded to accept his point of view. For if the one who has been saved is proud because he abides by the law, he will be told that he has stopped his own mouth, that he has accused himself, that he has renounced any claim to salvation and that he has excluded boasting. But the unbeliever may be humbled by these same means and brought to accept the faith. See how great faith is, in that it has removed us from the former things and does not even allow us to boast of them! Homilies on Romans
For who will glory, or for what, when everyone has become worthless and gone out of the right way, and nobody does good works anymore? Therefore he says that all glorying is excluded…. How? We have acquired the forgiveness of our former sins and have been justified freely by the mercy and grace of Christ. .
Paul tells those who live under the law that they have no reason to boast basing themselves on the law and claiming to be of the race of Abraham, seeing that no one is justified before God except by faith. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
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Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Since there is no reason for boasting, Paul reiterates "that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law."
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-02 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 21-24]. After the somber description of man living for himself, like you and I once did, the light breaks through in these verses. In this portion God tells what He has done to change man, fallen in sin, into someone who can be with Him without fear. Man turned out to be completely hopeless and useless for God. God looked for His own solution to this problem and He found it. In His solution He can declare a sinner justified [declared righteous] if that sinner believes in Jesus Christ. This is true for everyone without discrimination. Isn’t it true that “all have sinned”? Therefore all have fallen “short of the glory of God”. But God has this strong desire to have people with Him in His glory. What everyone needs then is the remission [release, forgiveness] of their sins, the evil deeds they have committed. God cannot permit any sin in His presence.
[Verse 25-26]. Christ Jesus brought about and accomplished this redemption and made it available for everyone: “Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation”, or “mercy-seat” (Darby Translation). A seat or throne reminds us of governmental authority and judgment. Justice is administered from a throne. God had to judge our sins, but the wonderful thing is that He judged our sins in His Son when He was hanging on the cross. Now the judgment-seat has become a mercy-seat to everyone who in faith accepts this salvation from God’s hands. The blood of Christ is the only way for God to forgive sins.
In Hebrews 9 we read: “Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” [Heb 9:22]. God does not accept the sinner by overlooking his sins. It is only because His holy and righteous demands were satisfied that He was able to justify you. This gives you the assurance of the remission of your sins. It is not what you think of it, but it is how God sees it.
God could pass over the sins of the Old Testament saints, who had believed God, because He foresaw the work of Christ. He did not overlook their sins, but He acted righteously when He forgave them because He knew Christ would shed His blood for them. Today, the same principle holds. To us who live after the death of Christ, the work of Christ is behind us. God cannot help but justify everyone who believes because He Himself is righteous. Has not the blood of Christ been shed? God knows its value and that it blots out sin.
So, God will no longer see sin within someone who has confessed that Christ shed his blood for his sins. His sins no longer exist. They are gone forever. To God, a believer is no longer a sinner, but someone who belongs to Him and with whom He desires to have a relationship. God has made you righteous. A righteous person is someone who is seen by God no longer in his former life of sin, but completely apart from his sinful life and who looks like Himself. What a change this is!
[Verse 27-28]. All of our boasting is excluded; this should be clear now. Everything came from God and was brought about by Him. The only thing for you to do was to believe. It is by faith and not works that you now have redemption, the forgiveness of sins and justification.
[Verse 29-31]. God is not the God of the Jews only, but He is also the God of the nations. God sees all unsaved people as sinners because everyone has sinned. It is then true that everyone can only be justified by faith. But what about the law? Is the law completely useless now? No, the law is still present and in its full power.
If we look at the law, it becomes clear we are sinners because we cannot keep the law. The law made it clear that we were sinners and powerless to redeem ourselves from the curse of the law. When we recognize this, we confirm the authority of the law. This means we were under the curse of the law, but Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by bearing the curse on the cross [Gal 3:13]. In this way He has fully confirmed the authority of the law.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-31
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
God will have the great work of the justification and salvation of sinners carried on from first to last, so as to shut out boasting. Now, if we were saved by our own works, boasting would not be excluded. But the way of justification by faith for ever shuts out boasting. Yet believers are not left to be lawless; faith is a law, it is a working grace, wherever it is in truth. By faith, not in this matter an act of obedience, or a good work, but forming the relation between Christ and the sinner, which renders it proper that the believer should be pardoned and justified for the sake of the Savior, and that the unbeliever who is not thus united or related to him, should remain under condemnation. The law is still of use to convince us of what is past, and to direct us for the future. Though we cannot be saved by it as a covenant, yet we own and submit to it, as a rule in the hand of the Mediator.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 27-31
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
Paul does not say a “Jew” or “one under the law” but widens the discussion and opens the doors of faith to the world, saying a “man,” i.e., the name common to our race.
This must not be understood in such a way as to say that a man who has received faith and continues to live is righteous, even though he leads a wicked life.
Paul says that a Gentile can be sure that he is justified by faith without doing the works of the law, e. g., circumcision or new moons or the veneration of the sabbath. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
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Romans 3:29 [Is he] the God of the Jews only? [is he] not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
How does the gospel present God to us? Is He exclusively "the God of the Jews"? No, but "also of the Gentiles." The Lord Jesus Christ did not die for a single race of humanity but for a whole world of sinners. And the offer of full and free salvation is extended to all who are willing to accept it, whether Jew or Gentile.
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-02 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 21-24]. After the somber description of man living for himself, like you and I once did, the light breaks through in these verses. In this portion God tells what He has done to change man, fallen in sin, into someone who can be with Him without fear. Man turned out to be completely hopeless and useless for God. God looked for His own solution to this problem and He found it. In His solution He can declare a sinner justified [declared righteous] if that sinner believes in Jesus Christ. This is true for everyone without discrimination. Isn’t it true that “all have sinned”? Therefore all have fallen “short of the glory of God”. But God has this strong desire to have people with Him in His glory. What everyone needs then is the remission [release, forgiveness] of their sins, the evil deeds they have committed. God cannot permit any sin in His presence.
[Verse 25-26]. Christ Jesus brought about and accomplished this redemption and made it available for everyone: “Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation”, or “mercy-seat” (Darby Translation). A seat or throne reminds us of governmental authority and judgment. Justice is administered from a throne. God had to judge our sins, but the wonderful thing is that He judged our sins in His Son when He was hanging on the cross. Now the judgment-seat has become a mercy-seat to everyone who in faith accepts this salvation from God’s hands. The blood of Christ is the only way for God to forgive sins.
In Hebrews 9 we read: “Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” [Heb 9:22]. God does not accept the sinner by overlooking his sins. It is only because His holy and righteous demands were satisfied that He was able to justify you. This gives you the assurance of the remission of your sins. It is not what you think of it, but it is how God sees it.
God could pass over the sins of the Old Testament saints, who had believed God, because He foresaw the work of Christ. He did not overlook their sins, but He acted righteously when He forgave them because He knew Christ would shed His blood for them. Today, the same principle holds. To us who live after the death of Christ, the work of Christ is behind us. God cannot help but justify everyone who believes because He Himself is righteous. Has not the blood of Christ been shed? God knows its value and that it blots out sin.
So, God will no longer see sin within someone who has confessed that Christ shed his blood for his sins. His sins no longer exist. They are gone forever. To God, a believer is no longer a sinner, but someone who belongs to Him and with whom He desires to have a relationship. God has made you righteous. A righteous person is someone who is seen by God no longer in his former life of sin, but completely apart from his sinful life and who looks like Himself. What a change this is!
[Verse 27-28]. All of our boasting is excluded; this should be clear now. Everything came from God and was brought about by Him. The only thing for you to do was to believe. It is by faith and not works that you now have redemption, the forgiveness of sins and justification.
[Verse 29-31]. God is not the God of the Jews only, but He is also the God of the nations. God sees all unsaved people as sinners because everyone has sinned. It is then true that everyone can only be justified by faith. But what about the law? Is the law completely useless now? No, the law is still present and in its full power.
If we look at the law, it becomes clear we are sinners because we cannot keep the law. The law made it clear that we were sinners and powerless to redeem ourselves from the curse of the law. When we recognize this, we confirm the authority of the law. This means we were under the curse of the law, but Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by bearing the curse on the cross [Gal 3:13]. In this way He has fully confirmed the authority of the law.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-31
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
God will have the great work of the justification and salvation of sinners carried on from first to last, so as to shut out boasting. Now, if we were saved by our own works, boasting would not be excluded. But the way of justification by faith for ever shuts out boasting. Yet believers are not left to be lawless; faith is a law, it is a working grace, wherever it is in truth. By faith, not in this matter an act of obedience, or a good work, but forming the relation between Christ and the sinner, which renders it proper that the believer should be pardoned and justified for the sake of the Savior, and that the unbeliever who is not thus united or related to him, should remain under condemnation. The law is still of use to convince us of what is past, and to direct us for the future. Though we cannot be saved by it as a covenant, yet we own and submit to it, as a rule in the hand of the Mediator.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 27-31
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
The circle of justification extended in Christianity to include whoever believes, because God is not for Jews only and nor will confine His blessings to them, but He is for the Gentiles as well, for one is God who they call: "Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." [Rom 10:12-13]
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
Paul shows that the Jews, by trying to put the Gentiles in their place, were insulting God’s glory by not allowing him to be the God of all. But if God is God of all, then he takes care of all, and if he takes care of all, then he saves all alike by faith.
One righteous person is no different from another righteous person, whether Jew or Greek. For God is not only the Lord of the Jews but of all humanity. He is the Father of all who know him. To live well and according to the law is to live. To live rationally according to reason is to live. Those who lived rightly before the law were classed under faith and judged to be righteous. Those who were outside the law, having lived rightly, on hearing the voice of the Lord … may turn and believe with all speed.
Author: Clement Of Alexandria Rank: Author AD: 215
"Is He the God of the Jews only, and not also of the Gentiles? Yes, also of the Gentiles: if indeed He is one God".
For if to live well and according to the law is to live, also to live rationally according to the law is to live; and those who lived rightly before the Law were classed under faith,
Author: Clement Of Alexandria Rank: Author AD: 215
Undoubtedly there is only one God for everybody. For even the Jews cannot claim that their God is not the God of the Gentiles also, because they believe that the origin of all people is from the one Adam and that no one who comes willingly to the law may be prevented from accepting it. Some Gentiles actually went with the Israelites into the desert of Egypt, and the Israelites were ordered to accept them as long as they agreed to be circumcised and eat unleavened bread, or the Passover, together with the rest of them. Then again Cornelius, a Gentile who was not judaized, received the gift of God, and it is clear from holy Scripture that he was justified. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
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Romans 3:30 Seeing [it is] one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
There are not two gods—one for the Jews and one for the Gentiles. There is only one God and only one way of salvation for all people. God justifies "the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith." Whatever the reason for the different use of prepositions here ("by" and "through" [1]), there is no difference in the means that leads to salvation: in both cases, "faith" leads to salvation.
Footnote [1] Cranfield emphasizes (Romans, Vol. 1, p. 222) that all attempts to discover a subtle difference here are unconvincing. Augustine was probably right when he attributed the choice of words to rhetorical variety.
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-06-02 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 21-24]. After the somber description of man living for himself, like you and I once did, the light breaks through in these verses. In this portion God tells what He has done to change man, fallen in sin, into someone who can be with Him without fear. Man turned out to be completely hopeless and useless for God. God looked for His own solution to this problem and He found it. In His solution He can declare a sinner justified [declared righteous] if that sinner believes in Jesus Christ. This is true for everyone without discrimination. Isn’t it true that “all have sinned”? Therefore all have fallen “short of the glory of God”. But God has this strong desire to have people with Him in His glory. What everyone needs then is the remission [release, forgiveness] of their sins, the evil deeds they have committed. God cannot permit any sin in His presence.
[Verse 25-26]. Christ Jesus brought about and accomplished this redemption and made it available for everyone: “Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation”, or “mercy-seat” (Darby Translation). A seat or throne reminds us of governmental authority and judgment. Justice is administered from a throne. God had to judge our sins, but the wonderful thing is that He judged our sins in His Son when He was hanging on the cross. Now the judgment-seat has become a mercy-seat to everyone who in faith accepts this salvation from God’s hands. The blood of Christ is the only way for God to forgive sins.
In Hebrews 9 we read: “Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” [Heb 9:22]. God does not accept the sinner by overlooking his sins. It is only because His holy and righteous demands were satisfied that He was able to justify you. This gives you the assurance of the remission of your sins. It is not what you think of it, but it is how God sees it.
God could pass over the sins of the Old Testament saints, who had believed God, because He foresaw the work of Christ. He did not overlook their sins, but He acted righteously when He forgave them because He knew Christ would shed His blood for them. Today, the same principle holds. To us who live after the death of Christ, the work of Christ is behind us. God cannot help but justify everyone who believes because He Himself is righteous. Has not the blood of Christ been shed? God knows its value and that it blots out sin.
So, God will no longer see sin within someone who has confessed that Christ shed his blood for his sins. His sins no longer exist. They are gone forever. To God, a believer is no longer a sinner, but someone who belongs to Him and with whom He desires to have a relationship. God has made you righteous. A righteous person is someone who is seen by God no longer in his former life of sin, but completely apart from his sinful life and who looks like Himself. What a change this is!
[Verse 27-28]. All of our boasting is excluded; this should be clear now. Everything came from God and was brought about by Him. The only thing for you to do was to believe. It is by faith and not works that you now have redemption, the forgiveness of sins and justification.
[Verse 29-31]. God is not the God of the Jews only, but He is also the God of the nations. God sees all unsaved people as sinners because everyone has sinned. It is then true that everyone can only be justified by faith. But what about the law? Is the law completely useless now? No, the law is still present and in its full power.
If we look at the law, it becomes clear we are sinners because we cannot keep the law. The law made it clear that we were sinners and powerless to redeem ourselves from the curse of the law. When we recognize this, we confirm the authority of the law. This means we were under the curse of the law, but Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by bearing the curse on the cross [Gal 3:13]. In this way He has fully confirmed the authority of the law.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-31
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
God will have the great work of the justification and salvation of sinners carried on from first to last, so as to shut out boasting. Now, if we were saved by our own works, boasting would not be excluded. But the way of justification by faith for ever shuts out boasting. Yet believers are not left to be lawless; faith is a law, it is a working grace, wherever it is in truth. By faith, not in this matter an act of obedience, or a good work, but forming the relation between Christ and the sinner, which renders it proper that the believer should be pardoned and justified for the sake of the Savior, and that the unbeliever who is not thus united or related to him, should remain under condemnation. The law is still of use to convince us of what is past, and to direct us for the future. Though we cannot be saved by it as a covenant, yet we own and submit to it, as a rule in the hand of the Mediator.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 27-31
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
God is one for all, and He is ready to justify all, whether Gentile or Jews. But the principal condition for this justification is one, set by the One God, that is, faith. (See [Mark 12:29]; [Rom 4:11-12])
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
There is only one God, who is Lord of all, both Jew and Gentile. Even in ancient times the blessings of providence were shared by both, although in different ways. The Jews had the written law, and the Gentiles had the natural law, but in this they lacked nothing, because if they tried hard enough they could always surpass the Jews in their observance…. If there was no difference then, much less is there any now, and this Paul establishes even more firmly by demonstrating that both alike stand in equal need of faith.
Paul shows clearly that righteousness depends not on the merit of man but on the grace of God, who accepts the faith of those who believe without the works of the law.
To God that human nature (hominem) which had departed from God; and therefore men were taught to worship God after a new fashion, but not another god, because in truth there is but "one God, who justifieth the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.".
For it is truly "one God who "directed the patriarchs towards His dispensations, and "has justified the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.".
Since this is the case, we must not seek for another Father besides Him, or above Him, since there is one God who justifies the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.
By “the circumcised” Paul means the Jews who have been justified by their faith in the promise and who believe that Jesus is the Christ whom God had promised in the law. By “the uncircumcised” he means the Gentiles who have been justified with God by their faith in Christ. Thus God has justified both Jews and Gentiles. For because God is one, everyone has been justified in the same way. What benefit then is there in circumcision? Or what disadvantage is there in uncircumcision when only faith produces worthiness and merit? Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
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Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
A crucial question remains: Do we then consider the law worthless and not to be heeded if we say that salvation is obtained through faith and not by keeping the law? Does the gospel set aside the law so that it no longer has a purpose? 'God forbid', but rather the gospel 'establishes the law' in the following ways:
The law demands perfect obedience. The penalty for not adhering to the law must be paid. The penalty is death. If a lawbreaker pays this penalty, he will be lost for eternity. The gospel tells us how Christ died to bear the penalty for breaking the law. He did not believe the law should be ignored. He has paid the entire debt. Now anyone who has broken the law can claim that Christ has paid the debt for them. Thus, the gospel of salvation through faith upholds the law by insisting that the demands of the law are fully met.
Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-01-04 Source:
Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck
[Verse 21-24]. After the somber description of man living for himself, like you and I once did, the light breaks through in these verses. In this portion God tells what He has done to change man, fallen in sin, into someone who can be with Him without fear. Man turned out to be completely hopeless and useless for God. God looked for His own solution to this problem and He found it. In His solution He can declare a sinner justified [declared righteous] if that sinner believes in Jesus Christ. This is true for everyone without discrimination. Isn’t it true that “all have sinned”? Therefore all have fallen “short of the glory of God”. But God has this strong desire to have people with Him in His glory. What everyone needs then is the remission [release, forgiveness] of their sins, the evil deeds they have committed. God cannot permit any sin in His presence.
[Verse 25-26]. Christ Jesus brought about and accomplished this redemption and made it available for everyone: “Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation”, or “mercy-seat” (Darby Translation). A seat or throne reminds us of governmental authority and judgment. Justice is administered from a throne. God had to judge our sins, but the wonderful thing is that He judged our sins in His Son when He was hanging on the cross. Now the judgment-seat has become a mercy-seat to everyone who in faith accepts this salvation from God’s hands. The blood of Christ is the only way for God to forgive sins.
In Hebrews 9 we read: “Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” [Heb 9:22]. God does not accept the sinner by overlooking his sins. It is only because His holy and righteous demands were satisfied that He was able to justify you. This gives you the assurance of the remission of your sins. It is not what you think of it, but it is how God sees it.
God could pass over the sins of the Old Testament saints, who had believed God, because He foresaw the work of Christ. He did not overlook their sins, but He acted righteously when He forgave them because He knew Christ would shed His blood for them. Today, the same principle holds. To us who live after the death of Christ, the work of Christ is behind us. God cannot help but justify everyone who believes because He Himself is righteous. Has not the blood of Christ been shed? God knows its value and that it blots out sin.
So, God will no longer see sin within someone who has confessed that Christ shed his blood for his sins. His sins no longer exist. They are gone forever. To God, a believer is no longer a sinner, but someone who belongs to Him and with whom He desires to have a relationship. God has made you righteous. A righteous person is someone who is seen by God no longer in his former life of sin, but completely apart from his sinful life and who looks like Himself. What a change this is!
[Verse 27-28]. All of our boasting is excluded; this should be clear now. Everything came from God and was brought about by Him. The only thing for you to do was to believe. It is by faith and not works that you now have redemption, the forgiveness of sins and justification.
[Verse 29-31]. God is not the God of the Jews only, but He is also the God of the nations. God sees all unsaved people as sinners because everyone has sinned. It is then true that everyone can only be justified by faith. But what about the law? Is the law completely useless now? No, the law is still present and in its full power.
If we look at the law, it becomes clear we are sinners because we cannot keep the law. The law made it clear that we were sinners and powerless to redeem ourselves from the curse of the law. When we recognize this, we confirm the authority of the law. This means we were under the curse of the law, but Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by bearing the curse on the cross [Gal 3:13]. In this way He has fully confirmed the authority of the law.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 21-31
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.
Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-12-22 Source:
God will have the great work of the justification and salvation of sinners carried on from first to last, so as to shut out boasting. Now, if we were saved by our own works, boasting would not be excluded. But the way of justification by faith for ever shuts out boasting. Yet believers are not left to be lawless; faith is a law, it is a working grace, wherever it is in truth. By faith, not in this matter an act of obedience, or a good work, but forming the relation between Christ and the sinner, which renders it proper that the believer should be pardoned and justified for the sake of the Savior, and that the unbeliever who is not thus united or related to him, should remain under condemnation. The law is still of use to convince us of what is past, and to direct us for the future. Though we cannot be saved by it as a covenant, yet we own and submit to it, as a rule in the hand of the Mediator.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 27-31
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.
Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source:
Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry
If the apostle Paul said that justification is gained by faith not by the deeds of the law, this does not mean that the apostle degraded the value of the law. On the contrary, this establishes the law, because the law itself had previously spoken of the promises which would be fulfilled through faith in Christ. Furthermore, that God may forgive our sins and trespasses against the law, Christ was crucified.
The law is not mere commandments, but also promises, covenants and faith, and likewise becoming spiritual children of Abraham, all of which have been fulfilled through faith in Christ. The law actually is important for us even at the present time, because it reveals to us our past spiritual life and supports our faith. Christianity also did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it.
Author: Prof. Dr. Maurice Tawadros Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-03-09 Source:
Title: Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans Author: Professor Dr. Maurice Tawadros Number of pages: 373
Paul’s use of the word uphold shows that the law was failing…. The purpose of the law was to make man righteous, but it had no power to do that. But when faith came it achieved what the law could not do, for once a man believes he is immediately justified. Faith therefore established what the law intended and brought to fulfillment what its provisions aimed for. Consequently faith has not abolished the law but perfected it.
On account of his humanity Emmanuel is called a prophet, who following Moses is the mediator between God and humanity. The law was a shadow, but even so it presented an image of the truth. Furthermore, the truth hardly destroys its images; rather it makesthem clearer. .
The law is confirmed by faith. Apart from faith the law merely commands, and it holds guilty those who do not fulfill its commands, so that it might thereafter turn to the grace of the Deliverer those groaning in their inability to do what is commanded.
Do we then make void freedom of choice through grace? God forbid! Rather, we establish freedom of choice. As the law is not made void by faith, so freedom of choice is not made void but established by grace. Freedom of choice is necessary to the fulfillment of the law. But by the law comes the knowledge of sin; by faith comes the obtaining of grace against sin; by grace comes the healing of the soul from sin’s sickness; by the healing of the soul comes freedom of choice; by freedom of choice comes the love of righteousness; by the love of righteousness comes the working of the law. Thus, as the law is not made void but established by faith, since faith obtains the grace whereby the law may be fulfilled, so freedom of choice is not made void but established by grace, since grace heals the will whereby righteousness may freely be loved.
How should the law be upheld if not by righteousness? By a righteousness, moreover, which is of faith, for what could not be fulfilled through the law is fulfilled through faith.
Paul says that the law is not nullified by faith but fulfilled. For its status is confirmed when faith bears witness that what it said would come has actually happened. Paul says this because of the Jews who thought that faith in Christ was inimical to the law because they did not understand the true meaning of the law. For Paul does not nullify the law when he says that it must come to an end, because he asserts that at the time it was given it was rightly given, but now it does not have to be kept any longer. In the law itself it is said that a time would come when the promise would be fulfilled and the law would no longer have to be kept…. “Behold the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers.” Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
