The chain of Old Testament texts: sources, arrangement, and what it shows (Romans 3:10–18)
Says The chain opens, "There is no one righteous, not even one" (3:10, BSB), and closes, "There is no fear of God before their eyes" (3:18, BSB). Each line has a source (note.language.Rom.3.10-Rom.3.18.catena-sources; note.historical.Rom.3.1-Rom.3.31.testimonia): - 3:10–12: Ps 14:1–3 (= Ps 53:1–3; LXX 13:1–3). ποιῶν χρηστότητα (lex.G5544) agrees with LXX Ps 13:3 against Ps 52:4, which has ἀγαθόν. δίκαιος (3:10) is not in the psalm; compare Eccl 7:20 (xref.Rom.3.10-Rom.3.12.Ps.14.1-Ps.14.3.heb; xref.Rom.3.10-Rom.3.12.Ps.53.1-Ps.53.3.heb; xref.Rom.3.10.Eccl.7.20.heb). - 3:13: LXX Ps 5:10 (ENG 5:9) and Ps 139:4 (ENG 140:3), word for word (xref.Rom.3.13.Ps.5.9.heb; xref.Rom.3.13.Ps.140.3.heb). - 3:14: a shortened form of LXX Ps 9:28 (ENG 10:7) (xref.Rom.3.14.Ps.10.7.heb). - 3:15–17: a shortened form of Isa 59:7–8. In 3:17 ἔγνωσαν agrees with Codex A and a marginal reading, where Swete's text has οἴδασιν. Prov 1:16 has almost the same Hebrew as Isa 59:7, but its Greek appears only in Swete's apparatus (xref.Rom.3.15-Rom.3.17.Isa.59.7-Isa.59.8.heb; xref.Rom.3.15.Prov.1.16.heb). - 3:18: LXX Ps 35:2 (ENG 36:1), with αὐτῶν for αὐτοῦ (xref.Rom.3.18.Ps.36.1.heb).
Says Swete's Ps 13:3, which follows Codex B, carries all of Rom 3:13–18 word for word after the psalm's own words. Codex A omits the addition, and a corrector of Codex Sinaiticus brackets it (note.language.Rom.3.10-Rom.3.18.catena-sources).
Uncertain Whether Paul compiled the chain himself or took over an existing collection of texts (testimonia) cannot be shown. Collections of texts are attested at Qumran (4Q174; 4Q175; note.historical.Rom.3.1-Rom.3.31.testimonia). The lines of Rom 3:13–18 found in some manuscripts of Ps 13:3 match Romans word for word; they may have been copied from Romans or from such a collection, so they do not settle the question.
Implies The chain is arranged with care. It moves from character (3:10–12) to speech (3:13–14), then to deeds (3:15–17), and then to the root, the absence of the fear of God (3:18). οὐκ ἔστιν frames it at the start (3:10) and the end (3:18).
Implies Sin pervades the whole person: the understanding and the seeking of God (3:11), speech (3:13–14), conduct toward others (3:15–17), and the fear of God (3:18). The point is not that every person commits every sin, but that no part of human life is untouched. The team's position agrees with the Westminster Confession 6.2–4 (src.wcf-1646). Human inability is treated at 8:7–8, and original sin at 5:12–21.
Implies Paul applies these portraits to Jews and Greeks alike (3:9, 19). Some were first spoken of Israel itself: Isa 59 is a charge against God's own people. Scripture gives the verdict on all.
Claims
- Says3:10–18 strings together Ps 14:1–3 (= 53:1–3), Ps 5:9, Ps 140:3, Ps 10:7, Isa 59:7–8 (cf. Prov 1:16), and Ps 36:1; 3:13 follows LXX Ps 5:10 and 139:4 word for word, 3:12 agrees with LXX Ps 13:3, 3:14–17 shorten their sources, and 3:18 has αὐτῶν for αὐτοῦ.
- SaysSwete's Ps 13:3 (Codex B) carries all of Rom 3:13–18; Codex A omits it and a corrector of Sinaiticus brackets it.
- UncertainWhether Paul compiled the chain or took over an existing collection (4Q175); no lean.
- ImpliesThe chain moves from character (3:10–12) to speech (3:13–14), deeds (3:15–17), and root (3:18), framed by οὐκ ἔστιν.
- ImpliesSin pervades the whole person: understanding, speech, conduct, and the fear of God; the team's position agrees with WCF 6.2–4 (inability at 8:7–8; original sin at 5:12–21).
- ImpliesPaul applies these portraits, some first spoken of Israel (Isa 59), to Jews and Greeks alike (3:9, 19).
Citations
- BSB public domain Rom 3:10, 18
- SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Rom 3:10–18
- LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 Ps 13:1–3; 52:4; 5:10; 139:4; 9:28; 35:2; Isa 59:7–8; Prov 1:16 (apparatus)
- WCF public domain 6.2–4 (by reference; not quoted)
Quotations from LXX (Swete) are used under CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits
2026-10-30
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