The "I" of 3:7, μὴ καθώς and ὧν τὸ κρίμα (3:7–8)
Says 3:7 is a real condition with a question: εἰ δὲ ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ ψεύσματι ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, τί ἔτι κἀγὼ ὡς ἁμαρτωλὸς κρίνομαι; (BSB "why am I still condemned as a sinner?"). On εἰ δέ / εἰ γάρ see var.Rom.3.7.de-gar.
Uncertain Who the "I" is. This note leans to a rhetorical first person, voicing the objector of 3:5 (who said ἡμῶν) as any sinner: κἀγώ, "I too." The main alternative is Paul speaking of himself, since 3:8 turns to how "we" are slandered.
Says 3:8 continues the question without a finished construction: καὶ μὴ καθὼς βλασφημούμεθα καὶ καθώς φασίν τινες ἡμᾶς λέγειν ὅτι Ποιήσωμεν τὰ κακὰ ἵνα ἔλθῃ τὰ ἀγαθά; The BSB supplies "say": "Why not say … 'Let us do evil that good may result'?" ὅτι introduces direct speech, and ποιήσωμεν is a hortatory subjunctive.
Implies The slander shows that Paul's gospel of grace was misread as license; 6:1, 15 answer the same charge.
Uncertain What ὧν refers to in ὧν τὸ κρίμα ἔνδικόν ἐστιν. This note leans to the slanderers (τινες), the nearest persons. The main alternative is everyone who would argue "let us do evil." Abbott-Smith glosses ἔνδικος (endikos) "righteous, just" (Rom 3:8): the verdict on them is deserved.
Claims
- Says3:7 asks why, if God's truth abounded through 'my' falsehood, 'I too' am still judged as a sinner.
- UncertainWhether the 'I' of 3:7 is a rhetorical first person voicing the objector as any sinner (lean) or Paul himself (main alternative; cf. 'we' in 3:8).
- Says3:8 continues the question without a completed construction; ὅτι introduces direct speech and ποιήσωμεν is hortatory.
- ImpliesPaul's gospel of grace was slandered as license, a charge answered again in 6:1, 15.
- UncertainWhether ὧν in 3:8 refers to the slanderers (lean: the nearest persons) or to all who argue 'let us do evil' (main alternative).
Citations
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. ἔνδικος (Ro 3:8) —
righteous, just
- BSB public domain Rom 3:7–8
2026-10-29
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