Study mode · 2 sessions

Romans 3:1–31: The Verdict on All and the Righteousness of God Revealed (two sessions)

Session 1 · Rom 3:1–20

God's faithfulness, and the whole world accountable

Aim

See that the Jew's advantage is real, above all the trust of God's words, and that human unfaithfulness cannot cancel God's faithfulness. Then hear Scripture's own verdict: Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin, every mouth is silenced, and no one will be justified in God's sight by works of the law.

Outline

The advantage of the Jew; let God be trueRom 3:1–4
Objections answered: God is not unjust to inflict wrathRom 3:5–8
Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin: the chain of ScriptureRom 3:9–18
Every mouth silenced; no one justified by works of the lawRom 3:19–20

observation · 4

Read 3:1–4. What question does 3:1 ask, and what is the first answer in 3:2? What does Paul say human unfaithfulness cannot do? Which two psalms does 3:4 draw on?

Rom 3:1–4 Ps 51:4 Ps 116:11

In 3:5–8, list the objections Paul raises against himself. How does he answer each? What slander does 3:8 report, and where in Romans does the same charge come back?

Rom 3:5–8 Rom 6:1–2 Rom 6:15

Read 3:9–18. What charge does 3:9 repeat? Then trace the chain of quotations: look up Ps 14:1–3, Ps 5:9, Ps 140:3, Ps 10:7, Isa 59:7–8 and Ps 36:1. Which parts of a person does each line describe?

Rom 3:9–18 Ps 14:1–3 Ps 5:9 Ps 140:3 Ps 10:7 Isa 59:7–8 Ps 36:1

Read 3:19–20 with Ps 143:2. To whom does the law speak, and what is its purpose? What does the law bring instead of righteousness?

Rom 3:19–20 Ps 143:1–2

interpretation · 5

What are “the very words of God” entrusted to the Jews (3:2)? Does the “lack of faith” of 3:3 mean unbelief or unfaithfulness? Why does it matter that the advantage is a trust and not an exemption?

Rom 3:2–3 Acts 7:38 Rom 9:4–5

In 3:3–7, Paul speaks of God's faithfulness, truth, and righteousness. What does “the righteousness of God” mean in 3:5? Who is the “I” of 3:7? What does “when You judge” (3:4) suggest about who is on trial?

Rom 3:3–7

What does the chain of 3:10–18 show about human beings? Does it say that everyone commits every sin? Why might Paul quote texts first spoken about Israel? Did Paul compile the chain himself?

Rom 3:10–18 Rom 3:9 Rom 3:19 Isa 59:1–8

“Are we any better?” (3:9): who are “we,” and what does the question mean? In 3:19, what is “the law” that speaks, given that the texts just quoted come from the Psalms and Isaiah? What does “under sin” mean?

Rom 3:9 Rom 3:19 Rom 6:14 Rom 7:14

What are the “works of the law” that cannot justify (3:20)? Are they everything the law requires, or chiefly the practices that marked Israel off from the nations? What does 3:20b say the law does instead?

Rom 3:20 Rom 2:21–23 Rom 3:27–28 Rom 4:4–5 Gal 2:16

Leader note Uncertain

Uncertain What “works of the law” (ἔργα νόμου, erga nomou) are. The commentary leans to all that the law requires, boundary markers included: 3:20b ties them to the knowledge of sin, 2:21–23 names moral commandments, and 3:27–4:5 speaks of works in general. The narrower reading takes the practices that marked Israel off, such as circumcision, food laws, and the Sabbath, as chiefly in view.

Reported views (by reference, not the team's): E. P. Sanders described the Judaism of the period as “covenantal nomism,” entry into the covenant by grace and staying in it by obedience. Building on this, Dunn reads “works of the law” chiefly as Israel's distinguishing practices, and Wright reads them similarly as badges of covenant membership. Westerholm defends the older reading that they are the deeds the law requires, and Gathercole argues that the boasting excluded in 3:27 includes confidence in obedience to the law.

Uncertain Whether the 4QMMT parallel at Qumran points chiefly to the law's distinctive marks or to all that the law requires.

Implies On either reading, works of the law are excluded as the ground of justification; faith is the way a person is justified, and the ground is the redemption in Christ Jesus (3:24–25, 28). Through the law comes knowledge of sin, not righteousness.

Jews and Greeks all under sin, and the law's verdict (Romans 3:9–20)Boasting excluded, justification by faith apart from works of the law, the one God, and the law upheld (Romans 3:27–31)ὑπόδικος … τῷ θεῷ; ἐξ ἔργων νόμου οὐ δικαιωθήσεται πᾶσα σάρξ 'Works of the law' (3:20, 28) and 4QMMT

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application · 3

Paul says human unfaithfulness cannot nullify God's faithfulness (3:3–4). Where have you doubted God's promises because of your own failures or other people's? How does “Let God be true” steady you?

Rom 3:3–4

Some said Paul's gospel meant “Let us do evil that good may result” (3:8). Where are you tempted to treat God's grace as permission to sin? How would you answer that thought?

Rom 3:8 Rom 6:1–2

Paul's goal in 3:19 is that “every mouth may be silenced.” What defenses do people, including you, offer before God? What would it mean to stop defending yourself and be ready to hear 3:21?

Rom 3:19–20

Quotations from LXX (Swete) are used under CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits

Rom 3:1–20 · BSB

1What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2Much in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God. 3What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? 4Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.” 5But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms. 6Certainly not! In that case, how could God judge the world? 7However, if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner? 8Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved! 9What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin. 10As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. 11There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” 13“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.” 14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15“Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16ruin and misery lie in their wake, 17and the way of peace they have not known.” 18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.

Certainty Says Implies Uncertain