| Romans 3 | |
|---|---|
 Fragment c to h containing parts of the Epistle to the Romans in Papyrus 40, written about AD 250. | |
| Book | Epistle to the Romans |
| Category | Pauline epistles |
| Christian Bible part | New Testament |
| Order in the Christian part | 6 |
Romans 3 is the third chapter of the Epistle to the Romans in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It was composed by Paul the Apostle, while he was in Corinth in the mid-50s AD,[1][2] with the help of an amanuensis (secretary), Tertius, who added his own greeting in Romans 16:22.[3]
In this chapter, Paul asks a series of rhetorical questions in order to develop his theological message,[a] and quotes extensively from the Hebrew Bible.[b] Theologian Albert Barnes suggests that "the design of the first part of this chapter is to answer some of the objections which might be offered by a Jew to the statements in the previous chapter".[4]
The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 31 verses.
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
In verse 2, the chief advantage, or benefit, or responsibility, or superiority[9] of the Jewish people is their possession of the Hebrew Bible (τα λογια του θεου, ta logia tou theou, 'the very words of God' New International Version). Traditional translations (the Geneva Bible, King James Version, American Standard Version and Revised Standard Version) refer to the "oracles of God". The Jewish "advantage" (το περισσον, to perissov) is really an act of entrustment (Romans 3:2).
Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
— Romans 3:2, New International Version[10]
Nonconformist theologian Matthew Poole stated that "to the Jews were credited, or given in custody, the Holy Scriptures". Stephen, whose martyrdom Paul had witnessed before his conversion, called the scriptures the 'living oracles' (λογια ζωντα, logia zonta).[11]
In verse 8, Paul refers to slanderous accusations made by "some people"[12] that believers say "Let's do evil that good may result".
Bishop Charles Ellicott suggests that these accusers might have been the Jews or "the Judaizing party";[13] Barnes says it is "doubtless" that they were Jews;[14] the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges argues that they were Paul's "inveterate adversaries in the Church".[15]
Paul's statement that "both Jews and Greeks are under the power of sin" (verse 9) exposes the impossibility of either Gentile or Jew, unaided by God, being able to become righteous (contra Romans 2:7,13, etc.; consistent with Romans 7:7–24), as supported by a compilation of citations from the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament texts) in verses 10–18 describing humanity's utter depravity or incapability of not sinning (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Psalm 5:10; 10:7; 14:1—3; 53:2—4; 36:2; 140:4; Isaiah 59:7—8; Proverbs 1:16).[16] Only Christ can break sin's power for Jews as well as for Gentiles.[16]
This section (extending to verse 31) revisits 'the grand theme', "the righteousness of God", which is introduced in the Thanksgiving part of chapter 1.[16] Comprising one paragraph, verses 21–26 is called by Stuhlmacher as "the heart of the letter to the Romans*,[17] stating that "the divine character—faithful, gracious, forgiving, and merciful—has been revealed in Jesus Christ, specifically in his death as "a sacrifice for sin effective through faith"."[16] With that actions, "altogether apart from human initiative", God has fulfilled "what God always intended to do" ("attested by the law and the prophets") "and so is proved righteous".[16]
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
— Romans 3:23, King James Version[18]
whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed
— Romans 3:25, New King James Version[24]
"Propitiation" (RSV, NAB: "expiation"): translated from the Greek word hilasterion, which specifically means the lid of the Ark of the Covenant.[25] The only other occurrence of hilasterion in the New Testament is in Hebrews 9:5, where the KJV, NKJV, RSV, and NASB all translate it as 'mercy seat'.
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
— Romans 3:28, New King James Version[26]
