Romans 3New King James Version
God’s Judgment Defended
3 What advantage then has the Jew, or whatisthe profit of circumcision?2 Much in every way! Chiefly because(A)to them were committed the[a]oracles of God.3 For what if(B)some did not believe?(C)Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?4 (D)Certainly not! Indeed, let(E)God be[b]true but(F)every man a liar. As it is written:
(G)“That You may be justified in Your words,
And may overcome when You are judged.”
5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say?IsGod unjust who inflicts wrath?(H)(I speak as a man.)6 Certainly not! For then(I)how will God judge the world?
7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?8 Andwhynotsay,(J)“Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their[c]condemnation is just.
All Have Sinned(K)
9 What then? Are we betterthan they?Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that(L)they are all under sin.
10 As it is written:
(M)“There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
13 “Their(N)throatisan open[d]tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
(O)“The poison of aspsisunder their lips”;
14 “Whose(P)mouthisfull of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their(Q)feetareswift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and miseryarein their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There(R)is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever(S)the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that(T)every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become[e]guilty before God.20 Therefore(U)by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the lawisthe knowledge of sin.
God’s Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now(V)the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed,(W)being witnessed by the Law(X)and the Prophets,22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all[f]and on all who believe. For(Y)there is no difference;23 for(Z)all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,24 being justified[g]freely(AA)by His grace(AB)through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,25 whom God set forth(AC)asa[h]propitiation(AD)by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over(AE)the sins that were previously committed,26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Boasting Excluded
27 (AF)Whereisboasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.28 Therefore we conclude(AG)that a man is[i]justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.29 Oris Hethe God of the Jews only?Is Henot also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also,30 since(AH)there isone God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
Footnotes
- Romans 3:2sayings,Scriptures
- Romans 3:4Found true
- Romans 3:8Lit.judgment
- Romans 3:13grave
- Romans 3:19accountable
- Romans 3:22NU omitsand on all
- Romans 3:24without any cost
- Romans 3:25mercy seat
- Romans 3:28declared righteous
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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