3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit [is there] of circumcision?{The line above expresses one question, in two ways.}
3:2 Much every way:
{cp. Rom 9:3-6}
chiefly, because that unto them were committed {GK=pisteou, entrusted, to be trusted} the oracles of God.
What advantage then hath the Jew...?
God had established the difference between Jew & Gentile, but Paul's discussion (in ch. 2) seems to eliminate this distinction. If being a Jew did not, in itself, give righteousness, why did God make this distinction?
...unto them were committed the oracles {GK=logion, the utterances} of God.-
God entrusted Israel with His written Word, the Scriptures-
Just as God holds gentiles responsible to heed the revelation of Himself in creation (Rom 1:19,20), and the revelation of His Will in their consciences (2:15), so, He holds Israel responsible for the greater light they have received through the Law and the Prophets. cp. Deu 4:5-9
Just as participation in the rite of circumcision does not, in itself, make a man righteous (2:25), so, possession of the Scriptures, in itself, cannot save. However, the Scriptures speak of the Savior (illuminating both man's need for Him, and God's provision of Him). Joh 5:39
God made specific Covenant promises to Israel in His Word, which include-
the coming of the Messiah, the Seed through whom all the world will be blessed.
the coming Kingdom of Messiah, who will rule the world in righteousness from Jerusalem.
(Paul will address Israel's unique position again in ch. 9-11.)
3:3 For what if some did not believe {GK=apisteo}? shall their unbelief make the faith {GK=pistis, the substance to be believed} of God without effect?{'The faith' is that which they received from God, by revelation (cp. the related word in v.2 above). It includes doctinal truth and Covenant promises.}
3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written,
{Psa 51:4} That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
What God says is true, whether men believe it or not.
Unbelief (v.3) is equivalent to lying (v.4) because it says that God's truth is unworthy of trust. cp. 1Joh 5:10
The context of the passage quoted (Psa 51) is David's confession of his own sinful nature.
He was saying: 'God's description of me is true. I am a sinner.'
Not until Israel also is given repentence will they realize their 'advantage' (cp. Acts 5:31).
3:5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? [Is] God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)''This is, no doubt, a question actually encountered by Paul in debate with the Jews.'' [Stifler]
They would argue: 'You have shown (cp. v.3,4) that when God's promises are fulfilled toward Israel, they will appear all the more gracious, because of Israel's unbelief and obstinacy.'
Human reasoning says: 'Since my sinfulness makes God's holiness & grace stand out clearly, God would be wrong to punish me.'
3:6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
Human reasoning forgets that God's judgment is (and must be) according to truth (2:2).
He is the standard of righteousness. My unrighteousness is revealed when contrasted with the holiness of His character. But my unrighteousness can neither add to, nor detract from His character. cf. v.7
Jews acknowledged that God must judge gentile sinners. But if God were to overlook Jewish sinners, He must do the same for gentiles, who also provide a contrasting background to His righteousness. Such action on His part would eliminate all judgment of sinners. But Scripture is clear that God will judge the world.
3:7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
3:8 And not [rather], (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
'If sin magnifies the glory of God, then: the more sin, the more glory.' [McGee]
This is an absurd argument. But some had accused Paul of teaching it. Yet, Paul has been declaring that God must and will judge sin (1:18). Those who put forth such arguments will not escape condemnation in the judgment.
The man who 'breaks faith with God' is necessarily under judgment.
3:9 What then? are we better [than they]?
better {GK=proechomai, lit. 'to have before', to surpass another in a matter}-
This word may imply either advantage or disadvantage. Possible meanings -
Is our case preferred before theirs (in God's judgment, because of our privileges as Jews)? This is the sense of the KJV rendering (above).
Is our case advanced beyond theirs (toward condemnation [v.8c] because we had the Law, but failed to keep it)?
ie., ''Are we in worse case than they?'' [RV; This rendering is preferred according to Vine.]
'Is our case before theirs for either advantage or disadvantage?'
No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; {or, 'we have already made the charge [in ch.1,2] that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.' } Paul now presses the case from Scripture:
A. The Character of all men is corrupt- 3:10 As it is written {v.10-12 paraphrase Psa 14:1-3}, There is none righteous, no, not one:No one is right with God. No one is free of moral corruption as He is. cp. Rom 1:18
3:11 There is none that understandeth,
No one acts on the knowledge that he has concerning God. cp. 1:21,28
there is none that seeketh after God.
It is not that God has concealed Himself (1:19,20; 3:1-3), but that man is lost. cp. Isa 59:8 In his self-defined 'search' for God, man moves ever farther away from Him. Yet, God openly tells man that he is a sinner, and offers him salvation. Acts 17:30,31
3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Man has deviated from God's way. It is not that man never knew God and has not yet found His way, but that when he knew God, he wandered away from Him and forsook His ways (1:21-24; 2:17-23).
Mankind has become 'unprofitable'. The word ''suggests overripe, spoiled fruit... Mankind is not lush fruit, he is corrupt fruit.'' [McGee] What once had beauty & promise is now thoroughly rotten. cp. Eccl 7:29; cp. 'unprofitable' in Mat 25:30.
No, not one...- We have all gone astray. No one among us knows the way back to the Shepherd's path. cp. Eccl 7:20; Isa 53:6
B. The Speech of mankind is corrupt-
In v.13-20, various parts of the body illustrate our diseased spiritual condition. 'The Great Physician's Spiritual Clinic' reports a grim diagnosis. [McGee]
3:13 Their throat [is] an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps [is] under their lips: 3:14 Whose mouth [is] full of cursing and bitterness: {
Psa 5:9; 10:7; 140:3}
Such speech arises from our inward corruption, as the stench of decaying flesh. Mat 12:34,35; 23:27,28 With our words, we spread abroad the poison of Satan's hatred and lies.
C. The Actions of mankind are corrupt- 3:15 Their feet [are] swift to shed blood:
3:16 Destruction and misery [are] in their ways:
3:17 And the way of peace have they not known: {Prov 1:16; Isa 59:7,8}
D. The root Cause of mankind's corruption- 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. {Psa 36:1}
This is the source of sin and 'the fountain of iniquity'. cp. Jer 2:13
Man is living as though God does not exist... as though man is self-sufficient.
Man defies God, in effect deifying himself by refusing to submit to the Deity.
E. Summary of the argument: All men are Condemned.
3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.
the Law-
speaks to those 'who are under the Law...' -
The scriptures cited above declare the sinfulness of everyone who hears them.
The standard of God's righteousness applies to both Jew and Gentile. Rom 2:12,13
condemns 'all the world' as 'guilty' {GK=hupodikos, lit., under judicial sentence} before God.
Under the Law, my guilt is 'without excuse' (2:1-), and without defense.
I stand condemned, exposed in my unrighteousness. cp. 1:18; Eze 16:63; Mat 22:12,13
justifies {makes righteous} no man.
Under the Law, my guilt is without remedy, because I cannot fulfill its righteous demands.
The Law condemns, but cannot cure my unrighteousness.
What is your standing under the Law? Are you... (cp. Luk 18:10-24)-
the pharisee - with a false confidence in the Law.
the publican - under full conviction by the Law.
III. Righteousness Imputed - Justification, Salvation (3:21- 5:21)
3:21 But now the {a} righteousness of God without {ie., apart from} the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
3:22 Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of {ie., in} Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
but now a righteousness from God... has been revealed (cp. 1:16,17)-
This righteousness is the remedy for our guilt before God (v.19). It is...
a righteousness...-
apart from the Law- This righteousness is not earned or acquired by obedience to the Law. v.20
Yet, it is not contrary to the Law (for it is spoken of by the OT Law and the OT prophets).
from God- The source of this righteousness is God, not my works. Titus 3:5
by faith...- This righteousness is received by faith. For faith to be effective, it must by placed in the right object.
in Jesus Christ- Christ Himself is our righteousness (1Cor 1:30).
unto all and upon all... that believe- Christ's righteousness is applied upon the account of all who trust in Him.
Christ's righteousness is offered unto all 'for there is no difference' -
Jew and Gentile alike have no inherent righteousness in the sight of God. Everyone needs this righteousness which God bestows.
3:23 For all have sinned {GK=hamartano, erred, missed the mark (past tense)}, and come short {GK=hustereo, are found lacking (present tense)} of the glory {GK=doxa, honor, praise} of God; {cp. 1Sam 2:30; Joh 12:43}
3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
3:25 Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
3:26 To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
freely {GK=dorean, undeservedly, without a cause}...- cp. this word in Joh 15:25.
Jesus did nothing to merit the hatred shown to Him. Likewise, the sinner has done nothing to merit God's kindness in offering redemption as a free gift. cp. Isa 55:1; Rom 5:15-18
Note that Paul's words ''all... being justified freely'' do not mean that all sinners are justified, but rather that all who are justified are justified by the means described here.
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.-
The word used here for 'redemption' {GK=apolutrosis, a loosing away} emphasizes the full deliverance from bondage to the guilt and power of sin. This word as used in Eph 1:7; Col 1:14 is equivalent to 'forgiveness' {GK=aphesis, a release from bondage, deliverance} of sin.
Other NT words trans. 'redeem' or 'redemption' include -
GK= exagorazo, to purchase out from the market. (Emphasizing the price paid, and its effectiveness. Gal 3:13)
By what means is there 'redemption... in Christ Jesus'?
God has set forth Christ... in His blood...- (v.25)
(The phrase 'in His blood' is properly joined to the verb 'set forth', rather than to 'faith'. [Stifler] ) Redemption is entirely the work of God. Christ is the Lamb provided by God. Joh 1:29; cp. Gen 22:8 The sacrifice provided by God is sufficient to satisfy Him...
[as] a propitiation... in His blood.- The word 'propitiation' {GK= hilasterion} refers to the 'Mercy Seat' (Heb 9:5) and to the atonement for sin provided there (trans. 'be merciful', Luk 18:13). In the OT sacrificial system, the sinner symbolically placed his sin & guilt upon a substitute (a sacrificial animal). The substitute was slain (symbollically bearing the penalty of death for sin) and was consumed by the fire of the altar (symbollically purging away the corruption of sin). Then, the blood of the sacrifice was presented at the Mercy Seat as a 'propitiation', thus declaring that God's wrath against sin had been satisfied (symbollically, cp. Lev 16:15,16). The OT sacrifices foreshadowed Christ's sacrifice.
The blood of Christ fulfilled the reality of what the OT sacrifices pictured (Heb 10:1-18).
By Christ's propitiation of sin, a sinner can truly be declared righteous before the Holy God, because his sin has truly been purged away.
This Propitiation must be appropriated ''through faith''. cp. Acts 13:38,39 Faith says, of Christ's sacrifice, exactly what God says: It is sufficient. Faith accepts & rests upon what God has provided.
[as] a declaration of His righteousness- (This statement is emphasized by its repetition. v.25,26)
In GK, the word trans. 'to declare' is in noun form: 'a declaration', 'a showing forth'.
The cross of Christ is 'a demonstration' of God's righteousness, in His role as Judge, regarding-
the passing over of past sins-
''for the remission {GK=paresis, passing over, disregarding} of sins 'that are past' {GK=proginomai, which happened previously, which were done formerly}, through the forbearance {cp. Rom 2:4} of God.''
Under the OT system, God 'passed over' the sins of His people, even though their many sacrifices could not take sin away (Heb 10:4). Yet, He was not unjust to withhold judgment at that time, because those sacrifices looked forward to the Lamb of God whose blood would provide final propitiation of their sin (Heb 9:15).
the justifying of present believers-
'At this time', the righteous Judge is just {ie., righteous} to justify {ie., declare righteous} the one who believes in Jesus, because in Him, sin has been fully propitiated.
Summarizing questions-
3:27 Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
law {GK=nomos, that which is divided out}- Paul uses this word with various meanings -
I am unable to earn acceptance before God (on the 'principle' of works, by the deeds of the Law, v.20). Nothing in myself, of which I might boast, elevates me in His sight (cf. Rom 2:17).
I can be justified only by trusting in the redemption provided by God. cp. Eph 2:8,9
3:29 [Is he] the God of the Jews only? [is he] not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
3:30 Seeing [it is] one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
If there is only one God (as the Jews would affirm),
then there must be only one means of salvation. The righteous Judge does not rule according to a double standard (cp. Rom 2:11). There cannot be two paths to righteousness: (1) a way of faith for gentiles and (2) a way of works for Jews. Therefore, justification must be available exclusively by faith.
3:31 Do we then make void {ie., render inoperative} the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. {Mat 5:17,18}
Paul had claimed that 'justification by faith' is based on the Scriptures (v.21).
But to the Jewish mind, he was discarding the Mosaic Law, an essential part of Scripture.
Paul will demonstrate (in ch. 4-13) that 'justification by faith' is the consistent teaching of Scripture.
yea {rather}, we establish the law.-
In the teaching of justification by faith, the Law finds its intended purpose.
Paul will expand upon this theme in ch. 4-13. Some aspects of 'the Law established' include--