Romans 3:1-12

God's Righteousness Upheld

1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, x the Jews were entrusted with y the oracles of God. 3 z What if some were unfaithful? a Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?

4 By no means! b Let God be true though c every one were a liar, as it is written,
d "That you may be justified in your words,
and prevail when you e are judged."

5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict f wrath on us? ( g I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could h God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, i why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not j do evil that good may come? - as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.

No One Is Righteous

9 What then? Are we Jews 1 any better off? 2 No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both k Jews and l Greeks, are m under sin,

10 as it is written:
n "None is righteous, no, not one;
 11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one."

  1. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 4:8
    And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?
    Psalms 147:19 - 20
    He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel.
    John 4:22
    You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
  2. Cross References
    Acts 7:38
    This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us.
  3. Cross References
    Romans 10:16
    But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?
    Hebrews 4:2
    For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.
  4. Cross References
    Romans 9:6
    But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel.
    2 Timothy 2:13
    If we are faithless, he remains faithful - for he cannot deny himself.
  5. Cross References
    John 8:26
    I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.
  6. Cross References
    Psalms 62:9
    Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.
    Psalms 116:11
    I said in my alarm, "All mankind are liars.
    Romans 3:7
    But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?
  7. Cross References
    Psalms 51:4
    Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
  8. Cross References
    Job 9:32
    For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together.
  9. Cross References
    Psalms 51:4
    Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
  10. Cross References
    Romans 2:5
    But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
  11. Cross References
    Romans 6:19
    I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
    1 Corinthians 9:8
    Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same?
    Galatians 3:15
    To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified.
    1 Corinthians 15:32
    What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.
  12. Cross References
    Genesis 18:25
    Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?
    Job 8:3
    Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
    Romans 2:16
    On that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
  13. Cross References
    Romans 9:19
    You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?
  14. Cross References
    Romans 6:1
    What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
    Romans 6:15
    What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
  15. Cross References
    Romans 2:1 - 29
    Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.
  16. Cross References
    Romans 1:18 - 32
    For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
  17. Cross References
    Galatians 3:22
    But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
    Romans 3:19
    Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
    Romans 3:23
    For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
    Romans 11:32
    For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
    Proverbs 20:9
    Who can say, "I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin"?
  18. Cross References
    Romans 3:10 - 12
    As it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one.
    Psalms 14:1 - 3
    The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.
    Psalms 53:1 - 3
    The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.
  19. Cross References
    Psalms 14:1 - 3
    The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.
    Psalms 53:1 - 3
    The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.