Romans 3:2

‘Much every way. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.'

Paul's reply is simple, that it was because they were Jews and because they were circumcised physically, demonstrating that they were at least outwardly within the covenant, that God had entrusted to them ‘the oracles of God'. No more amazing gift could be conceived. As Moses had said, what other nation had had such a privilege? (Deuteronomy 4:8). And the truth was that if they had had faith in them, and had fully responded to them, all would have been well, they would have experienced the righteousness of God by faith as they truly responded to Him by obedience and through the sacrificial system and ordinances.

‘First of all.' We should probably translate as ‘primarily', the idea being that on a list of privileges this must come first. But it may be that Paul was intending to provide such a list as is found in Romans 9:4, only to go off on a tangent.

‘The oracles (logia) of God.' Logia is not limited to sayings (as is evident in Philo) and this therefore indicates the whole of the Old Testament Scriptures. (Compare Hebrews 5:12; 1 Peter 4:11). For the supreme importance of having these oracles compare Deuteronomy 4:8; Psalms 147:19.