Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Romans 3:24

δικαιούμενοι δωρεὰν κ.τ.λ., ‘being declared righteous (so far as they are so declared) by a free act of GOD.’ The participle adds a third element to the description of the universal state, and returns to the thought of Romans 3:22, εἰς πάντας τ. π., introducing the further specification of the means of ‘justification.’ δωρεάν is the emphatic word and is therefore expanded by τῇ α. χάριτι, |[110] χωρὶς νόμου, Romans 3:21.

[110] | parallel to

τῇ αὐ. χ. The free grace of GOD is the source of justification; πἱστις, the human condition; ἡ�. the means: αὐτοῦ is emphatic—by His gift, not by their desert.

διὰ τῆς�. Cf. Hebrews 9:15; Westcott, ib[111] p. 295. The scriptural idea of ἀπολύτρωσις is redemption from an alien yoke: orig. of Egypt, then of any yoke other than that of GOD; here the yoke of sin. The word implies the cost of redemption to him that brings it about; and does not involve (as used) a price paid to the alien master. The whole class of words is specially characteristic of S. Paul, in accordance with the essentially historical and experimental character of his religious position. The point here is, then, that man is delivered from that general state of sin by the free act of GOD working through Jesus Christ, and requiring only trust on the part of man for its realisation.

[111] ib. ibidem

τῆς ἐν Χρ. Ἰ. ἐν Χρ. Ἰ. and ἐν Χρ. always relate to the glorified Christ, not to the historic Jesus, S. H.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Romans 3:24

Old Testament

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