ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:1 Now Paul raises the logical question of whether there is any ADVANTAGE or VALUE in being an ethnic Jew and being physically circumcised. He probably means “value for salvation.” ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img;... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:2 One might expect Paul to answer that there is no advantage in being a Jew (see v. Romans 3:1). Instead, he claims that the Jews have great advantages, mainly in possessing THE ORACLES OF GOD, which refers to the OT Scriptures. On the JEWS being ENTRUSTED with the oracles of... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:3 Even though most Jews were UNFAITHFUL and refused to trust and obey God, he remains faithful to them. God will fulfill his covenant promises, particularly his promise to save them. Paul does not mean that every single Jew will be saved, though. He discusses God’s faithfulne... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:5 Some of Paul’s Jewish opponents claimed that he taught a doctrine of “cheap grace,” that is, that God receives more glory when Christians DO EVIL and then are forgiven. Paul emphatically denies this but waits until ch. Romans 6:1 to discuss this charge in more detail. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:9 GREEKS. The entire Gentile world in contrast to the Jews. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:10 Paul focuses on the sinfulness of every human being, citing Psalms 14:1 and perhaps thinking of Ecclesiastes 7:20. NO ONE DOES GOOD. Human beings do some things that seem to be good. But these actions, prior to salvation, are still stained by evil because they are not done... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:13 Paul quotes from Psalms 5:9 and Psalms 10:7. The reference to the GRAVE highlights either the corruption of the heart or the deadly effects of sin. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:15 Paul draws from Isaiah 59:7 to show how human history includes murder, war, and disorder. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:18 The root cause of sin is failure to FEAR and honor God (Psalms 36:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:19 These verses represent the conclusion of vv. Romans 3:9 and all of Romans 1:18. All humans, without exception, are sinners. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:20 WORKS OF THE LAW means all that the law requires. JUSTIFIED is a legal term meaning “declared righteous” (see note on Gal. 2:16). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:21 The Saving Righteousness of God. Paul now explains that people can have a right standing with God only through faith in the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:24 The word REDEMPTION recalls the exodus and the blood of the Passover lamb (see Exodus 12:1; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14). On justification, see note on Gal. 2:16. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:25 Jesus’ BLOOD “propitiated” or satisfied God’s wrath (Romans 1:18). Thus he could forgive sinners while also maintaining his holiness. Some scholars argue that the word PROPITIATION should be translated _expiation_ (the wiping away of sin), but the word refers to the satisf... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:26 In the cross of Christ, God has shown himself to be JUST (utterly holy, so that the penalty demanded by the law is not removed but is paid by Christ). He is also THE JUSTIFIER of all those who trust in Jesus. That is, he provides the means of justification and declares peo... [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:27 The word LAW in this verse probably means principle, though some think it refers to the OT law. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:28 Justification is BY FAITH alone, APART FROM... THE LAW. It does not depend at all on doing any works of the law. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:29 Since GOD is the Lord of all, whether JEWS or GENTILES, there can be only one way of justification—by FAITH. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 3:31 Although Paul supports the lasting moral teachings of the law (UPHOLD), he knows that some will accuse him of abandoning it (OVERTHROW). He will defend himself against such charges in chs. Romans 6:1. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0,... [ Continue Reading ]