Romans 10:3

Romans 10:3. For they. In Romans 10:3-4, we have the proof from fact, that their religious zeal was ‘not according to knowledge.' The thought, however, in contrast with Romans 10:1, as already indicated.

Not knowing, or, more exactly, ‘being ignorant of' (as in E. V.), but ‘not knowing' preserves the verbal correspondence with ‘knowledge,' which exists in the original also, and, moreover, it does not suggest that the ignorance was excusable. But we need not press the phrase so far as to render it ‘mistaking,' or, ‘overlooking.'

God's righteousness, as throughout the Epistle, ‘that righteousness which avails before God, which becomes ours in justification' (Alford).

Striving to establish their own. ‘Righteousness' is probably to be omitted in this clause, although the evidence is nearly evenly balanced. ‘Striving' suggests that they would acquire what according to God's method of salvation was to be bestowed, while ‘establish,' or, ‘set up,' suggests the pride of their endeavor.

Did not submit themselves, etc. The verb is not passive, but middle; for the former would indicate merely the historical result, while the latter points to their personal guilt, a thought better suited to the context, and bringing out the implied contrast with Romans 10:1 .

The righteousness of God; here ‘conceived of as a divine ordinance, to which one submits one's self, through faith' (Meyer), as the context plainly indicates.