Romans 3:1-18 ESV

(1) Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
(2) Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
(3) What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of
God?
(4) By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That
you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
(5) But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we
say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)
(6) By no means! For then how could God judge the world?
(7) But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being
condemned as a sinner?
(8) And why not do evil that good may come?--as some people slanderously charge us
with saying. Their condemnation is just.
(9) What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged
that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
(10) as it is written: "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."
(13) "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of
asps is under their lips."
(14) "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."
(15) "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
(16) in their paths are ruin and misery,
(17) and the way of peace they have not known.",
(18) "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Paul begins to wrap up his argument that all men are under sin. In chapter one he dealt
with the pagans, in chapter two the self-righteous and in three, the Jews themselves. In
looking at verses 1-9, it might help to think of Paul debating with someone. He brings up
a question that has been asked and either refutes it or just labels it as “silly” (may it never
be!).

The Oracles of God

Rom 3:2 GNT-TR+

(2) πολυ κατα παντα τροπον πρωτον μεν γαρ οτι επιστευθησανG4100 τα
λογιαG3051 του θεουG2316

Notice the word entrusted – episteuthesan –has as it’s root – pistis – the Greek word for
faith or to believe. The word for oracles has as it’s root – logos – in this form – logia - it
refers to divine, sacred utterance.

Why is it of chief importance that the Jews were entrusted with the word of God? Why
was that the highest compliment Paul could give?

and it was the privilege and profit of the Jews that they were entrusted with them, when
other nations were not, and so had the advantage of them; they had them for their own
use; for hereby they had a more clear and distinct knowledge of God than the Gentiles
could have by the light of nature; Gill

Next, Paul addresses an issue briefly that he will develop more fully in chapters 9-11 –
that of Israel’s salvation and the promises of God to them. Note clearly – that even if
some Jews do not believe – that does not nullify the promises of God. This clearly says
that replacement theology (saying that the Church has replaced Israel) is unscriptural.

3:3, 4 Even if some Jews do not believe the Word of God, God will be
faithful to what He has promised (Ps. 89:30). NKJV-SB

Paul then quotes from Psalms 51 that God is blameless when He judges.

Psalms 51:4 ESV

(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.

In the next section, Paul puts together a string of quotations from Scripture to show that
all men are sinners.

Romans 3:10-18
The five quotations in these verses, drawn from various parts of the OT, all address human
sinfulness. Paul follows the practice of rabbis who gathered together OT texts on similar themes in a
practice called pearl-stringing. NLT-SB

Rom. 3:9–20 The Unrighteousness of All People. The argument of the entire
section, 1:18–3:20, is concluded here. Paul cites the OT to charge all with sin, both
Jews and Gentiles, preparing the way for the claim that right standing with God is
available only for those who trust in the atoning death of Christ. ESV-SB

Men are judged by Scripture – the word of God holds them accountable.

3:10–18. Paul quotes Scripture to prove universal guilt. Scripture, not Paul, is the judge.
See Psalm 5:9; 10:7; 14:1–3; 140:3; Isaiah 59:7, 8. King James Version study Bible

Psalms 14:2-3 ESV

(2) The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any
who understand, who seek after God.
(3) They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who
does good, not even one.

3:15 swift to shed blood: People apart from God are prone to
violence. They murder and kill because they have no respect for the
life of another. NKJV-SB
Note that without God, man is more prone to violence and bloodshed. Christians should
have a healthy respect for human life.
3:18 The underlying reason for the increasing corruption of societies is that they have no
fear of God, that is, thinking they will not have to answer to God for their immorality.
Spirit filled life study Bible

Psalms 36:1 ESV

(1) To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the LORD. Transgression speaks to
the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.

Rom. 3:18 This citation from Ps. 36:1 identifies the root cause of sin as the failure
to fear and honor God. Any society that commonly assumes that God will not
discipline sin in this life or judge it in the next will have no fear of God and will
therefore give itself increasingly to evil. ESV-SB

It is important to get that last quote into your worldview – where there is no fear of God –
no expectation of punishment for sin – lawlessness abounds. Without morality there must
be an increasing police presence to enforce order in society. As John Adams said, "We
have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions
unbridled by morality and religion... Our constitution was made only for a moral and
religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."