Again, quoting Gould, “Educated men demanded” he be laid there. Compare αἱ ἐπαγγελίαι, Romans 9:4. Romans 13:1-14 Chapter XIV. Read Romans 3:1 commentary using Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament. The second objection is, that God having promised to be the God of the Jews, their unfaithfulness, even if admitted, does not release him from his engagements, or make his promise of no effect, Romans 3:3. The most obvious objection in the mind of a Jew to this conclusion must have been, that it was inconsistent with the acknowledged privileges and superiority of his nation. Heb 12:1-11). This is a specification, which is naturally introduced in view of the previous discussion (chap. (2) Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. There seems no room to doubt, that this dialogue relates to the rejection of the Jews; a subject which would have come in here naturally enough. As the μέν was evidently meant to be followed by a corresponding δέ, it was a mere artificial explaining away of the interruption of the discourse, to render πρῶτον praecipue (Beza, Calvin, Toletus, Estius, Calovius, Wolf, Koppe, Glöckler, and others; compare also Hofmann: “before all things”), or to say with Th. God's promise to David, was an absolute unconditional promise, that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne, Psalms 132:11; Acts 2:30. What does the Jew have over and above the Gentile? He, therefore, in the next verse makes generous concession. First, the deciding factor in judgment concerning our eternal destiny is our relationship to Christ and his saving work. Part I. Romans 3:1-20 Part II. or what profit is there of circumcision? Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Romans 3:1: Matthew 27:22-25 Romans 2:29 : Romans 3:2 >> The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. What advantage; has the Jew above the Gentile, if both are sinners under condemnation, and neither can be justified or accepted of God on account of his works? First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. Such an argument in God's moral universe is absurd to say the least. In any event, there is a believing Jewish remnant at the present time for which Paul is thankful and to which the early chapters of the book of Acts testifies (11:5; Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4). shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? Judgment, the Source of Broken Relationships (Romans 3:1–20) Bible Commentary / Produced by TOW Project What can be done with a world of people separated from God by idolatry and from one another by judgment? περισσόν] advantage, profit, pre-eminence,—see reff. Of course it is an advantage to belong to the Jewish nation. iii. 2, p. 114 f.), Paul means here κατʼ ἐξοχὴν the Messianic prophetic-utterances, is shown by Romans 3:3, where the ἀπιστία of the Jews leaves no room for mistake as to the contents of the λόγια. Romans 1:8-15 The secret of heart to heart ministry. The Apostle very properly argues, that the unbelief of Israel, could not do away God's promises, which were not conditional, for those promises depended not upon the merit of man, but the faithfulness of God. It is best to take the question, not as coming from an objector, which supposition has obscured several parts of this Epistle, but as asked by the Apostle himself, anticipating the thoughts of his reader. Will Jewish unbelief lead to God being unfaithful (3:3)? The Jews had this special favour, to them were committed the Oracles of God; that is, the writings of Moses and the prophets. About This Book. Romans 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? In fact, this state of affairs actually proves that God is true and that men are liars. i.e. Comp. This book has caused many to come to saving faith as they are walked down the Roman Road of Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23 and many others. Therefore, we regard 3:1-8 as dealing with Jews. I could not suppress the thought, which involuntarily arose in my mind, from the view, of the sacred Oracles having been all along deposited with Israel, for this among other purposes. Community Rule and Romans 5:1-11: The Relationship between Justification and Suffering — Mark D. Mathews 8. What advantage] Gr. If the Jews (might some object) lie equally exposed to condemnation with the Gentiles, then they have no excellency above them. 3 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Title Page. 1. Know ye not — Can any of you be ignorant of this great and obvious truth, that so many of us as were baptized into Christ — That is, into the profession of the Christian faith; or implanted into and made a part of the mystical body of Christ by baptism, (as εις Χριστον seems to imply,) were baptized into his death — Engaged by baptism to be conformed to his death, by dying to sin, as he died for it, and … Chapter 10. But especially the Scriptures were … In the first part of this chapter the apostle meets various objections which might naturally arise in the mind of an unbelieving Jew to the doctrine which he has established in the preceding chapter, that the outward relation of the Jews to Abraham and their outward privileges cannot save them, but that God will deal with them, as with the Gentiles, according to their works. God will be proven true and every man a liar (3:4). or what profit is there of circumcision? If God were unrighteous, how could he judge the world (3:6)? Observe, 2. Verily, there may be superstition in avoiding superstition; and though we cannot be too circumspect in our words and actions, yet we may be too nice and precise in both. (3) For what if some did not believe? RVR60 VUL WLC LXX mGNT TR . They were entrusted with the oracles of God ... to them were committed the Oracles of God, "Well then, if it is being a Jew inwardly that counts, if it is the "circumcision" of the heart that matters, is there any advantage in belonging to the Jewish nation, or in being physically circumcised? Romans 2:9-12 Commentary. He then returns to his great theme, that since Jews and Gentiles are alike under sin, they need alike righteousness of God which is of faith, not of works. The belief that God is unrighteous because he punishes us for sin—sin which enhances his truthfulness and glory—is false for it renders impossible the judgment of the world and leads to the just condemnation of those who argue: “Let us do evil that good may result” (3:5-8)! Eph. A Jew would naturally ask, if the view which the apostle had given were correct, what special benefit could the Jew derive from his religion? It’s text, from the book of Proverbs, may stand as the most fitting testimony to Darwin’s greatness: ‘Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and getteth understanding. Heb 2:2). There are many advantages to being a Jew including the fact that they have been entrusted with the oracles of God (3:2). 1. He therefore, by way of an objection, asks, what it was that made the Jew superior to the Gentile; and he subjoins a reason for this by another question, What is the benefit of circumcision? Cite Share Print BLB Searches. Pelagius's Commentary on St Paul's Epistle to the Romans. Let God be true, and every human being a liar. The Book of Romans is among my favorites in the entire Bible. It is merely an illustration full of ironies and one grand truth. Romans 11:1-36 Chapter XII. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things that thou canst desire are not to be compared to her.’”. Likewise ironic is that his final wishes were not honored and he was buried within the church. 4:4-7), 3. Here the point is not simply that God’s righteousness is demonstrated by my unrighteousness, but rather that my lying or falsehood enhances (ἐπερίσσευσεν, eperisseusen; lit. τ. λόγια τ. θεοῦ] that they (the Jews) were entrusted with the utterances of God, namely, in the holy Scriptures given to them, devoutly to preserve these λόγια as a Divine treasure, and to maintain them for all ages of God’s people as their and their children’s (comp Acts 2:39) possession. 3:3 Paul now asks a question: If some Jews did not believe, will their unbelief nullify God’s faithfulness? What advantage then has the Jew, or KJV NKJV NLT NIV ESV CSB NASB. And while he observes, that their privileges were every way great, he mentions one, which indeed, more or less, comprehended in its bosom every other; namely, in having the Oracles of his holy Word, which so blessedly set forth, in type and shadow, as well as by absolute promise and prophecy, the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. 3:1 What then, may some say, is the advantage of the Jew, or of the circumcision - That is, those that are circumcised, above the gentiles? The opposite: κατʼ οὐδένα τρόπον, 2 Maccabees 11:31; Polyb. But the objection is also important; for it would be difficult to imagine that all God had done for the Jews — His care of them so peculiar, and His love of them so great, — in short, all the privileges which Moses exalts so highly — were lavished on them in vain, or turned to their disadvantage. 'If the final judgment will turn solely on the state of the heart, and this may be as good in the Gentile without as in the Jew within the sacred enclosure of God's covenant, what better are we Jews for all our advantages?' As first, that the words of God, those divine oracles, revelations, promises in the Scriptures, were credited or intrusted to them. The previous statement of the Apostle might then be injurious to the doctrine of the Gospel, by rendering him more odious in the eyes of his countrymen, and therefore he had good reasons for fully encountering and answering this objection. But circumcision as a rite was so important in the estimation of the Jews, and is made so prominent by the apostle in the preceding context, that it is better to consider the second question as referring to the rite itself. III. presents substantially the same question in a more specific form. Romans 3:1. Since the Jew is just as guilty as the Gentile (2:1-5; 17-23) and cannot simply appeal to the token of circumcision to secure immunity from judgment (2:24-29), the question might reasonably be asked—with the intention of impugning God’s character and plan—what advantage is there, then, in being a Jew or what is the value of circumcision? A. He next explained that salvation involves more than a right standing before God, which justification affords. Rom 1:18-20). See examples in Wetstein. The best understanding of the expression here in 3:5 is as a reference to the perfect moral character of God, his perfect holiness. benefit: -advantage, profit. τὸ περισσὸν κ. τ. λ(732)] the superiority (Matthew 5:47; Matthew 11:9; Plat. Chapter 9. First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God. Romans 2:13-16 Commentary. Their stated ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God and his service, and many favours shown to the children of Abraham, all were means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the conversion of many. Paul reserves strong language for those who follow this train of reasoning. God Righteousness Enhanced by Sin (3:5-8). W… What advantage then hath the Jew? The Epistle of Enoch and Romans 3:21-31: The Revelation of God’s Righteousness — Jonathan A. Linebaugh 6. God forbid. Chapter 16. or what profit of circumcision? 1. p. 152 f. Romans 3:1. τί, what). 3 What if some were unfaithful? Commentary on Romans 1:8-15 (Read Romans 1:8-15) We must show love for our friends, not only by praying for them, but by praising God for them. The O.T. Romans Greeting. (I am speaking in human terms.) "Profit" -5622. opheleia {o-fel"-i-ah}; from a derivative of the base of 5624; usefulness, i.e. 1. L et’s take a close look at Romans chapter 3 and study it together and add some personal commentary to it. 84, 8, viii. Or thus, If external things do not commend us to God, (as it is affirmed, Romans 2:28,29), but the Gentiles are brought into the church without them, then the Jews have no prerogative above the Gentiles, though God hath owned them so long for his peculiar people. And who that reads so much of the out-pouring of the Spirit in the latter day dispensation, upon all flesh; can hesitate to conclude, but that the leading design for which such grace was foretold, was that the minds of the people in the Church of God, might be led to discover, under his Almighty teaching, sweet features of the Person, Godhead, and Ministry, of the Eternal Spirit?, Joel 2:28, with Acts 2:17; 1Co 12 throughout. Romans 9:4-23; where we have the same questions more distinctly put, answered, and largely discussed; only we may observe, that here they relate solely to the rejection of the Jews, but there they take in also the calling of the Gentiles. That by this general expression ( χρησμοὺς αὐτοίς ἄνωθεν κατηνεχθέντας, Chrysostom), which always receives its more precise definition from the context (Acts 7:38; Hebrews 5:12; 1 Peter 4:11; compare the passages from the Septuagint in Schleusner, Thes. Greg lives in Calgary Alberta, Canada with his wife and 4 kids. The purview in v. 4 does not exclude judgment in the present, but the focus is on the final judgment when God will be shown to have been true all along and every man, particularly the Jew, shown to have been faithless and a liar. Romans 3:9-19 The law itself convinceth the Jews also universally of sin. Lest We Think Our Sin Is in Any Way Profitable Before God (3:5-8), 2. Introduction 1:1-17. Paul has been articulating reasons for his strong conviction that Jews and Gentiles stand on equal ground before God. The expression there are many advantages (πολὺ κατὰ πάντα τρόπον, polu kata panta tropon) literally reads “much according to every way.” This does not mean that the Jew had advantages in every way without exception, since this interpretation would practically render 2:1-29 and the criticism there obsolete. The answer to those interesting questions, which the Apostle immediately follows up, in a most ample and satisfactory manner, gives occasion to set forth, in yet stronger features of character, the object he had all along in view, of the utterly lost and helpless estate of every man before God, in anything of his own. Only some ( τινες, tines ) did not believe argument to the utmost length - next chapter - -... 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