Romans 3:1-8

Romans 3:1-8

[1] What  advantage  then  hath the Jew?  or  what  profit  is there of circumcision?  [2] Much  every  way:  chiefly,  because  that  unto them were committed  the oracles  of God.  [3] For  what  if  some  did not believe?  their  unbelief  the faith  of God  without effect?  [4] God forbid:  yea,  God  be  true,  but  every  man  a liar;  as  it is written,  That  thou mightest  be justified  in  sayings,  and  mightest overcome  when  art judged.  [5] But  if  unrighteousness  commend  the righteousness  of God,  what  shall we say?  Is God  unrighteous  who taketh  vengeance?  (I speak  as  a man)  [6] God forbid:  for then  how  God  judge  the world?  [7] if  the truth  of God  hath more abounded  through  my  lie  unto  his  glory;  why  yet  I also  judged  as  a sinner?  [8] And  not  rather, (as  we be slanderously reported,  and  as  some  affirm  say,)  Let us do  evil,  that  good  may come?  whose  damnation  just. 

What does Romans 3:1-8 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

In chapter2Paul showed that God"s judgment of all people rests on character rather than ceremony. He put the Jew on the same level as the Gentile regarding their standing before God. Still God Himself made a distinction between Jews and Gentiles. In Romans 3:1-8, Paul dealt with that distinction. He did this so there would be no question in the minds of his Jewish audience that they were guilty before God and needed to trust in Jesus Christ. The passage affirms the continuing faithfulness of God to His covenant people but clarifies that His faithfulness in no way precludes His judging sinful Jews.
"In thus allowing the Roman Christians to "listen in" on this dialogue, Paul warns his mainly Gentile audience that they should not interpret the leveling of distinctions between Jew and Gentile in terms of God"s judgment and salvation as the canceling of all the privileges of Israel." [1]