The Meaning of Romans 3:22 Explained

Romans 3:22

KJV: Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

YLT: and the righteousness of God is through the faith of Jesus Christ to all, and upon all those believing, -- for there is no difference,

Darby: righteousness of God by faith of Jesus Christ towards all,and upon all those who believe: for there is no difference;

ASV: even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Even  the righteousness  of God  [which is] by  faith  of Jesus  Christ  unto  all  and  upon  all  them that believe:  for  there is  no  difference: 

What does Romans 3:22 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God"s righteousness becomes man"s possession and begins to operate in his life through faith in Jesus Christ ( Romans 3:28; cf. Galatians 2:16; Mark 11:22). Though pistis, "faith," can also mean "faithfulness," Paul almost always meant "faith" when he used this word. Strong contextual clues indicate when he meant "faithfulness."
Here Paul introduced the object of faith for the first time (cf. Romans 1:16-17). He never said that people obtain salvation because of their faith in Christ, by the way. This would encourage the idea that our faith makes a contribution to our salvation and has some merit. Faith simply takes what God gives. It adds nothing to the gift.
"Faith ... plays a double part in justification. It is the disposition which God accepts, and which He imputes as righteousness; and it is at the same time the instrument whereby every one may appropriate for his own personal advantage this righteousness of faith." [1]
Several writers have described faith as the hand of the heart. It does no work to earn salvation but only accepts a gift that someone else provides.
"The righteousness of God is not put "upon" any one. That is a Romish idea,-still held, alas, among Protestants who cannot escape the conception of righteousness as a something bestowed upon us, rather than a Divine reckoning about us." [2]
There is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles concerning their being "under sin" ( Romans 3:9). Likewise there is no distinction regarding the manner by which Jews and Gentiles obtain salvation. All receive salvation by faith.

Context Summary

Romans 3:21-31 - All Freely Justified By Grace
From the universal need the Apostle turns to the all-sufficient remedy. The Law and the Prophets hinted dimly at justification by faith, but did not unveil it. God's way of justification is to impute righteousness to the believer. He places us in that position in law, before proceeding by the Holy Spirit to bring us into the condition of holiness. The perfect day is imputed to the dawn, the perfect flower to the seed, the finished picture to the crude sketch. As soon as we trust in Jesus we are viewed as standing in Him and justified before the Law; but before us lies the great work of assimilation to His perfect likeness by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
It is sin to come short, Romans 3:23; and who among us has fulfilled his possibilities of godlikeness? Romans 3:24; Genesis 1:26-27. Though justification costs us nothing but the sacrifice of our pride, it has cost Christ His own blood, Romans 3:25. The propitiatory, or mercy seat, was the golden lid of the Ark which the high priest sprinkled with blood. See Hebrews 9:5. Faith has no room in her household for vaunting and boasting, Romans 3:27. The Law is best honored when the Lawgiver, dwelling within us, fulfills it through us. [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 3

1  The Jews prerogative;
3  which they have not lost;
9  howbeit the law convinces them also of sin;
20  therefore no one is justified by the law;
28  but all, without difference, by faith, only;
31  and yet the law is not abolished

Greek Commentary for Romans 3:22

Even [δε]
Not adversative here. It defines here. [source]
Through faith in Jesus Christ [δια πιστεως Ιησου Χριστου]
Intermediate agency See note on 1 Corinthians 14:7 for the difference of sounds in musical instruments. Also in Romans 10:12. The Jew was first in privilege as in penalty (Romans 2:9.), but justification or setting right with God is offered to both on the same terms. [source]
Distinction [διαστολη]
See note on 1 Corinthians 14:7 for the difference of sounds in musical instruments. Also in Romans 10:12. The Jew was first in privilege as in penalty (Romans 2:9.), but justification or setting right with God is offered to both on the same terms. [source]
Faith of Jesus Christ []
A common form for “faith in Christ.” [source]
Difference [διαστολή]
Only by Paul here, Romans 10:12; 1 Corinthians 14:7. Better, as Rev., distinction. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 3:22

Mark 11:22 Have faith in God [εχετε πιστιν τεου]
Objective genitive τεου — theou as in Galatians 3:26; Romans 3:22, Romans 3:26. That was the lesson for the disciples from the curse on the fig tree so promptly fulfilled. See this point explained by Jesus in Matthew 21:21 which see for “this mountain” also. [source]
Romans 5:21 Unto death [ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ]
Wrong. In death, as Rev. As the sphere or dominion of death's tyranny. Compare Romans 5:14, “death reigned.” Some, however, explain the preposition as instrumental, by death. How much is lost by the inaccurate rendering of the prepositions. Ellicott remarks that there are few points more characteristic of the apostle's style than his varied but accurate use of prepositions, especially of two or more in the same or in immediately contiguous clauses. See Romans 3:22; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:16. [source]
Romans 3:26 Him which believeth in Jesus [τὸν ἐκ πίστεως Ἱησοῦ]
Lit., him which is of faith in Jesus. See on Romans 3:22. Some texts omit of Jesus. The expression “of faith” indicates the distinguishing peculiarity of the justified as derived from faith in Christ. For the force of ἐκ outof, see on Luke 16:31; see on John 8:23; see on John 12:49; see on 1 John 5:19. [source]
Romans 10:12 Difference []
Better, as Rev., distinction. See on Romans 3:22. [source]
Romans 10:12 Distinction [διαστολη]
See note on this word Romans 3:22. Here it is followed by the ablative case Ιουδαιου τε και ελληνος — Ioudaiou te kai Hellēnos (between Jew and Greek). [source]
1 Corinthians 14:7 Distinction [διαστολὴν]
Proper modulation. Compare the use of the word in Romans 3:22; Romans 10:12. [source]
1 Corinthians 14:7 Pipe [αυλος]
Old word (from αω αυω — aōκιταρα — auō to blow), only here in N.T. Harp (εαν διαστολην τοις πτογγοις μη δωι — kithara). Old word. Stringed instrument as pipe, a wind instrument. If they give not a distinction in the sounds Third class condition with second aorist active subjunctive διδωμι — dōi from διαστελλω — didōmi Common word in late Greek for difference In N.T. only here and Romans 3:22; Romans 10:12. πτεγγομαι — Phthoggos old word (from phtheggomai) for musical sounds vocal or instrumental. In N.T. only here and Romans 10:18. [source]
1 Corinthians 14:7 If they give not a distinction in the sounds [δωι]
Third class condition with second aorist active subjunctive διδωμι — dōi from διαστελλω — didōmi Common word in late Greek for difference In N.T. only here and Romans 3:22; Romans 10:12. πτεγγομαι — Phthoggos old word (from phtheggomai) for musical sounds vocal or instrumental. In N.T. only here and Romans 10:18. [source]
Galatians 5:5 Through the Spirit [πνεύματι]
The Holy Spirit who inspires our faith. Not as Lightfoot, spiritually. The words πνεύματι ἐκ πίστεως are not to be taken as one conception, the Spirit which is of faith, but present two distinct and coordinate facts which characterize the waiting for the hope of righteousness; namely, the agency of the Holy Spirit, in contrast with the flesh (comp. Romans 7:6; Romans 8:4, Romans 8:15, Romans 8:16; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 2:22), and faith in contrast with the works of the law (comp. Galatians 3:3, and see Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:3; Romans 1:17; Romans 3:22; Romans 9:30; Romans 10:6). [source]
Philippians 3:9 Through faith in Christ [δια πιστεως Χριστου]
The objective genitive Χριστου — Christou not subjective, as in Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:20; Romans 3:22. Explained further by επι τηι πιστει — epi tēi pistei (on the basis of faith) as in Acts 3:16. [source]
1 Thessalonians 1:3 In our Lord, etc. [τοῦ κυρίου]
Lit. of our Lord. For a similar use of the genitive, see John 5:42; 1 John 2:5, 1 John 2:15; Acts 9:31; Romans 1:5; Romans 3:18, Romans 3:22, Romans 3:26, etc. Connect with hope only. [source]
James 2:1 Hold not [μη εχετε]
Present active imperative of εχω — echō with negative μη — mē exhortation to stop holding or not to have the habit of holding in the fashion condemned.The faith of our Lord Jesus Christ (την πιστιν του κυριου ημων Ιησου Χριστου — tēn pistin tou kuriou hēmōn Iēsou Christou). Clearly objective genitive, not subjective (faith of), but “faith in our Lord Jesus Christ,” like εχετε πιστιν τεου — echete pistin theou (Mark 11:22), “have faith in God.” See the same objective genitive with πιστις — pistis in Acts 3:6; Galatians 2:16; Romans 3:22; Revelation 14:12. Note also the same combination as in James 1:1 “our Lord Jesus Christ” (there on a par with God).The Lord of Glory Simply “the Glory.” No word for “Lord” A Christian word, like προσωπολημπτης — prosōpolēmptēs (Acts 10:34) and προσωπολημπτειτε — prosōpolēmpteite (James 2:9), not in lxx or any previous Greek, but made from προσωπον λαμβανειν — prosōpon lambanein (Luke 20:21; Galatians 2:6), which is α — a Hebrew idiom for panim nasa, “to lift up the face on a person,” to be favorable and so partial to him. See προσωπολημπσια — prosōpolēmpsia in this sense of partiality (respect of persons) in Romans 2:11; Colossians 3:25; Ephesians 6:9 (nowhere else in N.T.). Do not show partiality. [source]
James 2:1 The faith of our Lord Jesus Christ [την πιστιν του κυριου ημων Ιησου Χριστου]
Clearly objective genitive, not subjective (faith of), but “faith in our Lord Jesus Christ,” like εχετε πιστιν τεου — echete pistin theou (Mark 11:22), “have faith in God.” See the same objective genitive with πιστις — pistis in Acts 3:6; Galatians 2:16; Romans 3:22; Revelation 14:12. Note also the same combination as in James 1:1 “our Lord Jesus Christ” (there on a par with God). [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 3:22 mean?

[the] righteousness now of God through faith from Jesus Christ toward all those believing Not for there is distinction
δικαιοσύνη δὲ Θεοῦ διὰ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς πάντας τοὺς πιστεύοντας οὐ γάρ ἐστιν διαστολή

δικαιοσύνη  [the]  righteousness 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: δικαιοσύνη  
Sense: in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
Θεοῦ  of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
διὰ  through 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
πίστεως  faith 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: πίστις  
Sense: conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.
Ἰησοῦ  from  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
Χριστοῦ  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
εἰς  toward 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
τοὺς  those 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πιστεύοντας  believing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: πιστεύω  
Sense: to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in.
ἐστιν  there  is 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
διαστολή  distinction 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: διαστολή  
Sense: a distinction, difference.