Romans 3 Parallel Bible Translations

Romans 3 ▼
swipe to see more →
GWT
God's Word Translation
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
+Add
1 Is there any advantage, then, in being a Jew? Or is there any value in being circumcised? Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?
2 There are all kinds of advantages. First of all, God entrusted them with his word. Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
3 What if some of them were unfaithful? Can their unfaithfulness cancel God's faithfulness? What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?
4 That would be unthinkable! God is honest, and everyone else is a liar, as Scripture says, |So you hand down justice when you speak, and you win your case in court.| 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.” Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”
5 But if what we do wrong shows that God is fair, what should we say? Is God unfair when he vents his anger on us? (I'm arguing the way humans would.) 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.) But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.)
6 That's unthinkable! Otherwise, how would God be able to judge the world? By no means! For then how could God judge the world? Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?
7 If my lie increases the glory that God receives by showing that God is truthful, why am I still judged as a sinner? But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?”
8 Or can we say, |Let's do evil so that good will come from it|? Some slander us and claim that this is what we say. They are condemned, and that's what they deserve. And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—|Let us do evil that good may result|? Their condemnation is just!
9 What, then, is the situation? Do we have any advantage? Not at all. We have already accused everyone (both Jews and Greeks) of being under the power of sin, 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, What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.
10 as Scripture says, |Not one person has God's approval. as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 No one understands. No one searches for God. no one understands; no one seeks for God. there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.
12 Everyone has turned away. Together they have become rotten to the core. No one does anything good, not even one person. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
13 Their throats are open graves. Their tongues practice deception. Their lips hide the venom of poisonous snakes. “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
14 Their mouths are full of curses and bitter resentment. “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 They run quickly to murder people. “Their feet are swift to shed blood; “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 There is ruin and suffering wherever they go. in their paths are ruin and misery, ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 They have not learned to live in peace. and the way of peace they have not known.” and the way of peace they do not know.”
18 They are not terrified of God.| “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 We know that whatever is in Moses' Teachings applies to everyone under their influence, and no one can say a thing. The whole world is brought under the judgment of God. Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
20 Not one person can have God's approval by following Moses' Teachings. Moses' Teachings show what sin is. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
21 Now, the way to receive God's approval has been made plain in a way other than Moses' Teachings. Moses' Teachings and the Prophets tell us this. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
22 Everyone who believes has God's approval through faith in Jesus Christ. There is no difference between people. the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,
23 Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God's glory. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 They receive God's approval freely by an act of his kindness through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free [from sin]. and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
25 God showed that Christ is the throne of mercy where God's approval is given through faith in Christ's blood. In his patience God waited to deal with sins committed in the past. whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—
26 He waited so that he could display his approval at the present time. This shows that he is a God of justice, a God who approves of people who believe in Jesus. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27 So, do we have anything to brag about? Bragging has been eliminated. On what basis was it eliminated? On the basis of our own efforts? No, indeed! Rather, it is eliminated on the basis of faith. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.
28 We conclude that a person has God's approval by faith, not by his own efforts. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
29 Is God only the God of the Jews? Isn't he also the God of people who are not Jewish? Certainly, he is, Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,
30 since it is the same God who approves circumcised people by faith and uncircumcised people through this same faith. since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
31 Are we abolishing Moses' Teachings by this faith? That's unthinkable! Rather, we are supporting Moses' Teachings. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Previous chapter
Top of Page
Top of Page