Romans 3 Parallel Bible Translations

Romans 3 ▼
swipe to see more →
NLT
New Living Translation
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
+Add
1 Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? 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 Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God. 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 True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful? 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 Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, “You will be proved right in what you say, and you will 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,” some might say, “our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for him to punish us?” (This is merely a human point of view.) 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 Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified 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 “But,” someone might still argue, “how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?” 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 And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned. 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 Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are 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 the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. 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 is truly wise; no one is seeking God. no one understands; no one seeks for God. there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” 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 talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies.” “Snake venom drips from their lips.” “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 cursing and bitterness.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “They rush to commit murder. “Their feet are swift to shed blood; “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery always follow them. in their paths are ruin and misery, ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 They don’t know where to find peace.” and the way of peace they have not known.” and the way of peace they do not know.”
18 “They have no fear of God at all.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before 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 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. 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 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 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 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 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 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 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 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 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 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times 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 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they 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 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on 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 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. 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 After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course 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 There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. 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 Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law. 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