

Romans 3:9-18
No One Is Righteous 9 What then? Are we [Paul puts himself in the mix] Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin [although the Jews have an advantage, they are not better off as they stand before God], 10 as it is written: [This is a common NT way of appealing to OT scriptures. The verses below, strung together, stress the universal reign of sin and the consequent depravity and condemnation of all mankind—Je
3 hours ago2 min read


Romans 3:1-8
God's Righteousness Upheld [Paul shows that the Jews have an advantage over the Gentiles but that both need Christ’s grace.] 1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? [Paul imagines someone breaking into his argument to ask these questions. Paul has said that biology and a literal circumcision do not make one a Jew. Circumcision, however, is an advantage when one believes in the promises of God, for it is the mark of a true receiver of and beli
3 days ago3 min read


Romans 2:17-29
God's Judgment and the Law Continued 17 But if you call yourself a Jew [being proud of being a member of the chosen] and rely on the law [given to you at Sinai as a “get out of jail free card”] and boast in God [in a monopoly of monotheism] 18 and know his will [insider information] and approve what is excellent [as you set divine standards], because you are instructed from the law [and you cannot be wrong!]; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind [
4 days ago3 min read


Romans 2:12-16
God's Judgment and the Law 12 For all [the Gentiles] who have sinned without the law [the Mosaic law] will also perish without the law [the Gentiles will not be condemned by a law they did not possess but on other grounds (1:18-20) by the light and logic of creation available to them], and all who have sinned under the law [the Jews] will be judged by the law. [Jews and Gentiles, despite having and not having the law, are in the same boat of sin and death. All will be judged
5 days ago2 min read




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