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—Jew and Gentile alike.]

“None is righteous, no, not one;

¹¹     no one understands;

 no one seeks for God.

¹²  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;

  no one does good,

     not even one.”

¹³ “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.”

“The venom of asps is under their lips.”

¹⁴     “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”

¹⁵ “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

¹⁶     in their paths are ruin and misery,

¹⁷ and the way of peace they have not known.” 

¹⁸     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Analysis of Paul’s References to Old Testament Testimony that All Are Under Sin (3:9)
Romans 3	OT Reference Paul Makes
Sinful Condition
v. 10, none is righteous	Ps 14:3/53:3, Eccles 7:20
v. 11a/b, no one understands, no one seeks God	Ps 14:2/53:2
v. 12, all have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one	Ps 14:3/53:3
Sinful Speech (note progression from throat to lips)
v. 13a/b, their throat is an open grave/they use their tongues to deceive	Ps 5:9 (LXX or BCP)
v. 13c, the venom of asps is under their lips	Ps 140:3
v. 13, their mouth is full of curses and bitterness	Ps 10:7
Sinful Action
v. 15, their feet are swift to shed blood	Prov 1:16/Isa 59:7
v. 16, in their paths are ruin and misery	Isa 59:7
v. 17, and the way of peace they have not known	Isa 59:8
Summary Statement
v. 18, there is no fear of God before their eyes,	Ps 36:1