Romans 3 Bible study: Freely, by his grace

Romans 2 ended with circumcision (2:25-29), and now the letter asks the question itself: "Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision?" (3:1). It answers at once: "Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of God." (3:2) (tap entrusted, revelations). Favor's Romans 2 sets these two verses beside 2:25 in its honest question about circumcision. More questions follow, each in the letter's own voice: "For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God?" (3:3) (tap nullify), and "But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do." (3:5) (tap commends). Twice the answer is the same: "May it never be!" (3:4, 3:6). Then, "why am I also still judged as a sinner?" (3:7), and the words some report of "us" (3:8; see the honest question).

Psalms 14:3→leads toRomans 3:22

The psalm says, "They have all gone aside. They have together become corrupt. There is no one who does good, no, not one" (Psalm 14:3). Paul (Romans 1:1) writes that "both Jews and Greeks" are "all under sin" (Romans 3:9), and goes on, "As it is written" (Romans 3:10), with words close to Psalm 14:1-3: "There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one" (Romans 3:11-12). Romans doesn't name the psalm, the WEB words the two a little differently, and Psalm 53:1-3 has almost the same words. The run of Scripture's words goes on, and Paul says what they are for: "that every mouth may be closed" (Romans 3:19). Then: "But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed" (Romans 3:21), "even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction" (Romans 3:22), "for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Romans doesn't say the psalm speaks of Jesus; it is Paul's argument that goes on from the psalm's words to faith in Jesus Christ.

καταργέωkatargeosay kat-arg-EH-o

Strong's: "to be (render) entirely idle (useless), literally or figuratively". Thayer lists 3:3 under "to cause a person or a thing to have no further efficiency; to deprive of force, influence, power". The chapter asks it twice, near its start and in its last verse: "Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God?" (3:3), and "Do we then nullify the law through faith?" (3:31). Both times the next words are "May it never be!" (3:4, 3:31). Romans has the verb six times and the New Testament 27 times (counted in RP2018). In the next chapter the WEB gives it as made of no effect: "the promise is made of no effect" (4:14).