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Romans Chapter 3

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asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM

1 thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
2 thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?
3 thou who gloriest in the law, through thy transgression of the law dishonorest thou God?
4 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, even as it is written.
5 For circumcision indeed profiteth, if thou be a doer of the law: but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision.
6 If therefore the uncircumcision keep the ordinances of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision?
7 and shall not the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who with the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law?
8 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh:
9 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
10 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision?
11 Much every way: first of all, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God.
12 For what if some were without faith? shall their want of faith make of none effect the faithfulness of God?
13 God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written,
14 That thou mightest be justified in thy words,
15 And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment.
16 But if our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.)
17 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
18 But if the truth of God through my lie abounded unto his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
19 and why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil, that good may come? whose condemnation is just.
20 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin;
21 as it is written,
22 There is none righteous, no, not one;
23 There is none that understandeth,
24 There is none that seeketh after God;
25 They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable;
26 There is none that doeth good, no, not so much as one:
27 Their throat is an open sepulchre;
28 With their tongues they have used deceit:
29 The poison of asps is under their lips:
30 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
31 Their feet are swift to shed blood;

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

1 What then [is] the superiority of the Jew? or what the profit of circumcision?
2 Much every way: and first, indeed, that to them were entrusted the oracles ofGod.
3 For what? if some have not believed, shall their unbelief make the faith ofGod of none effect?
4 Far be the thought: but letGod be true, and every man false; according as it is written, So that thou shouldest be justified in thy words, and shouldest overcome when thou art in judgment.
5 But if our unrighteousness commendGod's righteousness, what shall we say? IsGod unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak according to man.
6 Far be the thought: since how shallGod judge the world?
7 For if the truth ofGod, in my lie, has more abounded to his glory, why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
8 and not, according as we are injuriously charged, and according as some affirm that we say, Let us practise evil things, that good ones may come? whose judgment is just.
9 What then? are we better? No, in no wise: for we have before charged both Jews and Greeks with being all under sin:
10 according as it is written, There is not a righteous [man], not even one;
11 there is not the [man] that understands, there is not one that seeks afterGod.
12 All have gone out of the way, they have together become unprofitable; there is not one that practises goodness, there is not so much as one:
13 their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; asps' poison [is] under their lips:
14 whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness;
15 swift their feet to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery [are] in their ways,
17 and way of peace they have not known:
18 there is no fear ofGod before their eyes.
19 Now we know that whatever the things the law says, it speaks to those under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world be under judgment toGod.
20 Wherefore by works of law no flesh shall be justified before him; for by law [is] knowledge of sin.
21 But now without law righteousness ofGod is manifested, borne witness to by the law and the prophets;
22 righteousness ofGod by faith of Jesus Christ towards all, and upon all those who believe: for there is no difference;
23 for all have sinned, and come short of the glory ofGod;
24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption which [is] in Christ Jesus;
25 whomGod has set forth a mercy-seat, through faith in his blood, for [the] shewing forth of his righteousness, in respect of the passing by the sins that had taken place before, through the forbearance ofGod;
26 for [the] shewing forth of his righteousness in the present time, so that he should be just, and justify him that is of [the] faith of Jesus.
27 Where then [is] boasting? It has been excluded. By what law? of works? Nay, but by law of faith;
28 for we reckon that a man is justified by faith, without works of law.
29 Is [God] theGod of Jews only? is he not of [the] nations also? Yea, of nations also:
30 since indeed [it is] oneGod who shall justify [the] circumcision on the principle of faith, and uncircumcision by faith.
31 Do we then make void law by faith? Far be the thought: [no,] but we establish law.

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Quid ergo amplius Iudæo est? aut quæ utilitas circumcisionis?
2 Multum per omnem modum. Primum quidem quia credita sunt illis eloquia Dei.
3 quid enim si quidam illorum non crediderunt? Numquid incredulitas illorum fidem Dei evacuabit? Absit.
4 Est autem Deus verax: omnis autem homo mendax, sicut scriptum est: Ut iustificeris in sermonibus tuis: et vincas cum iudicaris.
5 Si autem iniquitas nostra iustitiam Dei commendat, quid dicemus? Numquid iniquus est Deus, qui infert iram?
6 (secundum hominem dico.) Absit. alioquin quomodo iudicabit Deus hunc mundum?
7 Si enim veritas Dei in meo mendacio abundavit in gloriam ipsius: quid adhuc et ego tamquam peccator iudicor?
8 et non (sicut blasphemamur, et sicut aiunt quidam nos dicere) faciamus mala ut veniant bona: quorum damnatio iusta est.
9 Quid ergo? præcellimus eos? Nequaquam. Causati enim sumus Iudæos, et Græcos omnes sub peccato esse,
10 sicut scriptum est: Quia non est iustus quisquam:
11 non est intelligens, non est requirens Deum.
12 Omnes declinaverunt, simul inutiles facti sunt, non est qui faciat bonum, non est usque ad unum.
13 Sepulchrum patens est guttur eorum, linguis suis dolose agebant: Venenum aspidum sub labiis eorum:
14 Quorum os maledictione, et amaritudine plenum est:
15 Veloces pedes eorum ad effundendum sanguinem:
16 Contritio, et infelicitas in viis eorum:
17 et viam pacis non cognoverunt:
18 Non est timor Dei ante oculos eorum.
19 Scimus autem quoniam quæcumque lex loquitur, iis, qui in lege sunt, loquitur: ut omne os obstruatur, et subditus fiat omnis mundus Deo:
20 quia ex operibus legis non iustificabitur omnis caro coram illo. Per legem enim cognitio peccati.
21 Nunc autem sine lege iustitia Dei manifestata est: testificata a lege et Prophetis.
22 Iustitia autem Dei per fidem Iesu Christi in omnes, et super omnes, qui credunt in eum: non enim est distinctio:
23 Omnes enim peccaverunt, et egent gloria Dei.
24 Iustificati gratis per gratiam ipsius, per redemptionem, quæ est in Christo Iesu,
25 quem proposuit Deus propitiationem per fidem in sanguine ipsius, ad ostensionem iustitiæ suæ propter remissionem præcedentium delictorum
26 in sustentatione Dei, ad ostensionem iustitiæ eius in hoc tempore: ut sit ipse iustus, et iustificans eum, qui est ex fide Iesu Christi.
27 Ubi est ergo gloriatio tua? Exclusa est. Per quam legem? Factorum? Non: sed per legem fidei.
28 Arbitramur enim iustificari hominem per fidem sine operibus legis.
29 An Iudæorum Deus tantum? Nonne et Gentium? Immo et Gentium.
30 Quoniam quidem unus est Deus, qui iustificat circumcisionem ex fide, et præputium per fidem.
31 Legem ergo destruimus per fidem? Absit: sed legem statuimus.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

1 Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision?
2 Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of God.
3 For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God?
4 May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “that you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.”
5 But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.
6 May it never be! For then how will God judge the world?
7 For if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
8 Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let’s do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.
9 What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
10 As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one.
11 There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one.”
13 “Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit.” “The poison of vipers is under their lips.”
14 “Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood.
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways.
17 The way of peace, they haven’t known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.
20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
21 But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;
22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,
23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25 whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;
26 to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time, that he might himself be just and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.
27 Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
28 We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
30 since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.

wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM

1 τι ουν το περισσον του ιουδαιου η τις η ωφελεια της περιτομης
2 πολυ κατα παντα τροπον πρωτον μεν [γαρ] οτι επιστευθησαν τα λογια του θεου
3 τι γαρ ει ηπιστησαν τινες μη η απιστια αυτων την πιστιν του θεου καταργησει
4 μη γενοιτο γινεσθω δε ο θεος αληθης πας δε ανθρωπος ψευστης καθαπερ γεγραπται οπως αν δικαιωθης εν τοις λογοις σου και νικησεις εν τω κρινεσθαι σε
5 ει δε η αδικια ημων θεου δικαιοσυνην συνιστησιν τι ερουμεν μη αδικος ο θεος ο επιφερων την οργην κατα ανθρωπον λεγω
6 μη γενοιτο επει πως κρινει ο θεος τον κοσμον
7 ει δε η αληθεια του θεου εν τω εμω ψευσματι επερισσευσεν εις την δοξαν αυτου τι ετι καγω ως αμαρτωλος κρινομαι
8 και μη καθως βλασφημουμεθα [και] καθως φασιν τινες ημας λεγειν οτι ποιησωμεν τα κακα ινα ελθη τα αγαθα ων το κριμα ενδικον εστιν
9 τι ουν προεχομεθα ου παντως προητιασαμεθα γαρ ιουδαιους τε και ελληνας παντας υφ αμαρτιαν ειναι
10 καθως γεγραπται οτι ουκ εστιν δικαιος ουδε εις
11 ουκ εστιν συνιων ουκ εστιν εκζητων τον θεον
12 παντες εξεκλιναν αμα ηχρεωθησαν ουκ εστιν ποιων χρηστοτητα ουκ εστιν εως ενος
13 ταφος ανεωγμενος ο λαρυγξ αυτων ταις γλωσσαις αυτων εδολιουσαν ιος ασπιδων υπο τα χειλη αυτων
14 ων το στομα αρας και πικριας γεμει
15 οξεις οι ποδες αυτων εκχεαι αιμα
16 συντριμμα και ταλαιπωρια εν ταις οδοις αυτων
17 και οδον ειρηνης ουκ εγνωσαν
18 ουκ εστιν φοβος θεου απεναντι των οφθαλμων αυτων
19 οιδαμεν δε οτι οσα ο νομος λεγει τοις εν τω νομω λαλει ινα παν στομα φραγη και υποδικος γενηται πας ο κοσμος τω θεω
20 διοτι εξ εργων νομου ου δικαιωθησεται πασα σαρξ ενωπιον αυτου δια γαρ νομου επιγνωσις αμαρτιας
21 νυνι δε χωρις νομου δικαιοσυνη θεου πεφανερωται μαρτυρουμενη υπο του νομου και των προφητων
22 δικαιοσυνη δε θεου δια πιστεως [ιησου] χριστου εις παντας τους πιστευοντας ου γαρ εστιν διαστολη
23 παντες γαρ ημαρτον και υστερουνται της δοξης του θεου
24 δικαιουμενοι δωρεαν τη αυτου χαριτι δια της απολυτρωσεως της εν χριστω ιησου
25 ον προεθετο ο θεος ιλαστηριον δια πιστεως εν τω αυτου αιματι εις ενδειξιν της δικαιοσυνης αυτου δια την παρεσιν των προγεγονοτων αμαρτηματων
26 εν τη ανοχη του θεου προς την ενδειξιν της δικαιοσυνης αυτου εν τω νυν καιρω εις το ειναι αυτον δικαιον και δικαιουντα τον εκ πιστεως ιησου
27 που ουν η καυχησις εξεκλεισθη δια ποιου νομου των εργων ουχι αλλα δια νομου πιστεως
28 λογιζομεθα γαρ δικαιουσθαι πιστει ανθρωπον χωρις εργων νομου
29 η ιουδαιων ο θεος μονον ουχι και εθνων ναι και εθνων
30 ειπερ εις ο θεος ος δικαιωσει περιτομην εκ πιστεως και ακροβυστιαν δια της πιστεως
31 νομον ουν καταργουμεν δια της πιστεως μη γενοιτο αλλα νομον ιστανομεν

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

1 What, then, <FI>is<Fi> the superiority of the Jew? or what the profit of the circumcision?
2 much in every way; for first, indeed, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God;
3 for what, if certain were faithless? shall their faithlessness the faithfulness of god make useless?
4 let it not be! and let God become true, and every man false, according as it hath been written, `That Thou mayest be declared righteous in Thy words, and mayest overcome in Thy being judged.'
5 And, if our unrighteousness God's righteousness doth establish, what shall we say? is God unrighteous who is inflicting the wrath? (after the manner of a man I speak)
6 let it not be! since how shall God judge the world?
7 for if the truth of God in my falsehood did more abound to His glory, why yet am I also as a sinner judged?
8 and not, as we are evil spoken of, and as certain affirm us to say--`We may do the evil things, that the good ones may come?' whose judgment is righteous.
9 What, then? are we better? not at all! for we did before charge both Jews and Greeks with being all under sin,
10 according as it hath been written--`There is none righteous, not even one;
11 There is none who is understanding, there is none who is seeking after God.
12 All did go out of the way, together they became unprofitable, there is none doing good, there is not even one.
13 A sepulchre opened <FI>is<Fi> their throat; with their tongues they used deceit; poison of asps <FI>is<Fi> under their lips.
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
15 Swift <FI>are<Fi> their feet to shed blood.
16 Ruin and misery <FI>are<Fi> in their ways.
17 And a way of peace they did not know.
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.'
19 And we have known that as many things as the law saith, to those in the law it doth speak, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may come under judgment to God;
20 wherefore by works of law shall no flesh be declared righteous before Him, for through law is a knowledge of sin.
21 And now apart from law hath the righteousness of God been manifested, testified to by the law and the prophets,
22 and the righteousness of God <FI>is<Fi> through the faith of Jesus Christ to all, and upon all those believing, --for there is no difference,
23 for all did sin, and are come short of the glory of God--
24 being declared righteous freely by His grace through the redemption that <FI>is<Fi> in Christ Jesus,
25 whom God did set forth a mercy seat, through the faith in his blood, for the shewing forth of His righteousness, because of the passing over of the bygone sins in the forbearance of God--
26 for the shewing forth of His righteousness in the present time, for His being righteous, and declaring him righteous who <FI>is<Fi> of the faith of Jesus.
27 Where then <FI>is<Fi> the boasting? it was excluded; by what law? of works? no, but by a law of faith:
28 therefore do we reckon a man to be declared righteous by faith, apart from works of law.
29 The God of Jews only <FI>is He<Fi> , and not also of nations?
30 yes, also of nations; since one <FI>is<Fi> God who shall declare righteous the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through the faith.
31 Law then do we make useless through the faith? let it not be! yea, we do establish law.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).