Romans 3:5

Romans 3:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
• New International Version (NIV)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.)
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.)
• New King James Version (NKJV)But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)

Context of Romans 3:5

3For what? if some have not believed, shall their unbelief make the faith of God of none effect? 4Far be the thought: but let God 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. But if our unrighteousness commend God's righteousness, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak according to man. 6Far be the thought: since how shall God judge the world? 7For if the truth of God, in my lie, has more abounded to his glory, why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

Romans 3:5 word by word

Εἰ δὲ ἡ ἀδικία ἡμῶν θεοῦ δικαιοσύνην συνίστησιν, τί ἐροῦμεν; μὴ ἄδικος ὁ θεὸς ὁ ἐπιφέρων τὴν ὀργήν; κατὰ ἄνθρωπον λέγω·Read the interlinear

• unrighteousnessἀδικίαadikia · unrighteousnessG93
• commendσυνίστημι, συνιστάωsunistaō sunistanō sunistēmi · to commendG4921
• righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
• sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• unrighteousἄδικοςadikos · unjustG94
• wrathὀργήorgē · wrathG3709
• speakλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• accordingκατάkata · according toG2596
• manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444

Cross-references for Romans 3:5

• Romans 3:7For if the truth of God, in my lie, has more abounded to his glory, why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
• Romans 8:20for the creature has been made subject to vanity, not of its will, but by reason of him who has subjected [the same], in hope
• Romans 4:1What shall we say then that Abraham our father according to flesh has found?
• Romans 6:1What then shall we say? Should we continue in sin that grace may abound?
• Romans 7:7What shall we say then? [is] the law sin? Far be the thought. But I had not known sin, unless by law: for I had not had conscience also of lust unless the law had said, Thou shalt not lust;
• Romans 9:13according as it is written, I have loved Jacob, and I have hated Esau.
• Romans 2:5but, according to thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up to thyself wrath, in [the] day of wrath and revelation of [the] righteous judgment of God,
• Romans 3:19Now 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 to God.
• Romans 9:18So then, to whom he will he shews mercy, and whom he will he hardens.
• Romans 12:19not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance [belongs] to me, I will recompense, saith the Lord.
• Deuteronomy 32:39See now that I, I am HE, And there is no god with me; I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal, And there is none that delivereth out of my hand,
• Psalms 58:10The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance; he shall wash his footsteps in the blood of the wicked:
• Psalms 94:1O God of vengeances, Jehovah, God of vengeances, shine forth;
• Nahum 1:2A jealous and avenging God is Jehovah: an avenger is Jehovah, and full of fury: Jehovah taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth [wrath] for his enemies.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:6if at least [it is a] righteous thing with God to render tribulation to those that trouble you,
• Revelation 15:3And they sing the song of Moses bondman of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and wonderful [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty; righteous and true [are] thy ways, O King of nations.

Commentaries on Romans 3:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Jew. But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God - May we not suppose that our unrighteousness may serve to commend and illustrate the mercy of God in keeping and fulfilling to us the promise which he made to our forefathers? The more wicked we are, the more his faithfulness to his ancient promise is to be admired. And if so, would not God appear unjust in taking vengeance and casting us off? I speak as a man - I feel for the situation…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5But if our unrighteousness - If our sin. The particular sin which had been specified Romans 3:3 was “unbelief.” But the apostle here gives the objection a general form. This is to be regarded as an objection which a Jew might make. The force of it is this: (1)It had been conceded that some had not believed; that is, had sinned. (2)but God was true to his promises. Notwithstanding their sin, God‘s character was the same. Nay, (3)In the very midst of sin…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-7how could God judge the world?: Abraham asked a similar question: “Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” (Genesis 18:25). God punishes all sin and maintains absolute righteousness while doing so. Even when God makes use of human sin for his own ends, that sin still deserves to be, and will be, punished (see Romans 9:10–24).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-65-6. But if, &c.--Another objection: "It would appear, then, that the more faithless we are, so much the more illustrious will the fidelity of God appear; and in that case, for Him to take vengeance on us for our unfaithfulness would be (to speak as men profanely do) unrighteousness in God." Answer:Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 3:5

• Bigotry
• Boasting
• God Continued...
• Infidelity

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Atonement
• Boasting
• Conclude
• Destruction
• Establish
• Faith
• Fall of man
• Justifier

Commentaries on Romans 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings