God’s Word Translation
Romans 3:26
26He waited so that he could display his approval at the present time. This shows that he is a God of justice, a God who approves of people who believe in Jesus.
Romans 3:26 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
- New International Version (NIV)he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
- English Standard Version (ESV)It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
- New King James Version (NKJV)to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Context of Romans 3:26
24They receive God’s approval freely by an act of his kindness through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free ⌞from sin⌟. 25God showed that Christ is the throne of mercy where God’s approval is given through faith in Christ’s blood. In his patience God waited to deal with sins committed in the past. He waited so that he could display his approval at the present time. This shows that he is a God of justice, a God who approves of people who believe in Jesus. 27So, do we have anything to brag about? Bragging has been eliminated. On what basis was it eliminated? On the basis of our own efforts? No, indeed! Rather, it is eliminated on the basis of faith. 28We conclude that a person has God’s approval by faith, not by his own efforts.
Read all of Romans 3Romans 3:26 word by word
πρὸς τὴν ἔνδειξιν τῆς δικαιοσύνης αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ νῦν καιρῷ εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν δίκαιον καὶ δικαιοῦντα τὸν ἐκ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- declareἔνδειξιςendeixis · demonstrationG1732
- atἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- thisνῦνnun · nowG3568
- timeὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- timeκαιρόςkairos · time/right timeG2540
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
- thatεἰςeis · towardG1519
- might beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- justδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- the justifierδικαιόωdikaioō · to justifyG1344
- ·ἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- of him which believethπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
- in JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
Cross-references for Romans 3:26
- Deuteronomy 32:4He is a rock. What he does is perfect. All his ways are fair. He is a faithful God, who does no wrong. He is honorable and reliable.
- Psalms 85:10Mercy and truth have met. Righteousness and peace have kissed.
- Isaiah 42:21The Lord is pleased because he does what is right. He praises the greatness of his teachings and makes them glorious.
- Isaiah 45:21Speak and present your case. Yes, let them consult one another. Who revealed this in the distant past and predicted it long ago? Wasn’t it I, the Lord? There is no other God except me. There is no other righteous God and Savior besides me.
- Zephaniah 3:5The righteous Lord is in that city. He does no wrong. He brings his judgment to light every morning. He does not fail. But those who are perverted are shameless.
- Zechariah 9:9Rejoice with all your heart, people of Zion! Shout in triumph, people of Jerusalem! Look! Your King is coming to you: He is righteous and victorious. He is humble and rides on a donkey, on a colt, a young pack animal.
- Acts 13:38“So, brothers, I’m telling you that through Jesus your sins can be forgiven. Sins kept you from receiving God’s approval through Moses’ Teachings.
- Revelation 15:3and singing the song of God’s servant Moses and the song of the lamb. They sang, “The things you do are spectacular and amazing, Lord God Almighty. The way you do them is fair and true, King of the Nations.
- Romans 3:30since it is the same God who approves circumcised people by faith and uncircumcised people through this same faith.
- Romans 4:5However, when people don’t work but believe God, the one who approves ungodly people, their faith is regarded as the basis of God’s approval.
- Romans 8:33Who will accuse those whom God has chosen? God has approved of them.
- Galatians 3:8Scripture saw ahead of time that God would give his approval to non-Jewish people who have faith. So Scripture announced the Good News to Abraham ahead of time when it said, “Through you all the people of the world will be blessed.”
Commentaries on Romans 3:26
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26To declare, I say, at this time - To manifest now, by the dispensation of the Gospel, his righteousness, his infinite mercy; and to manifest it in such a way, that he might still appear to be the just God, and yet the justifier, the pardoner, of him who believeth in Jesus. Here we learn that God designed to give the most evident displays both of his justice and mercy. Of his justice, in requiring a sacrifice, and absolutely refusing to give salvation to a…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26At this time - The time now since the Saviour has come, now is the time when he manifests it. That he might be just - This verse contains the substance of the gospel. The word “just” here does not mean benevolent, or merciful, though it may sometimes have that meaning; see the Matthew 1:19 note, also John 17:25 note. But it refers to the fact that God had retained the integrity of his character as a moral governor; that he had shown a due regard to his…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-26Verses 21-26 Must guilty man remain under wrath? Is the wound for ever incurable? No; blessed be God, there is another way laid open for us. This is the righteousness of God; righteousness of his ordaining, and providing, and accepting. It is by that faith which has Jesus Christ for its object; an anointed Saviour, so Jesus Christ signifies. Justifying faith respects Christ as a Saviour, in all his three anointed offices, as Prophet, Priest, and King…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 25-2625-26. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation--or "propitiatory sacrifice." through faith in his blood--Some of the best interpreters, observing that "faith upon" is the usual phrase in Greek, not "faith in" Christ, would place a "comma" after "faith," and understand the words as if written thus: "to be a propitiation, in His blood, through faith." But "faith in Christ" is used in Ga 3:26 and Ep 1:15; and "faith in His blood" is the natural and…Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 3:26
In the dictionaries
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
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