New Living Translation
Romans 3:1
1Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision?
Romans 3:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
- New International Version (NIV)What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
- New King James Version (NKJV)What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?
Context of Romans 3:1
Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? 2Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God. 3True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful?
Read all of Romans 3Romans 3:1 word by word
Τί οὖν τὸ περισσὸν τοῦ Ἰουδαίου, ἢ τίς ἡ ὠφέλεια τῆς περιτομῆς;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Romans 3:1
- Romans 2:25The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile.
- Genesis 25:32“Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?”
- Ecclesiastes 6:8So are wise people really better off than fools? Do poor people gain anything by being wise and knowing how to act in front of others?
- Isaiah 1:11“What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?” says the Lord. “I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle. I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
- Malachi 3:14“You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins?
- 1 Corinthians 15:32And what value was there in fighting wild beasts—those people of Ephesus—if there will be no resurrection from the dead? And if there is no resurrection, “Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
- Hebrews 13:9So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.
Commentaries on Romans 3:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Jew. What advantage then hath the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision? - As if he had said: You lately allowed, ( Romans 2:25;), that circumcision verily profited; but if circumcision, or our being in covenant with God, raises us no higher in the Divine favor than the Gentiles; if the virtuous among them are as acceptable as any of us; nay, and condemn our nation too, as no longer deserving the Divine regards; pray tell me, wherein lies the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1What advantage - The design of the first part of this chapter is to answer some of the objections which might be offered by a Jew to the statements in the last chapter. The first objection is stated in this verse. A Jew would naturally ask, if the view which the apostle had given were correct, what special benefit could the Jew derive from his religion? The objection would arise particularly from the position advanced Romans 2:25-26, that if a pagan…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Objections answered. (1-8) All mankind are sinners. (9-18) Both Jews and Gentiles cannot be justified by their own deeds. (19-20) It is owing to the free grace of God, through faith in the righteousness of Christ, yet the law is not done away. (21-31) Verses 1-8 The law could not save in or from sins, yet it gave the Jews advantages for obtaining salvation. Their stated ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God and his service, and many…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew?: Paul advances his argument by asking questions. After preaching the gospel (the good news about Jesus) for over twenty years, he knew what questions people would ask when they heard a specific teaching. His focus on the equality of Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles) before God (chapter 2) naturally invited people to ask if he was removing all Jewish privileges. The question-and-answer style follows the pattern of…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-81-2. What advantage then hath the Jew?--that is, "If the final judgment will turn solely on the state of the heart, and this may be as good in the Gentile without, as in the Jew within, the sacred enclosure of God's covenant, what better are we Jews for all our advantages?" Answer:Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 3:1
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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