New Living Translation
Romans 3:26
26for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they 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
24Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. 27Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
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 the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!
- Psalms 85:10Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed!
- Isaiah 42:21Because he is righteous, the Lord has exalted his glorious law.
- Isaiah 45:21Consult together, argue your case. Get together and decide what to say. Who made these things known so long ago? What idol ever told you they would happen? Was it not I, the Lord? For there is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior. There is none but me.
- Zephaniah 3:5But the Lord is still there in the city, and he does no wrong. Day by day he hands down justice, and he does not fail. But the wicked know no shame.
- Zechariah 9:9Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.
- Acts 13:38“Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins.
- Revelation 15:3And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations.
- Romans 3:30There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.
- Romans 4:5But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.
- Romans 8:33Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.
- Galatians 3:8What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.”
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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