Tree of Life Version
Romans 3:5
5But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God is not unrighteous to inflict wrath, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.)
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
3So what if some did not trust? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? 4May it never be! Let God be true even if every man is a liar, as it is written, “that You may be righteous in Your words and prevail when You are judged.” But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God is not unrighteous to inflict wrath, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) 6May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? 7But if by my lie the truth of God abounds to His glory, why am I still judged as a sinner?
Read all of Romans 3Romans 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- ·μήmē · notG3361
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- ifεἰei · ifG1487
- ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- unrighteousnessἀδικίαadikia · unrighteousnessG93
- commendσυνίστημι, συνιστάωsunistaō sunistanō sunistēmi · to commendG4921
- the righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- whatτίςtis · which?G5101
- shall we sayἐρῶereō · to sayG2046
- unrighteousἄδικοςadikos · unjustG94
- who takethἐπιφέρωepipherō · to inflictG2018
- vengeanceὀργήorgē · wrathG3709
- I speakλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- asκατάkata · according toG2596
- a manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
Cross-references for Romans 3:5
- Romans 3:7But if by my lie the truth of God abounds to His glory, why am I still judged as a sinner?
- Romans 8:20For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly but because of the One who subjected it—in hope
- Romans 4:1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?
- Romans 6:1What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may abound?
- Romans 7:7What shall we say then? Is the Torah sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the Torah. For I would not have known about coveting if the Torah had not said, “You shall not covet.”
- Romans 9:13As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
- Romans 2:5But by your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed.
- Romans 3:19Now we know that whatever the Torah says, it says to those within the Torah, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become accountable to God.
- Romans 9:18So then He has mercy on whom He wills, and He hardens whom He wills.
- Romans 12:19Never take your own revenge, loved ones, but give room for God’s wrath—for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” says Adonai.
- Deuteronomy 32:39See now that I, I am He! There are no other gods beside Me. I bring death and give life, I have wounded but I will heal, and none can rescue from My hand.’
- Psalms 58:10Even before your pots can feel a thorn —whether alive or ablaze— He will sweep the wicked away.
- Psalms 94:1God of vengeance, Adonai, God of vengeance, shine forth!
- Nahum 1:2A jealous and avenging God is Adonai. Yes, Adonai is the avenger and master of wrath. Adonai is avenger to His adversaries, Yes, a keeper of wrath for His foes.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:6For after all, it is right in the sight of God to pay back trouble to those who trouble you,
- Revelation 15:3And they are singing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and wonderful are Your deeds, Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the 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
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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