By no means! For then how could God judge the world?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse isn't just a denial; it's a rhetorical question that hinges on a fundamental assumption: everyone believed God would judge the world. Paul uses this shared certainty to shut down the idea that God's justice could be compromised, implying that any system where God couldn't judge fairly is unthinkable and contrary to His very nature.
By no means! For then how could God judge the world?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing a hypothetical objection: if human unrighteousness actually highlights God's righteousness, why shouldn't we do evil so that good may come from it? Paul vehemently rejects this idea, arguing that if God were unjust for punishing sin, He couldn't possibly be the righteous judge of the entire world. This thought, he emphasizes, is unthinkable given God's character and role.
Imagine a world where doing wrong could actually make God look better. Some were trying to twist Paul's teaching into just that idea. But Paul's reaction? Pure shock.
Paul begins Romans 3:6 with a strong, almost visceral rejection: 'By no means!' (or 'God forbid!'). He's not just disagreeing; he's repulsed by the idea that human unrighteousness could somehow serve God's righteousness in a way that justifies sin.
A Dangerous Twist
Paul had been explaining that God's faithfulness and truth are magnified, even highlighted, by human sin and unbelief. The thought some were twisting this into was: 'If my sin makes God look more righteous, then maybe I should sin more!'
The Unthinkable Consequence
Paul immediately shuts this down. His response isn't a complex theological argument but a simple, powerful question: 'For then how could God judge the world?' If God were to wink at sin, or if sin somehow helped God's plan in a way that excused it, then the very foundation of His justice would crumble. How could a God who seemingly benefits from evil possibly hold the world accountable?
The very idea of 'judgment' rests on the assumption of justice. Paul turns this around: God's role as the ultimate Judge is proof that He is just.
Paul's rhetorical question, 'how shall God judge the world?', cuts to the core of God's character and role.
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The Judge Must Be Just
Think about earthly judges. If a judge were known to be corrupt, biased, or even complicit with the guilty, could they truly 'judge'? Their rulings would be meaningless, a mockery of justice. Paul applies this logic to God.
An Inherent Attribute
God's position as the Judge of all creation isn't just a title; it's intrinsically linked to His nature. He is righteousness. To imagine Him acting unjustly is to imagine Him denying His very being.
Universal Accountability
The phrase 'the world' encompasses everyone. Paul is saying that God's plan to eventually hold all people accountable – Jew and Gentile alike – is only possible because His standard is perfectly just. If He were unjust, the entire system of judgment would collapse.
Understand the original words
krinei · Greek Verb
The act of presiding over, evaluating, and determining the fate of individuals or nations based on their actions and adherence to divine law, ultimately exercised by God as the supreme moral authority.
The expectation of a future divine judgment was deeply ingrained in Jewish thought, shaping how they understood God's justice and the implications of sin and righteousness.
c. 1400 BC
The Law Given at Sinai
God gives the Mosaic Law to Israel, establishing a covenant relationship and outlining principles of righteousness and justice.
c. 700 BC - 500 BC
Prophetic Warnings
Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel repeatedly warn Israel of judgment due to their unfaithfulness and injustice, emphasizing God's righteous standard.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Exile
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem and exile much of the population, a stark demonstration of God's judgment on sin and covenant unfaithfulness.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
Jesus inaugurates a new covenant, teaching and demonstrating God's righteousness, culminating in his sacrificial death and resurrection.
c. AD 50-55— this verse
Paul Writes Romans
Paul writes his letter to the Roman church, likely from Corinth, to explain the gospel and its implications for Jews and Gentiles.
c. AD 64
Great Fire of Rome
While debated, some traditions link Nero's persecution of Christians to this event, highlighting the reality of suffering and potential divine judgment.
This passage reflects a similar line of reasoning, where Abraham appeals to God's character as judge to question the destruction of the righteous along with the wicked. It underscores the inherent connection between God's judgment and His justice.
Psalm 96:13This psalm declares that God comes to judge the earth with righteousness and His faithfulness among the peoples. It supports the idea that God's judging the world is intrinsically linked to His righteous nature.
Ecclesiastes 12:14This verse states that God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil. It emphasizes the universal scope and righteous certainty of God's future judgment, reinforcing the argument in Romans 3:6.
Romans 2:5-6Paul directly states that people are storing up wrath for themselves because of their hard and impenitent hearts, and that God will repay each according to his works. This clarifies that God's judgment is indeed based on deeds, directly countering any notion that His justice is compromised.
1 Corinthians 6:2Here, Paul asks if the Corinthians do not know that the saints will judge the world, and further, that they will judge angels. This echoes the principle that those who are righteous will participate in God's judgment, highlighting the consistent application of His justice.
henryRomans 3:1-8: "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?"
3:1-8 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 favours shown to the children of Abraham, all were means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the conversion of many. But especially the Scriptures were committed to them. Enjoyment of God's word and ordi…
ellicottRomans 3:6: "God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?"
(6) For then how shall God judge the world? —St. Paul considers it a sufficient answer merely to propound this question. He and those to whom he was writing all assumed that there must be a future judgment. The way in which Bishop Butler deals with the argument from necessity is very similar to this, substituting only present for future judgment. “It is fact that God does govern even brute creatures by the method of rewards and p…
The verse isn't just a denial; it's a rhetorical question that hinges on a fundamental assumption: everyone believed God would judge the world. Paul uses this shared certainty to shut down the idea that God's justice could be compromised, implying that any system where God couldn't judge fairly is unthinkable and contrary to His very nature.
Paul is addressing a hypothetical objection: if human unrighteousness actually highlights God's righteousness, why shouldn't we do evil so that good may come from it? Paul vehemently rejects this idea, arguing that if God were unjust for punishing sin, He couldn't possibly be the righteous judge of the entire world. This thought, he emphasizes, is unthinkable given God's character and role.
Paul is addressing a hypothetical objection: if human unrighteousness actually highlights God's righteousness, why shouldn't we do evil so that good may come from it? Paul vehemently rejects this idea, arguing that if God were unjust for punishing sin, He couldn't possibly be the righteous judge of the entire world. This thought, he emphasizes, is unthinkable given God's character and role.
"By no means! For then how could God judge the world?" — The verse isn't just a denial; it's a rhetorical question that hinges on a fundamental assumption: everyone believed God would judge the world. Paul uses this shared certainty to shut down the idea…
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Last reviewed October 2026