And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul doesn't just dismiss the idea of doing evil for good outcomes; he highlights how easily the gospel's message of God using even sin for His glory could be twisted. He's not saying that our evil actions can do that, but rather that God's sovereign power can overrule our failures, a crucial distinction that some twisted into a license to sin.
And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing a potential objection: if God's faithfulness and truth are magnified through human sin and unrighteousness, why not just do evil so that good can result? He calls this idea a slanderous misrepresentation of his teaching and firmly rejects it, stating that anyone who promotes such a notion deserves condemnation.
Ever heard someone say, 'The ends justify the means'? Paul confronts a dangerous idea that suggests doing wrong is okay if something good comes out of it.
Paul anticipates a twisted interpretation of his teaching on God's grace. Some might twist his message about God's ability to use even sin for His glory into a license to sin intentionally. Paul’s response is a firm and emphatic NO! He asks, 'Why not do evil that good may come?' – not because he endorses it, but to expose its absurdity. He’s essentially saying, 'If you’re going to twist my words to justify sin, why stop there? Why not embrace evil wholeheartedly if you think it serves a greater good?' This isn't a suggestion; it's a rhetorical trap to expose the flawed logic of doing evil for good outcomes.
Paul doesn't just shut down a bad idea; he calls out those who twist his message. Who were these people, and why were they twisting his words?
The phrase 'as some people slanderously charge us with saying' reveals that Paul's apostleship and teachings were being misrepresented. These weren't just misunderstandings; they were malicious accusations. It seems some were taking Paul's emphasis on God's grace and sovereignty—how God can use human sin for His ultimate glory (as seen in Romans 5:20: 'where sin increased, grace abounded all the more')—and twisting it into a justification for their own sinful behavior. They were likely seeking to discredit Paul and the gospel by painting it as morally bankrupt. Paul’s strong condemnation shows his deep concern for the integrity of God’s message.
Paul ends this sharp rebuttal with a powerful declaration about God's justice. What does this final statement reveal about God and about those who twist His truth?
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Paul's conclusion, 'Their condemnation is just,' is a direct and serious pronouncement. It’s not just a statement of opinion; it’s a theological certainty. Those who twist God's grace into a license for sin, or who slanderously accuse the apostles of such a doctrine, face God’s righteous judgment. This isn't about Paul’s personal anger; it’s about the character of God. God is perfectly just, and He will not allow His goodness to be perverted into a reason for wickedness. The condemnation belongs to those who actively promote or live by the idea that evil can be done for good. It underscores that God’s holiness and justice are as foundational to His character as His grace.
Understand the original words
kaka · Greek Adjective/Noun
Actions, thoughts, or intentions that are morally corrupt, harmful, or contrary to the will and nature of God.
The context of Roman Christians, navigating complex Jewish and Gentile dynamics and facing potential persecution, underscores Paul's fierce defense of God's justice and the integrity of the gospel against misinterpretations.
c. 50s AD— this verse
Paul Writes to the Romans
The Apostle Paul, likely in Corinth, writes his most systematic theological letter to the church in Rome, a diverse community of Jewish and Gentile believers.
c. 49 AD
Claudius Expels Jews from Rome
Emperor Claudius expels Jews from Rome, likely due to disturbances related to 'Chrestus' (possibly Christ). This would have dispersed the early Roman church, which was largely Jewish.
c. 54 AD
Nero Succeeds Claudius
Nero's ascension to the throne likely allowed Jewish people, including many Christians, to return to Rome. This would have led to the re-establishment and growth of the church there.
c. 64 AD
Great Fire of Rome
The Great Fire of Rome leads to widespread persecution of Christians, who were falsely accused of starting the fire. This intense pressure may have contributed to the need for Paul's theological clarifications.
This passage directly states, 'You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another,' establishing a foundational principle against dishonesty that underlies Paul's condemnation of using evil for good.
Proverbs 27:1This proverb warns, 'Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth,' which speaks to the uncertainty of outcomes and implicitly discourages acting on the assumption that evil actions will lead to good results.
Galatians 5:13Paul here writes, 'For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another,' directly addressing the misuse of liberty, which echoes the principle of not using theological 'freedom' as an excuse for sinful actions.
1 Peter 2:12Peter urges believers to 'maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that when they speak of you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation,' highlighting how righteous actions, not sinful ones, bring glory to God among outsiders.
1 John 3:7-10This passage sharply contrasts those who practice righteousness with those who practice sin, stating, 'By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.' This reinforces the absolute separation between God's children and the practice of evil.
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…
barnesRomans 3:8: "And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just."
And not rather - This is the answer of the apostle. He meets the objection by showing its tendency if carried out, and if it were made a principle of conduct. The meaning is, "If the glory of God is to be promoted by sin, and if a man is not therefore to be condemned, or held guilty for it; if this fact absolves man from crime, "why not car…
Paul doesn't just dismiss the idea of doing evil for good outcomes; he highlights how easily the gospel's message of God using even sin for His glory could be twisted. He's not saying that our evil actions can do that, but rather that God's sovereign power can overrule our failures, a crucial distinction that some twisted into a license to sin.
Paul is addressing a potential objection: if God's faithfulness and truth are magnified through human sin and unrighteousness, why not just do evil so that good can result? He calls this idea a slanderous misrepresentation of his teaching and firmly rejects it, stating that anyone who promotes such a notion deserves condemnation.
Paul is addressing a potential objection: if God's faithfulness and truth are magnified through human sin and unrighteousness, why not just do evil so that good can result? He calls this idea a slanderous misrepresentation of his teaching and firmly rejects it, stating that anyone who promotes such a notion deserves condemnation.
"And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just." — Paul doesn't just dismiss the idea of doing evil for good outcomes; he highlights how easily the gospel's message of God using even sin for His glory could be twisted. He's not saying that our evil…
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Last reviewed October 2026