Romans 3:9
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Paul doesn't just say everyone is a sinner; he uses the word "proved" (or "charged") to emphasize that this isn't a new accusation, but a conclusion drawn from previous arguments and, as he’s about to show, from Scripture itself. This highlights that the universality of sin isn't just his opinion, but a well-established fact grounded in God's own Word.
Paul addresses a potential Jewish objection: given their special privileges, aren't they in a better position with God? He emphatically rejects this, stating that he has already established that both Jews and Gentiles are equally condemned, "under sin." This sets the stage for his extensive use of Old Testament Scripture to prove this universal sinfulness.
Paul kicks off this section with a sharp question that sounds like a proud boast. But is it really a boast, or something else entirely?
Paul uses a rhetorical question here, "What then? Are we better off?" (or "Do we have an advantage?"). This isn't Paul asking if the Jews truly have a superior standing before God. Instead, he's anticipating a potential objection from the Jewish perspective.
Imagine a proud person saying, "Well, even if we're all sinners, surely we (the Jews) are still ahead because we have the Law, the promises, and a special covenant!"
Paul adopts this imagined Jewish voice to then immediately shut it down with his answer: "No, not at all." He's exposing the flawed thinking that any special privilege could excuse them from the universal reality of sin. The question isn't about external advantages, but about an essential standing before God.
The answer to the question of superiority is a stark and sweeping statement. What does it truly mean to be 'under sin'?
Paul's powerful answer, "No, not at all," is immediately followed by the reason: "For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin." The key phrase here is "under sin."
This doesn't just mean that everyone commits sins. It means that all humanity, regardless of their background or religious heritage, is held in subjection to sin. Think of it like being under a ruling power or a legal sentence.
Paul emphasizes that this verdict applies equally to Jews (who had the Law but failed to keep it) and Gentiles (who were without the Law but still sinned against their conscience). There's no escaping this universal indictment.
Understand the original words
hamartian · Greek Noun
A state of being in opposition to God’s righteousness, whether viewed as an act of rebellion, a failure to meet His standard, or an inherent condition of fallen humanity that separates individuals from God.
Paul's argument in Romans hinges on the universal reality of sin. By referencing the shared history of exile and the prophetic critiques of his own people, he establishes that neither the Jews' special privileges nor the Gentiles' ignorance absolves them before God. All stand equally condemned, setting the stage for God's grace through Christ.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Exile of Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting a significant portion of its population. This event serves as a stark warning of God's judgment on sin and unfaithfulness.
586 BC
Babylonian Exile of Judah
The Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling many Judeans. This catastrophic event underscores the consequences of widespread disobedience to God's law.
c. 500 BC - 400 BC
Prophetic Books Written
Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel deliver their messages, frequently condemning the sinfulness of both the people of Israel and the surrounding nations, and warning of judgment.
c. 200 BC - 100 BC
LXX Translation of Old Testament
The Hebrew Scriptures are translated into Greek (the Septuagint, or LXX). This translation makes the Old Testament accessible to a wider audience, including Greek-speaking Jews and Gentiles, and forms the basis for many of Paul's Old Testament quotations.
This passage directly echoes Romans 3:9 by stating that 'the Scripture invested all souls under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.' It reinforces the idea that all humanity, regardless of background, is held captive by sin until redemption through faith.
1 John 1:8The assertion in Romans 3:9 that 'all are under sin' finds a parallel in 1 John's stark declaration: 'If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.' This highlights the pervasive and deceptive nature of sin that Paul is addressing.
Ecclesiastes 7:20This verse states, 'Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.' This aligns with Paul's argument in Romans 3:9 that no one is exempt from sin, underscoring the universal human condition.
Psalm 14:1-3Paul quotes extensively from this Psalm in Romans 3:10-12 to prove his point. These verses declare, 'No one does good, not even one... all have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.' This directly supports the foundational claim made in Romans 3:9.
meyerRomans 3:9: "What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;"
Romans 3:9 . When Paul, in Romans 3:6-8 , has defended the righteousness of God as decreeing wrath ( Romans 3:5 ) in the face of the proposition, correct in itself, that human sin turns out to God’s glory, he has thereby also deprived the sinner of all the defence , which he might derive from the misapplication of that proposition. This position of the…
ellicottRomans 3:9: "What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;"
(9-20) Once more the argument returns to the main track, and at last the Apostle asserts distinctly and categorically what he had already proved indirectly, that the Jew is every whit as bad as the Gentile. (9) Are we better than they?—“Can we claim a preference?” The form of the Greek verb is peculiar. It seems upon the whole best to take it as middle…
Paul doesn't just say everyone is a sinner; he uses the word "proved" (or "charged") to emphasize that this isn't a new accusation, but a conclusion drawn from previous arguments and, as he’s about to show, from Scripture itself. This highlights that the universality of sin isn't just his opinion, but a well-established fact grounded in God's own Word.
Paul addresses a potential Jewish objection: given their special privileges, aren't they in a better position with God? He emphatically rejects this, stating that he has already established that both Jews and Gentiles are equally condemned, "under sin." This sets the stage for his extensive use of Old Testament Scripture to prove this universal sinfulness.
Paul addresses a potential Jewish objection: given their special privileges, aren't they in a better position with God? He emphatically rejects this, stating that he has already established that both Jews and Gentiles are equally condemned, "under sin." This sets the stage for his extensive use of Old Testament Scripture to prove this universal sinfulness.
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c. AD 30 - 33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus Christ is crucified and resurrected, events central to the Christian message that highlight God's solution to human sinfulness through his Son.
c. AD 40 - 50
Early Church Missionary Journeys
Apostles like Paul begin their extensive missionary journeys, spreading the Gospel to both Jewish and Gentile communities throughout the Roman Empire.
c. AD 55-57— this verse
Paul Writes Romans
Paul dictates his letter to the church in Rome from Corinth. He systematically lays out the gospel, emphasizing that salvation is by grace through faith for all, both Jews and Gentiles.
"What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin," — Paul doesn't just say everyone is a sinner; he uses the word "proved" (or "charged") to emphasize that this isn't a new accusation, but a conclusion drawn from previous arguments and, as he’s about t…
