Bible / Romans

Romans 3

World English Bible, Catholic edition, in plain modern English. About the translations

1 Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision?

2 Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of God.

3 For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God?

4 May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “that you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.” CCC

5 But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.

6 May it never be! For then how will God judge the world?

7 For if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?

8 Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let’s do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.

9 What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

10 As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one.

11 There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God.

12 They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one.”

13 “Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit.” “The poison of vipers is under their lips.”

14 “Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood.

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways.

17 The way of peace, they haven’t known.”

18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.

20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. CCC

21 But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets; CCC · Fathers

22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, CCC

23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; CCC · Fathers

24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, CCC

25 whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance; CCC

26 to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time, that he might himself be just and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus. CCC

27 Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

28 We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,

30 since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Fathers

31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.

This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church

Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.

  1. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 2465 “The Old Testament attests that God is the source of all truth. His Word is truth. His Law is truth. His "faithfulness…”
  2. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 708 “This divine pedagogy appears especially in the gift of the Law. God gave the letter of the Law as a "pedagogue" to…”
  3. Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 1992 “Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ who offered himself on the cross as a living victim, holy…”
    • CCC 2543 “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it,…”
    • “For verily I say unto you, Until heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall not pass from the law and the prophets till all come to pass.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXXIV. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  4. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 1987 “The grace of the Holy Spirit has the power to justify us, that is, to cleanse us from our sins and to…”
    • CCC 1992 “Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ who offered himself on the cross as a living victim, holy…”
    • CCC 2543 “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it,…”
  5. Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 399 “Scripture portrays the tragic consequences of this first disobedience. Adam and Eve immediately lose the grace of original holiness. They become afraid…”
    • CCC 705 “Disfigured by sin and death, man remains "in the image of God," in the image of the Son, but is deprived "of…”
    • CCC 1992 “Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ who offered himself on the cross as a living victim, holy…”
    • CCC 2809 “The holiness of God is the inaccessible center of his eternal mystery. What is revealed of it in creation and history, Scripture…”
    • “For "all men come short of the glory of God,”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

    • “… nor be severe upon those of old time, but ought ourselves to fear, lest perchance, after [we have come to] the knowledge of Christ, if we do things displeasing to God, we obtain no further forgiveness of sins, but be shut out from His kingdom.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  6. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 1992 “Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ who offered himself on the cross as a living victim, holy…”
  7. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 433 “The name of the Saviour God was invoked only once in the year by the high priest in atonement for the sins…”
    • CCC 1460 “The penance the confessor imposes must take into account the penitent's personal situation and must seek his spiritual good. It must correspond…”
    • CCC 1992 “Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ who offered himself on the cross as a living victim, holy…”
  8. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 1992 “Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ who offered himself on the cross as a living victim, holy…”
  9. Read the Fathers
    • “… God that human nature (hominem) which had departed from God; and therefore men were taught to worship God after a new fashion, but not another god, because in truth there is but "one God, who justifieth the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter X. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

    • “Since this is the case, we must not seek for another Father besides Him, or above Him, since there is one God who justifies the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1