Bible Study on
Romans 3:9-20

1 Introduction

1.1 Romans 3:9-20

9 What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin, 10 just as it is written:

"There is no one righteous, not even one, 11 there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not even one." 13 "Their throats are open graves, they deceive with their tongues, the poison of asps is under their lips." 14 "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." 15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood, 16 ruin and misery are in their paths, 17 and the way of peace they have not known." 18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes." 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

1.3 Emergency

• time is running out
• life is fleeting and short
• the Lord is coming soon
• both Jews and Gentiles are "under sin"
• Paul's punchline and summary of 1:18 – 3:20
• solution in next section

2 Structure

2.1 Summary

• question of superiority (9-10a)
• testimony of the OT (10b-18)
• condition of people in general (10b)
• sinful condition of people (11-12)
• sinful conduct of people (13-17)
• self-confidence of people (18)
• task of the Law (19-20)

2.2 The question of superiority (verses 9-10a)

• the Jews wanted to be better than the Gentiles
• Judging and teaching others did not accomplish this
• No advantage in being a Jew

2.2 The question of superiority (verses 9-10a)

• Added privileges brought added responsibilities

2.2 The question of superiority (verses 9-10a)

• questions become more pointed
• "Are we better than they?"
• "No way!"
• Both are under sin
• Not appraisal of people
• But the judgment of God

2.3 The testimony of the OT (verses 10b-18)

• outline
  • human condition (10b-12)
  • human conduct (13-17)
  • human confidence (18)
• these are OT quotations
• one from Isaiah, rest from Psalms
  • (10-12) Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-4
  • (13) Psalm 5:9; 140:3
  • (14) Psalm 10:7
  • (15-17) Isaiah 59:7ff
  • (18) Psalm 36:1

2.3 The testimony of the OT (verses 10b-18)

• context is human sin and God's righteous judgment
• humans need a righteousness that is not their own
• sin and condemnation is found in 3:9-20
  • Jews accepted Gentile condemnation
  • Paul was convincing the Jews that they too are under sin
  • God's condemnation is universal
• begins and ends with human disregard for God
  • "there is none who seeks for God" (11)
  • "there is no fear of God before their eyes" (18)

2.3 The testimony of the OT (verses 10b-18)

• sin plagues the whole human race, without exception
• sin plagues the whole person, without exception

2.3 The testimony of the OT (verses 10b-18)

• 2 anatomical parts: mouth and feet

2.3 The testimony of the OT (verses 10b-18)

• sin is continually active and evident
• no goodness in humans
  • very pessimistic
  • no hope by own effort
• certainty of God's judgment
• Confidence on the person and provision of God

2.4 Psalm 5

2.5 Psalm 14

2.6 Psalm 36

2.7 Isaiah 59:9-15

2.8 The condition of man in general (verse 10b)

• "There is none righteous, not even one."
• Ps 14:1-3
• Ps 53:1-4

2.9 The sinful condition of man (verses 11-12)

• "There is none who understands."
• human perspective is limited
• they cannot fathom
  • the wisdom and knowledge of God
  • the means and ends of God
  • God's mercy and compassion
  • can never predict what God performs (11:33-36)
  • 1 Cor 13:12

2.9 The sinful condition of man (verses 11-12)

• also the hindrance of sin
• • Gentiles (Eph 4:17-19)
  • sinners (2 Cor 4:4)
  • Jews (2 Cor 3:14-16)
• does not seek God correctly
  • mistake God for one who withholds goodness
  • reject God's salvation
  • given over to sin (1:18-32; 2 Thes 2:10-12)

2.9 The sinful condition of man (verses 11-12)

• v. 11 is sin toward God
• v. 12 is sin toward other humans
  • "All have turned aside."
  • don't just not see truth
  • consciously reject truth

2.10 The sinful conduct of man (verses 13-17)

• they have changed from "good" to "useless"
• milk turning sour or food spoiling
• condition determines conduct
• samplings of evil (13-16)
  • 2 anatomical parts (13-14)
  • works (15-17)

2.10 The sinful conduct of man (verses 13-17)

• mouth
  • most difficult part to control (Jas 3:1-12)
  • throat like an "open grave"
  • foul, corrupt
  • tongue is defiling, deceiving, deceptive

2.10 The sinful conduct of man (verses 13-17)

• feet
  • action, here violent
  • "feet are swift to shed blood" (15)
  • "the path of peace" is not known (17)

2.11 The self-confidence of people (verse 18)

• "no fear of God before their eyes"
• "there is none who seeks for God" (11)
• Ps 36:1
• sinful humans are not afraid of God
• not afraid of holiness and judgment
• not attracted to God either

2.12 The task of the Law (verses 19-20)

• "Is the Jew superior than the Gentile?"
• Paul brushes this off
• we cannot compare ourselves with other sinners
• Paul uses the Law to show the Jews their position
• Now the Law speaks
• People's mouths are closed
• Not a word can be said in objection or self-defense