Catholic Commentary on Romans 3

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23-24)

No One Righteous

Romans 3 is the theological turning point of the letter's opening movement. Paul has indicted the Gentile world in chapter 1 and the Jewish world in chapter 2. Now he draws the universal conclusion: there is no one righteous, not even one. He strings together a catena of Old Testament texts, from Psalms and Isaiah, to build the case: no one understands, no one seeks God, all have turned away, their throats are open graves, their tongues practise deceit, the venom of vipers is on their lips. Whatever the Law says, it says to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. No one will be declared righteous in God's sight by observing the Law; through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

And then the great but now that changes everything: the righteousness of God has been made known, apart from the Law, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a propitiation, through the shedding of his blood, received by faith. He did it to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Justification by Faith

The Catechism devotes extensive treatment to justification, drawing on both Paul and the Council of Trent: justification is not merely the forgiveness of sins but the sanctification and renewal of the interior person. It is freely given by grace, received through faith, accomplished through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (CCC 1989). The Catholic understanding differs from some Protestant readings precisely here: justification is not merely a legal declaration but an actual transformation, the beginning of a process of sanctification. Paul's argument in Romans 3 establishes the foundation; the rest of the letter builds the structure on it.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. All. There is no category of person excluded from this. And all are justified freely by his grace. All. The same universal scope applies to both the problem and the solution. Nobody is too bad for the grace of God, and nobody is good enough to bypass the need for it. Come to Confession with the first half, and come to Communion with the second.

Prayer

Lord God, we have all sinned and fall short of your glory. We bring nothing to justify ourselves before you. But we come through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, through his blood, received by faith. Justify us freely by your grace, and let your righteousness be ours. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

3
God Remains Faithful
1 What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words * 3:2 Or the oracles of God.
 
3 What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written:
 
“So that You may be proved right when You speak
and victorious when You judge.Ӡ 3:4 Or when You are judged; Psalms 51:4 (see also LXX)
 
5 But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms. 6 Certainly not! In that case, how could God judge the world? 7 However, if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner? 8 Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved!
There Is No One Righteous
(Psalms 14:1–7; Psalms 53:1–6; Isaiah 59:1–17)
 
9 What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin. 10 As it is written:
 
“There is no one righteous,
not even one.
11 There is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”‡ 3:12 Psalms 14:1–3 and Psalms 53:1–3 (see also LXX)
13 “Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.Ӥ 3:13 Psalms 5:9
“The venom of vipers is on their lips.”* 3:13 Psalms 140:3
14 “Their mouths are full
of cursing and bitterness.Ӡ 3:14 Psalms 10:7 (see also LXX)
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery lie in their wake,
17 and the way of peace they have not known.”‡ 3:17 Isaiah 59:7–8 (see also LXX)
18 “There is no fear of God
before their eyes.Ӥ 3:18 Psalms 36:1
 
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 held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.
Righteousness through Faith in Christ
(Philippians 3:1–11)
 
21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. 22 And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
 
25 God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice * 3:25 Or as a propitiation through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand. 26 He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
 
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
 
29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
 
31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.

*3:2 3:2 Or the oracles

†3:4 3:4 Or when You are judged; Psalms 51:4 (see also LXX)

‡3:12 3:12 Psalms 14:1–3 and Psalms 53:1–3 (see also LXX)

§3:13 3:13 Psalms 5:9

*3:13 3:13 Psalms 140:3

†3:14 3:14 Psalms 10:7 (see also LXX)

‡3:17 3:17 Isaiah 59:7–8 (see also LXX)

§3:18 3:18 Psalms 36:1

*3:25 3:25 Or as a propitiation

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