Romans 3:5 “But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what s…”

Romans 3:5

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.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

World English Bible

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

American Standard Version

But if our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.)

Geneva Bible 1599

Now if our vnrighteousnes comend the righteousnes of God, what shall we say? Is God vnrighteous which punisheth? (I speake as a man.)

Darby Translation

But if our unrighteousness commend God's righteousness, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak according to man.

Young's Literal Translation

And, if our unrighteousness God's righteousness doth establish, what shall we say? is God unrighteous who is inflicting the wrath? (after the manner of a man I speak)

Bible in Basic English

But if the righteousness of God is supported by our wrongdoing what is to be said? is it wrong for God to be angry (as men may say)?

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Cross references

“But if”

Romans 3:7 Romans 3:25 Romans 3:26 Romans 8:20 Romans 8:21

Romans 3:7 · BSB

However, if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?

Romans 3:25 · BSB

God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

Romans 3:26 · BSB

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.

Romans 8:20 · BSB

For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope

Romans 8:21 · BSB

that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

“what shall”

Romans 4:1 Romans 7:7 Romans 6:1 Romans 9:13 Romans 9:14

Romans 4:1 · BSB

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has discovered?

Romans 7:7 · BSB

What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”

Romans 6:1 · BSB

What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase?

Romans 9:13 · BSB

So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

Romans 9:14 · BSB

What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Certainly not!

“Is God”

Romans 2:5 Romans 9:18–20 Deuteronomy 32:39–43 Nahum 1:2 Romans 3:19 Romans 12:19

Romans 2:5 · BSB

But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Romans 9:18–20 · BSB

Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.

Deuteronomy 32:39–43 · BSB

See now that I am He; there is no God besides Me. I bring death and I give life; I wound and I heal, and there is no one who can deliver from My hand.

Nahum 1:2 · BSB

The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and reserves wrath for His enemies.

Romans 3:19 · BSB

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.

Romans 12:19 · BSB

Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

“I speak”

Romans 6:19 Galatians 3:15 1 Corinthians 9:8

Romans 6:19 · BSB

I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness lead…

Galatians 3:15 · BSB

Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended.

1 Corinthians 9:8 · BSB

Do I say this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing?

Also

1 Corinthians 15:32

1 Corinthians 15:32 · BSB

If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for human motives, what did I gain? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

4Certainly 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.”

6Certainly not! In that case, how could God judge the world?

Read Romans 3