Romans 3

"\nWhat advantage then hath the Jew?.... If he is not properly a Jew, who is born of Jewish parents, and brought up in the customs, rites, and religion of the Jewish nation, but anyone of whatsoever nation, that is born again of water, and of the Spirit; where is the superior excellency of the Jew to the Gentile? A man may as well be born and brought up a Heathen as a Jew; the one has no more advantages than the other by his birth and education: it may be rendered, "what hath the Jew more?" or "what has he superfluous" or "abundant?" the phrase answers to the Hebrew \u05de\u05d4 \u05d9\u05ea\u05e8\u05d5\u05df \u05dc\u05d0\u05d3\u05dd in Ec 1:3, which is rendered, "what profit hath a man?" and in Ec 6:8, \u05de\u05d4 \u05d9\u05d5\u05ea\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d7\u05db\u05dd, "what hath a wise man more", c. and in Ro 3:11, \u05de\u05d4 \u05d9\u05ea\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d0\u05d3\u05dd, "what is a man better?" the first of these passages the Septuagint render by \u03c4\u03b9\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1, "what abundance?" and the last by \u03c4\u03b9\n\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c3\u03bf\u03bd, "what more", or "superfluous", or "abundant?" the phrase used by the apostle here:\n\nor what profit is there of circumcision? since that which is outward in the flesh profits not unless the law is kept, otherwise circumcision is no circumcision and if an uncircumcised Gentile keeps the law, he is a better man than a circumcised Jew; yea, he judges and condemns him; for the only true circumcision is internal, spiritual, and in the heart. To this the apostle answers in the Ro 3:2.\n\n\n "

CHAPTER 3Ro 3:1-8. Jewish Objections Answered.1, 2. What advantage then hath the Jew?—that is, "If the final judgment will turn solely on the state of the heart, and this may be as good in the Gentile without, as in the Jew within, the sacred enclosure of God's covenant, what better are we Jews for all our advantages?"Answer:

3:1-8 The law could not save in or from sins, yet it gave the Jews advantages for obtaining salvation. Their stated ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God and his service, and many favours shown to the children of Abraham, all were means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the conversion of many. But especially the Scriptures were committed to them. Enjoyment of God's word and ordinances, is the chief happiness of a people. But God's promises are made only to believers; therefore the unbelief of some, or of many professors, cannot make this faithfulness of no effect. He will fulfil his promises to his people, and bring his threatened vengeance upon unbelievers. God's judging the world, should for ever silence all doubtings and reflections upon his justice. The wickedness and obstinate unbelief of the Jews, proved man's need of the righteousness of God by faith, and also his justice in punishing for sin. Let us do evil, that good may come, is oftener in the heart than in the mouth of sinners; for few thus justify themselves in their wicked ways. The believer knows that duty belongs to him, and events to God; and that he must not commit any sin, or speak one falsehood, upon the hope, or even assurance, that God may thereby glorify himself. If any speak and act thus, their condemnation is just.

"\nMuch every way,.... The circumcised Jew has greatly the advantage of the uncircumcised Gentile, \u05de\u05db\u05dc \u05e4\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd, "in all respects",\n\u05e2\u05dc \u05db\u05dc \u05e6\u05d3, "on every side", as the Rabbins speak; phrases to which this in the text answers:\n\nchiefly; more especially, particularly, and in the first place;\n\nbecause that unto them were committed the oracles of God; by which are meant the law of Moses, and the writings of the prophets, the institutions of the ceremonial law, and the prophecies of the Messiah and the Gospel church state; and in a word, all the books of the Old Testament, and whatsoever is contained in them; which are called so, because they are of divine inspiration, contain the mind and will of God, and are infallible and authoritative: and it was the privilege and profit of the Jews that they were intrusted with them, when other nations were not, and so had the advantage of them; they had them for their own use; for hereby they had a more clear and distinct knowledge of God than the Gentiles could have by the light of nature; and besides, became acquainted with the doctrines of a trinity of persons in the Godhead, of the sonship and deity of the Messiah, of the sacrifice, satisfaction, and righteousness of the Redeemer, and of salvation by him; and also with the manner of worshipping of God according to his will; all which the Gentiles were ignorant of. Moreover, they had the honour of being the keepers of these sacred books, these divine oracles, and of transmitting them to posterity, for the use of others.\n\n\n "

3, 4. For what if some did not believe?—It is the unbelief of the great body of the nation which the apostle points at; but as it sufficed for his argument to put the supposition thus gently, he uses this word "some" to soften prejudice.shall their unbelief make the faith of God—or, "faithfulness of God."of none effect?—"nullify," "invalidate" it.

"\nFor what if some did not believe?....