Romans 3:21–26
Paul explains how God is just and also declares just those who believe
Study it word by word21But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been made manifest, being testified to by the law and the prophets,
22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus the Messiah for all who believe; for there is no distinction,
23for all sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24being declared righteous freely by his grace through the redemption that is in the Messiah Jesus,
25whom God put forward as a cover of expiation through faith, in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness, because of the passing over of the sins committed beforehand
26in the forbearance of God; for the demonstration of his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be righteous and the one who declares righteous the one who is of faith in Jesus.
In its context
19Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped and the whole world may become accountable to God;
20because by works of the law no flesh will be declared righteous before him, for through the law comes knowledge of sin.
…
27Where, then, is boasting? It was excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
28For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from works of the law.
Its words in the original
- ΝυνὶNyni· now
"Now", "at this moment"; a stronger form of "now".
- χωρὶςchōris· without, apart from
Without, apart from.
- νόμουnomou· law
Law. In the Gospels, above all the law of Moses, the Torah.
- δικαιοσύνηdikaiosynē· righteousness
Righteousness: what is right before God, and living by it.
- θεοῦtheou· God, god
God. In the plural or in another sense, "gods".
- πεφανέρωταιpephanerōtai· reveal, make known
Reveal, show, make known.
- μαρτυρουμένηmartyroumenē· testify
Testify, bear witness.
- προφητῶνprophētōn· prophet
Prophet: someone who speaks on God's behalf.
- πίστεωςpisteōs· faith
Faith: firm trust in God; also faithfulness.
- ἸησοῦIēsou· Jesus
Jesus, the Greek form of the Hebrew Yehoshua (Joshua), which means "YHWH saves". It is the name the angel told Joseph to give him (Matthew 1:21).
- ΧριστοῦChristou· Messiah
Messiah: literally "anointed", the king or envoy God consecrates with oil. It is a title, not a surname; in Hebrew, mashiach.
- πιστεύονταςpisteuontas· believe
Believe, trust.
- ἐστινestin· be
Be, exist.
- διαστολήdiastolē· distinction
Distinction, difference.
- ἥμαρτονhēmarton· sin
Sin: fail God, do what he forbids.
- ὑστεροῦνταιhysterountai· run short, lack
Run short, lack; fall behind.
- δόξηςdoxēs· glory
Glory: splendor, honor, the weight of God's presence.
- δικαιούμενοιdikaioumenoi· declare righteous
Declare righteous: pronounce someone right before God, acquit; also show to be right. In the passive, "be declared righteous", "be acquitted".
- δωρεὰνdōrean· without cause, freely
Freely, as a gift; for no reason.
- χάριτιchariti· grace
Grace, favor.
- ἀπολυτρώσεωςapolytrōseōs· redemption
Redemption: release by the payment of a ransom; deliverance.
- προέθετοproetheto· plan, display
Plan, purpose to do something; also set forth publicly, put on display.
- ἱλαστήριονhilastērion· cover of expiation
Cover of expiation: the lid of the ark where the blood of atonement was sprinkled; a means of expiation.
- αἵματιhaimati· blood
Blood; also life poured out.
- ἔνδειξινendeixin· demonstration, proof
Demonstration, proof: what makes something plain.
- πάρεσινparesin· passing over
Passing over: leaving sins unpunished for a time.
- προγεγονότωνprogegonotōn· happen before
Happen before, take place earlier.
- ἁμαρτημάτωνhamartēmatōn· sin
Sin, a wrong committed.
- ἀνοχῇanochēi· forbearance
Forbearance: holding back, waiting without punishing yet.
- καιρῷkairōi· time, right time
Time, the appointed moment.
- δίκαιονdikaion· righteous, just
Righteous, just: someone who lives by what is right before God.