1 What advantage then is the advantage of the Israeli? or what profit (see Jude 16) is there of circumcision?
2 Much according to every way: chiefly (or, first), because that they were trusted with the oracles of God. (Given to Moses, a Levite of Israel. When God gives you something take care of it! Law is good, man is bad.)
3 For what if some did not believe? (See Act 28:24) shall their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God? (God always keeps His promises.)
4 God forbid (lit. let it not be): yes, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, "That You might be justified (see 2:13) in Your sayings, and might overcome when You are judged." (Lit. Your being judged. Quoted from 51:4)
5 But if our unrighteousness establish the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous Who inflicts the wrath? (See 1:18) (I speak as a man) (That's what a lot of people say. Don't sin on purpose cause you won't be forgiven in that case.)
6 God forbid (see v.4): for then how shall God judge the world? (Cp. Gen. 18:25)
7 For if the truth of God abounded (lit. overflow. See 2 Cor. 8:2,&c.) through my lie unto His glory (see 1:23. John 1:14. God will never lie, He is true to His word); why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
8 And [why] not [say], (as we be slanderously reported (cp. 2:24. Acts 13:24), and as some affirm that we say,) "Let us do evil (lit. the evil things), in order that that good (lit. the good things) may come?" whose (or, their) damnation is just. (They try to find fault and bring down Christianity)
9 What then? have we any advantage? Not at all: for we have before convicted (cp. 1:21) both Israel and the nations, to be all under sin; (No one is perfect. Sin is the root, and "sins" are the fruit.)
10 As it is written (the quotation [10-18] is from several passages of the O.T. All refer to the same subject. Vv. 10-12 [general] are from Ecc. 7:20. Ps. 14:2,3; 53:2,3 [3,4]; vv.13-18 [particular] are from Ps. 5:9 [10]; 140:3 10:7. Isa. 59:7,8. Ps. 36:1 [2]. Verification of these refs., from the stanpoint of Paul's argument, throws much light upon the O.T. passages in which they occur.), "There is none righteous, no, not one: (Lit. There is not a righteous [man], not even one.)
11 There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. (Search out from the beginning. The 1st earth age when Satan rebelled See Acts 15:17. )
12 All are all gone out of the way (Christ), they are together are worthless; there is none that does good, there is not far as one
13 Their throat is an opened sepulchre (lit. a tomb that has been opened, emitting noisesomeness); with their tongues they have used have deceived; the poison of asps is under their language: (spiritually dead, Kenites. Ps. 5:9 shows that this refers to the boasters and workers of iniquity. See JOHN 8:44)
14 Whose mouth is full of bitter imprecations: (To anyone who disagrees with them. Cp. Matt. 23:25,27.)
15 Their feet are sharp to shed blood: (See Prov. 1:16. Isa. 59:7. They run to bring you to evil.)
16 Destruction (lit. a breaking, bruising. John 19:36) and distress (cp. 7:24. Jas. 4:9) are in their ways: (They bring it on themselves and leave it.)
17 And the way of peace (Christ) have they knew not: (They don't know Him)
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes." (They are selfish, they could care less, because they don't think He exists)
19 Now we know that what things soever the law says, it says to them who are under the law: that every mouth (no partiality for Israel) may be closed, and all the world may become under penalty before God. (God's written law, not man's oral law.)
20 Therefore by the works of law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by law is the knowledge of sin. (Sin is to transgress the law. Epistle of John.)
21 But at this present time the righteousness of God apart from law is manifested, being witnessed (cp. 2 Tim. 2:6) by the law and the prophets; (An expression of the O.T. Cp. Matt. 7:12. Luke 24:44. Isa. 7)
22 And the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ to all and upon all them that believe (condition): for there is no distinction: (Key of David.)
23 For all sinned , and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely (see John 15:25) by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (He paid that price)
25 Whom God foreordained as a propitiation (Ex. 25:17. propitiatory cover, the cover of the Ark on which the blood was sprinkled as the means of propitiation) through faith in His blood, for a declaration of His righteousness by reason of the remission (lit. the passing over) of sins that are past (cp. Acts 17:30. Ex. 25:17-22, seat of Christ. Past, not future), through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, in the present season His righteousness: to His being just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus. (Lit. the one out of faith of Jesus: i.e. on the principle of faith in Jesus. Not by works, but a gift of God)
27 Where is boasting then? (i.e. of Israel; 2:17-23) It is excluded. By what [manner of] law? of works? No: but by a law of faith. (believing upon Jesus Christ)
28 Therefore we reckon that a man is justified by faith without (apart, separately) the deeds of law. (The law keeps you out of trouble.)
29 What, is He the God of the Israel only? is He not of the nations also? Yes, of the nations also:
30 Since God is One (i.e. for both Israel and the nations), Who will justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. (Circumcision is of the heart, mind.)
31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: no, we establish the law. (Laws and contracts are separate from salvation.)