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Romans 3:1

Then what is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Bigotry;   Boasting;   Circumcision;   Law;   Word of God;   Scofield Reference Index - Justification;   Sacrifice;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Jews, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Legalism;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Calvinists;   Justification;   Man;   Zeal;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Fall of Man;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Gentiles;   Romans, the Epistle to the;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Philosophy in the New Testament;   Truth;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Romans, Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Jew, Jewess;   Peter;   Quotations;   Romans Epistle to the;   Toleration, Tolerance;   Tongue;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Righteousness;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Encampment at Sinai;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Advantage;   Galatians, Epistle to the;   Heredity;   Salvation;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for July 21;   Every Day Light - Devotion for February 16;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
So, do Jews have anything that others don't have? Do they get any benefit from being circumcised?
Revised Standard Version
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
What preferment then hath the Iewe? other what a vauntageth circumcision?
Hebrew Names Version
Then what advantage does the Yehudi have? Or what is the profit of circumcision?
International Standard Version
What advantage, then, does the Jew have, or what value is there in circumcision?
New American Standard Bible
Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?
New Century Version
So, do Jews have anything that other people do not have? Is there anything special about being circumcised?
Update Bible Version
What advantage then has the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision?
Webster's Bible Translation
What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit [is there] of circumcision?
English Standard Version
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
World English Bible
Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision?
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
What then is the advantage of the Jew, or what the profit of the circumcision?
Weymouth's New Testament
What special privilege, then, has a Jew? Or what benefit is to be derived from circumcision?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
What thanne is more to a Jew, or what profit of circumcisioun?
English Revised Version
What advantage then hath the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision?
Berean Standard Bible
What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
Contemporary English Version
What good is it to be a Jew? What good is it to be circumcised?
American Standard Version
What advantage then hath the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision?
Bible in Basic English
How then is the Jew better off? or what profit is there in circumcision?
Complete Jewish Bible
Then what advantage has the Jew? What is the value of being circumcised?
Darby Translation
What then [is] the superiority of the Jew? or what the profit of circumcision?
Etheridge Translation
What then is the excellence of the Jihudoya, and what the profit of circumcision ?
Murdock Translation
What then is the superiority of the Jew? Or what is the advantage of circumcision?
King James Version (1611)
What aduantage then hath the Iew? or what profit is there of Circumcision?
New Living Translation
Then what's the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision?
New Life Bible
Do the Jews have anything that those who are not Jews do not have? What good does it do to go through the religious act of becoming a Jew?
New Revised Standard
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
Geneva Bible (1587)
What is then the preferment of the Iewe? or what is the profite of circumcision?
George Lamsa Translation
WHAT then is the superiority of the Jew? or what is the importance of circumcision?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
What, then, is the preeminence of the Jew? Or what, the profit of his circumcision?
Douay-Rheims Bible
What advantage then hath the Jew: or what is the profit of circumcision?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
What preferment then hath ye Iew? or what auauntageth circumcision?
Good News Translation
Do the Jews then have any advantage over the Gentiles? Or is there any value in being circumcised?
Christian Standard Bible®
So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?
King James Version
What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
Lexham English Bible
Therefore, what is the advantage of the Jew, or what is the use of circumcision?
Literal Translation
What then is the superiority of the Jew? Or what the profit of circumcision?
Young's Literal Translation
What, then, [is] the superiority of the Jew? or what the profit of the circumcision?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
What furtheraunce then haue the Iewes? Or what avauntageth circucision?
Mace New Testament (1729)
What advantage then hath the Jew? or what benefit is there from circumcision?
THE MESSAGE
So what difference does it make who's a Jew and who isn't, who has been trained in God's ways and who hasn't? As it turns out, it makes a lot of difference—but not the difference so many have assumed. First, there's the matter of being put in charge of writing down and caring for God's revelation, these Holy Scriptures. So, what if, in the course of doing that, some of those Jews abandoned their post? God didn't abandon them. Do you think their faithlessness cancels out his faithfulness? Not on your life! Depend on it: God keeps his word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth. Scripture says the same: Your words stand fast and true; Rejection doesn't faze you. But if our wrongdoing only underlines and confirms God's rightdoing, shouldn't we be commended for helping out? Since our bad words don't even make a dent in his good words, isn't it wrong of God to back us to the wall and hold us to our word? These questions come up. The answer to such questions is no, a most emphatic No! How else would things ever get straightened out if God didn't do the straightening? It's simply perverse to say, "If my lies serve to show off God's truth all the more gloriously, why blame me? I'm doing God a favor." Some people are actually trying to put such words in our mouths, claiming that we go around saying, "The more evil we do, the more good God does, so let's just do it!" That's pure slander, as I'm sure you'll agree. So where does that put us? Do we Jews get a better break than the others? Not really. Basically, all of us, whether insiders or outsiders, start out in identical conditions, which is to say that we all start out as sinners. Scripture leaves no doubt about it: There's nobody living right, not even one, nobody who knows the score, nobody alert for God. They've all taken the wrong turn; they've all wandered down blind alleys. No one's living right; I can't find a single one. Their throats are gaping graves, their tongues slick as mudslides. Every word they speak is tinged with poison. They open their mouths and pollute the air. They race for the honor of sinner-of-the-year, litter the land with heartbreak and ruin, Don't know the first thing about living with others. They never give God the time of day. This makes it clear, doesn't it, that whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it's clear enough, isn't it, that we're sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else? Our involvement with God's revelation doesn't put us right with God. What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else's sin. But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. This is not only clear, but it's now—this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness. So where does that leave our proud Jewish insider claims and counterclaims? Canceled? Yes, canceled. What we've learned is this: God does not respond to what we do; we respond to what God does. We've finally figured it out. Our lives get in step with God and all others by letting him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade. And where does that leave our proud Jewish claim of having a corner on God? Also canceled. God is the God of outsider non-Jews as well as insider Jews. How could it be otherwise since there is only one God? God sets right all who welcome his action and enter into it, both those who follow our religious system and those who have never heard of our religion.
New English Translation
Therefore what advantage does the Jew have, or what is the value of circumcision?
New King James Version
What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?
Simplified Cowboy Version
What's so great about bein' a Jew and having your pickle clipped?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?
Legacy Standard Bible
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?

Contextual Overview

1Then what is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?2Great in every respect. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God [His very words]. 3What then? If some did not believe or were unfaithful [to God], their lack of belief will not nullify and make invalid the faithfulness of God and His word, will it? 4Certainly not! Let God be found true [as He will be], though every person be found a liar, just as it is written [in Scripture], "THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED [by sinful men]." 5But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God is not wrong to inflict His wrath [on us], is He? (I am speaking in purely human terms.) 6Certainly not! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? 7But [as you might say] if through my lie God's truth was magnified and abounded to His glory, why am I still being judged as a sinner? 8And why not say, (as some slanderously report and claim that we teach) "Let us do evil so that good may come of it"? Their condemnation [by God] is just. 9Well then, are we [Jews] better off than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) are under the control of sin and subject to its power. 10As it is written and forever remains written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS [none that meets God's standard], NOT EVEN ONE.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

advantage: Romans 2:25-29, Genesis 25:32, Ecclesiastes 6:8, Ecclesiastes 6:11, Isaiah 1:11-15, Malachi 3:14, 1 Corinthians 15:32, Hebrews 13:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:10 - Every 2 Samuel 7:23 - what one Psalms 76:1 - In Judah Psalms 147:20 - not dealt so Song of Solomon 8:8 - she hath Isaiah 1:2 - I have Isaiah 40:8 - the word Isaiah 40:21 - General Hosea 8:12 - written Mark 12:1 - and set Luke 7:9 - not in John 6:63 - the flesh John 18:35 - Amos I Romans 2:14 - which Romans 6:2 - God Romans 9:14 - shall Galatians 3:19 - then

Cross-References

Genesis 3:13
Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent beguiled and deceived me, and I ate [from the forbidden tree]."
Genesis 3:15
"And I will put enmity (open hostility) Between you and the woman, And between your seed (offspring) and her Seed; He shall [fatally] bruise your head, And you shall [only] bruise His heel."
Ecclesiastes 4:10
for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and does not have another to lift him up.
Isaiah 27:1
In that day the Lord will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent With His fierce and great and mighty sword [rescuing Israel from her enemy], Even Leviathan the twisted serpent; And He will kill the dragon who lives in the sea.
Matthew 4:3
And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."
Matthew 4:6
And he said [mockingly] to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, 'HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU [to serve, care for, protect and watch over You]'; and 'THEY WILL LIFT YOU UP ON their HANDS, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'"
Matthew 4:9
and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me."
Matthew 10:16
"Listen carefully: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves [have no self-serving agenda].
2 Corinthians 11:14
And no wonder, since Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
1 Peter 3:7
In the same way, you husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way [with great gentleness and tact, and with an intelligent regard for the marriage relationship], as with someone physically weaker, since she is a woman. Show her honor and respect as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered or ineffective.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

What 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 מה יתרון לאדם in Ecclesiastes 1:3, which is rendered, "what profit hath a man?" and in Ecclesiastes 6:8, מה יותר לחכם, "what hath a wise man more", c. and in Romans 3:11, מה יתר לאדם, "what is a man better?" the first of these passages the Septuagint render by τις περισσεια, "what abundance?" and the last by τι

περισσον, "what more", or "superfluous", or "abundant?" the phrase used by the apostle here:

or 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 Romans 3:2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

What advantage ... - The design of the first part of this chapter is to answer some of the objections which might be offered by a Jew to the statements in the last chapter. The first objection is stated in this verse. A Jew would naturally ask, if the view which the apostle had given were correct, what special benefit could the Jew derive from his religion? The objection would arise particularly from the position advanced Romans 2:25-26, that if a pagan should do the things required by the Law, he would be treated as “if” he had been circumcised. Hence, the question, “what profit is there of circumcision?”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER III.

The apostle points out the peculiar privileges of the Jews,

1-8.

But shows that they, also, as well as the Gentiles, had sinned,

and forfeited all right and title to God's especial favour, 9.

The corrupt state of all mankind, 10-18.

All the world is guilty before God, and none can be justified by

the works of the law, 19, 20.

God's MERCY in providing redemption for a lost world, by Jesus

Christ, 21-26.

This excludes boasting on the part both of Jew and Gentile;

provides salvation through faith for both; and does not set

aside, but establishes the law, 27-31.

NOTES ON CHAP. III.

Dr. Taylor observes:- "In the preceding chapter the apostle has carried his argument to the utmost length: what remains is to keep the Jew in temper, to fix his convictions, and to draw the grand conclusion.

"He has shown that the Jews were more wicked than the Gentiles; that their possession of the law, circumcision, and outward profession of relation to God, were no ground of acceptance with him. This was in effect to say that the Jews had forfeited their right to the privileges of God's peculiar people, and that they were as unworthy to be continued in the Church as the Gentiles were to be taken into it; and consequently, in order to their enjoying the privileges of the Church under the Messiah, they stood in need of a fresh display of grace, which if they rejected, God would cast them out of the vineyard. The apostle was sensible that the Jew would understand what he said in this sense; and that it must be very irritating to him to hear that his law, circumcision, and all his external advantages, were utterly insufficient to procure him the favour of God. This at once stripped him of all his peculiar honours and privileges; and the apostle, who had often argued with his countrymen on these points, knew what they would be ready to say on this subject; and, therefore, introduces a dialogue between himself and a Jew, in which he gives him leave to answer and defend himself. In this dialogue the apostle undoubtedly refers to the rejection of the Jews, which he considers at large in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh chapters. After the dialogue is finished, he resumes his argument, and proves, by their own Scriptures, that the Jews were guilty as well as other men; and that no part of mankind could have any right to the blessings of God's kingdom by any works which they had performed, but merely through the propitiatory sacrifice offered by Christ; and that this, far from destroying the law, was just the thing that the law required, and by which its claims were established.

"The sum and force of the apostle's argument is this: All sorts of men, Jews as well as Gentiles, have sinned; therefore, none of them can lay claim to the blessings of his kingdom on the ground of obedience. The Jew, therefore, stands as much in need of God's grace to give him a title to those blessings as the Gentile; and, consequently, the Gentile has as good a title as the Jew. And, when all are in the same circumstances, it is perfectly absurd for any to pretend to engross it to themselves, exclusively of others, who are only as bad as they.

"Thus the apostle solidly proves that we, Gentiles, through faith alone, have a good and firm title to all the blessings of the Gospel covenant-election, adoption, pardon, privileges, ordinances, the Holy Spirit, and the hope of eternal life."

As the nine first verses are a dialogue between the apostle and a Jew, I shall prefix the speakers to their respective questions and answers, to make the whole the more intelligible to the reader.

Verse Romans 3:1. JEW. What advantage then hath the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision? — As if he had said: You lately allowed, (Romans 2:25,) that circumcision verily profited; but if circumcision, or our being in covenant with God, raises us no higher in the Divine favour than the Gentiles; if the virtuous among them are as acceptable as any of us; nay, and condemn our nation too, as no longer deserving the Divine regards; pray tell me, wherein lies the superior honour of the Jew; and what benefit can arise to him from his circumcision, and being vested in the privileges of God's peculiar people?


 
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