Paul summarizes his conclusion from chapter 2: Jews are not at all better off than the Gentiles, since both Jews (2:1–29) and Gentiles (1:18–32) are guilty of sin. They are “all under the power of sin”; that is, both Gentiles and Jews are controlled by the power of sin evident in their present behavior as well as in their destiny in God’s judgment, in which nobody has any excuse. In 3:10–18 Paul provides biblical evidence for his assertion that Jews have no advantage over Gentiles because they are sinners. In verses 10–12 he quotes Psalm 14:1–3 to confirm that the Jewish people are not righteous, as they disregard God. Psalm 14 laments the oppression of the righteous in Israel by evildoers within Israel (who say that “there is no God”). In verses 13–15 Paul shifts his attention from the a…