Big Idea: God’s faithfulness is actually demonstrated through the covenantal curses on Israel.

Understanding the Text

In Romans 2 Paul showed that Israel’s attempt to obey the law is, ironically, the reason that they are still in exile and under divine judgment. Romans 3:1–8 therefore anticipates, in diatribe fashion, three Jewish objections to that notion: (1) there is no advantage to having the law, (2) God has broken his promise, and (3) God is unfair to punish Israel (see table 1).

Historical and Cultural Background

Besides the diatribe style (see discussion under Rom. 2:12–16), the main background pertaining to Romans 3:1–8 is the common Jewish notion that God is holy and therefore the righteous judge over the world (e.g., Gen. 18:25; Deut. 32:4; Job 34:10–12; Ezra 9:15; Neh. 9:32…