Romans 3:1
in Romans 3What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
What advantage then hath the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision?
KJV
What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
⋯
This verse in Romans 3
Commentary
8 notes on this verseAfter showing that Judaism, which involved receiving the law and circumcision, is not sufficient for salvation without the law's observance, through which the gentile without external Judaism and circumcision obtains the fruit of each, he now objects to his own doctrine: first, he presents the …
This site's exposition
the advantage of being a Jew
on Romans 3:1-2
Chapter 2 seemed to leave Israel with nothing, so Paul asks what the advantage is. The answer is much in every way. The first advantage named is stewardship: Israel was entrusted with the very words of God.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"What advantage then hath the Jew?" Since he has set all aside, the hearing, the teaching, the name of the Jew, the circumcision, and all the other particulars by his saying that "he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, but he which is one inwardly;" he next sees an objection which starts up, and against this makes his stand. Now what is this objection? If, he means, these things are no use, what reason was there for that nation being called, and the circumcision too being given? What does he then and how does he solve it? By the same means as he did before: for as there, he told, not of their praises, but the benefits of God; nor their well doings (for to be called a Jew and to know His Will and to approve the things which are more excellent, was no well doing of their own, but came of the grace of God: and this the Prophet also says, upbraiding them; "He hath not done so to any nation, neither hath he showed His judgments unto them;" (Ps. cxlvii. 20.) and Moses again; "Ask now whether there hath been any such thing as this?" he says, "did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, and live?") (Deut. iv. 32, Deut. iv. 33), this then he does here also.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Having cast aside all the ordinances of the law with the words "what advantage is there in being a Jew," he sees an objection naturally arising and forestalls it. What is this objection? The following: if there is not the slightest benefit in those ordinances, …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
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?
What then, may some say, is the advantage of the Jew, or of the circumcision - That is, those that are circumcised, above the gentiles?
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
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 Rom 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.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Jew. What advantage then hath the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision? - As if he had said: You lately allowed, (Rom 2:25), that circumcision verily profited; but if circumcision, or our being in covenant with God, raises us no higher in the Divine favor 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 honor of the Jew; and what benefit can arise to him from his circumcision, and being vested in the privileges of God’s peculiar people?
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Τί | ti | What | G5101 → | 563 times |
| οὖν | oun | then [is] | G3767 → | 497 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| περισσὸν | perisson | superiority | G4053 → | |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰουδαίου, | ioudaiou | Jew? | G2453 → | 192 times |
| ἢ | e | Or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| τίς | tis | what [is] | G5101 → | 563 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὠφέλεια | opheleia | benefit | G5622 → | |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| περιτομῆς; | peritomes | circumcision? | G4061 → | 36 times |
ΤίWhat
tiG5101 →563 times
οὖνthen [is]
ounG3767 →497 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
περισσὸνsuperiority
perissonG4053 →
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
Ἰουδαίου,Jew?
ioudaiouG2453 →192 times
ἢOr
eG2228 →342 times
τίςwhat [is]
tisG5101 →563 times
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
ὠφέλειαbenefit
opheleiaG5622 →
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
περιτομῆς;circumcision?
peritomesG4061 →36 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 13:9Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to…
it leads to
- Ephesians 4:14
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.
- 1 Timothy 6:3–5
If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching,
- Ephesians 5:6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
- Romans 14:6
He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord…
- 1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- Ephesians 4:14
Through
Genesis 25:32“Look,” said Esau, “I am about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”
it leads to
- Job 34:9
For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’
- Malachi 3:14
You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements and walking mournfully before the LORD of Hosts?
- Job 34:9
Through
Ecclesiastes 6:8What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others?
it leads to
- Proverbs 19:1
Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.
- Proverbs 19:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
About Romans
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans; Frederic Godet, Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 6; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.