Charles Ellicott Commentary Romans 3:1

"What advantage then hath the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision?" — Romans 3:1 (ASV)

Continuing the subject, but with a long digression in Romans 3:3 and following. The Apostle asks, What is the real value of these apparent advantages? He is about to answer the question fully, as he does later in Romans 9:4-5; but after stating the first point, he digresses to address a difficulty raised by this, and does not return to complete what he had started. This, again, is characteristic of his ardent and keenly speculative mind. Problems such as those that he discusses evidently hold a fascination for him, and lead him, here as elsewhere, to immediately leave the current subject and eagerly enter into their discussion. A more lethargic or timid brain would be under no such temptation.

One real and solid advantage for the Jew was that he was the direct recipient of the divine revelation. His privilege is not annulled by the unfaithfulness of some of the people. It does not rest upon the precarious faithfulness of people, but upon the infallible promise of God. Yet, the ultimate triumph of that promise is not an excuse for those who have disregarded it. They will be punished just the same, and rightly. Otherwise there could be no judgment at all. The casuistical objection that sin loses its guilt if it results in God’s glory, or, in other words, that the end justifies the means, carries its own condemnation.