Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 3:5

"But if our righteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.)" — Romans 3:5 (ASV)

The supposition that human wrong could serve to display the righteousness of God was probably suggested to Paul in his quoting of Ps 51. Is it not possible (so the question goes) that since human failure can bring out more sharply the righteousness of God, the Almighty ought to be grateful for this service and soften the judgment that would otherwise be due the offender? The question is one a Jew might well resort to in line with the thought that God would go easy on his covenant people. So Paul speaks for a supposed interlocutor. The mention of wrath ties in with 2:8–9.

Paul’s explanatory statement, “I am using a human argument,” is due to his having permitted himself to use the word “unjust” of God, even though it is not his own assertion. If God were unjust, says Paul, he would not be qualified to judge the world. He makes no attempt to establish God’s qualifications, since the readers have no doubt about this point.

Once more the apostle entertains a possible objection (vv.7–8). The thought is closely related to what has been stated in v.4. Speaking again for an objector, Paul voices the hoary adage that the end justifies the means. He has evidently had to cope with this in his own ministry, and he will be dealing with it again in a different context (6:1). Here he is content to turn the tables on the objector. Those who claim that their falsehood, which throws into sharp relief the truthfulness of God, promotes his glory and should therefore relieve the sinner of condemnation, should ponder the apostolic verdict—their “condemnation is deserved.”