Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 3:9

"What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin;" — Romans 3:9 (ASV)

Paul now identifies himself with the Jews, of whom he has been speaking. He asks whether they, with their moral and spiritual fitness, have an edge over Gentiles. His answer, “Not at all,” registers an emphatic denial. Paul then backs up that denial of Jewish superiority by reminding his readers of the charge he has been bringing, “that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.” To be under sin is to be under its sway and condemnation. Up to this point in his discussion of sin, Paul does not charge the Jew with the death of Christ (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:15), nor does he charge the Gentile with this crime (cf. Acts 4:27–28). Perhaps this is because few Jews and still fewer Gentiles were involved in effecting the actual death of the Lord Jesus. Paul is basing his case on a much wider sampling of human character and conduct.