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but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction,
Romans 3:22 · New American Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,
  • KJV Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
  • BSB And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,
  • NKJV even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
  • NLT We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

This righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe, without distinction. Faith, not ethnicity or merit, is the means.

Overview

Paul specifies that God's righteousness is received 'through faith in Jesus Christ' and is available to everyone who believes. The phrase 'no distinction' erases the boundary between Jew and Gentile at the foot of the cross. Salvation rests not on human status but on Christ, embraced by faith.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 18

  • Rom 10:12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him.
  • Gal 3:28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
  • Rom 8:1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
  • Gal 2:16yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.
  • Col 3:11where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.
  • Rom 5:1–11Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
  • Gal 3:6–9Even as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.”
  • Phil 3:9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
  • Rom 4:20–22Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God,
  • Matt 22:11–12But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn’t have on wedding clothing,
  • Rom 2:1Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things.
  • Isa 61:10I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh! My soul will be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
  • Acts 15:9He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
  • Jas 2:23and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness”; and he was called the friend of God.
  • Rom 4:3–13For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
  • Luke 15:22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
  • Rom 9:30What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn’t follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith;
  • 1 Cor 4:7For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (8)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Romans videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Romans 3:22YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on RomansMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.

How Romans 3:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.