He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Parallel translations
- WEB to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.
- KJV To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
- NKJV to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
- NASB for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
- NLT for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
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
At the cross God shows himself to be both just and the one who justifies those who trust in Jesus. God forgives without compromising his righteousness.
Overview
Paul completes the thought of verse 25: the cross reveals how God can be perfectly just and at the same time declare guilty sinners righteous. Christ bears the penalty so that God's justice is upheld even as believers are pardoned. This holds together two truths that seem opposed, displaying the wisdom and grace of the gospel.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Deut 32:4He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He.
- Rom 4:5However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.
- Rom 3:30since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
- Acts 13:38–39Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
- Isa 42:21The LORD was pleased, for the sake of His righteousness, to magnify His law and make it glorious.
- Zeph 3:5The LORD within her is righteous; He does no wrong. He applies His justice morning by morning; He does not fail at dawn, yet the unjust know no shame.
- Rom 8:33Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
- Ps 85:10–11Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed.
- Rev 15:3and they sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!
- Zeph 3:15The LORD has taken away your punishment; He has turned back your enemy. Israel’s King, the LORD, is among you; no longer will you fear any harm.
- Gal 3:8–14The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”
- Zech 9:9Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
- Isa 45:21Speak up and present your case—yes, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is none but Me.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 3:26 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.