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.
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.
- BSB 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.
- 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.
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 32:4The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are just. A God of faithfulness who does no wrong, just and right is he.
- Rom 4:5But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
- Rom 3:30since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith.
- Acts 13:38–39Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins,
- Isa 42:21It pleased Yahweh, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the law, and make it honorable.
- Zeph 3:5Yahweh, within her, is righteous. He will do no wrong. Every morning he brings his justice to light. He doesn’t fail, but the unjust know no shame.
- Rom 8:33Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies.
- Ps 85:10–11Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
- Rev 15:3They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations.
- Zeph 3:15Yahweh has taken away your judgments. He has thrown out your enemy. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is among you. You will not be afraid of evil any more.
- Gal 3:8–14The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.”
- Zech 9:9Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
- Isa 45:21Declare and present it. Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has shown this from ancient time? Who has declared it of old? Haven’t I, Yahweh? There is no other God besides me, a just God and a Savior; There is no one besides me.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.