Romans 3:31

Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.

BSB

Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.

KJV

Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

ASV

Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law.

BBE

Do we, then, through faith make the law of no effect? in no way: but we make it clear that the law is important.

Original Greek

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The early church

"Do we then," he says, "make void the Law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the Law." Do you see his varied and unspeakable judgment? For the bare use of the word "establish" shows that it was not then standing, but was worn out. And note also Paul's exceeding power, and how superabundantly he maintains what he wishes. For here he shows that the faith, so far from doing any disparagement to the "Law," even assists it, as it on the other hand paved the way for the faith. For as the Law itself before bore witness to it (for he saith, "being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets"), so here this establisheth that, now that it is unnerved. And how did it establish? he would say. What was the object of the Law and what the scope of all its enactments? Why, to make man righteous. But this it had no power to do. "For all," it says, "have sinned:" but faith when it came accomplished it. For when a man is once a believer, he is straightway justified. The intention then of the Law it did establish, and what all its enactments aim after, this hath it brought to a consummation. Consequently it has not disannulled, but perfected it. Here then three points he has demonstrated; first, that without the Law it is possible to be justified; next, that this the Law could not effect; and, that faith is not opposed to the Law.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Romans

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 27–31

God will have the great work of the justification and salvation of sinners carried on from first to last, so as to shut out boasting. Now, if we were saved by our own works, boasting would not be excluded. But the way of justification by faith for ever shuts out boasting. Yet believers are not left to be lawless; faith is a law, it is a working grace, wherever it is in truth. By faith, not in this matter an act of obedience, or a good work, but forming the relation between Christ and the sinner, which renders it proper that the believer should be pardoned and justified for the sake of the Saviour, and that the unbeliever who is not thus united or related to him, should remain under condemnation. The law is still of use to convince us of what is past, and to direct us for the future. Though we cannot be saved by it as a covenant, yet we own and submit to it, as a rule in the hand of the Mediator.

Read Matthew Henry on Romans 3 →

Cross-references

24

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.