Romans 3:8

Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let us do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.

World English Bible

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Other translations

WEBBE

Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let’s do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.

BSB

Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved!

KJV

And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

ASV

and why not ( as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil, that good may come? whose condemnation is just.

BBE

Let us not do evil so that good may come (a statement which we are falsely said by some to have made), because such behaviour will have its right punishment.

Original Greek

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καὶ kai And G2532 μὴ mē surely G3361 καθὼς kathōs even as G2531 βλασφημούμεθα blasphēmoumetha we are denigrated G987 καὶ kai and G2532 καθώς kathōs even as G2531 φασίν phasin affirm G5346 τινες tines some [that] G5100 ἡμᾶς hēmas we G3165 λέγειν legein to say G3004 ὅτι hoti that G3754 ποιήσωμεν poiēsōmen Let us do G4160 τὰ ta the [things] G3588 κακὰ kaka evil G2556 ἵνα ina that G2443 ἔλθῃ elthē may come G2064 τὰ ta the G3588 ἀγαθά; agatha good things G18 ὧν hōn Their G3739 τὸ to (the) G3588 κρίμα krima condemnation G2917 ἔνδικόν endikon just G1738 ἐστιν.¶ estin is G1510

The early church

"If not (as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil that good may come? Whose damnation is just." For whereas Paul said, "where sin abounded grace did much more abound" (Rom. v. 20), in ridicule of him and perverting what he said to another meaning, they said, We must cling to vice that we may get what is good. But Paul said not so; however to correct this notion it is that he says, "What then? shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid!" (ib. vi. 1, 2.) For I said it, he means, of the times which are past, not that we should make this a practice. To lead them away then from this suspicion, he said, that henceforth this was even impossible. For "how shall we," he says, "that are dead unto sin, live any longer therein?" Against the Greeks then he inveighs without difficulty. For their life was exceeding abandoned. But of the Jews, even if their life seemed to have been careless, still they had great means of cloaking these things in the Law and circumcision, and the fact of God having conversed with them, and their being the teachers of all. And this is why he strips them even of these, and shows that for these they were the more punished, and this is the conclusion to which he has here drawn his discussion.

John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Romans

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 1–8

The law could not save in or from sins, yet it gave the Jews advantages for obtaining salvation. Their stated ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God and his service, and many favours shown to the children of Abraham, all were means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the conversion of many. But especially the Scriptures were committed to them. Enjoyment of God's word and ordinances, is the chief happiness of a people. But God's promises are made only to believers; therefore the unbelief of some, or of many professors, cannot make this faithfulness of no effect. He will fulfil his promises to his people, and bring his threatened vengeance upon unbelievers. God's judging the world, should for ever silence all doubtings and reflections upon his justice. The wickedness and obstinate unbelief of the Jews, proved man's need of the righteousness of God by faith, and also his justice in punishing for sin. Let us do evil, that good may come, is oftener in the heart than in the mouth of sinners; for few thus justify themselves in their wicked ways. The believer knows that duty belongs to him, and events to God; and that he must not commit any sin, or speak one falsehood, upon the hope, or even assurance, that God may thereby glorify himself. If any speak and act thus, their condemnation is just.

Read Matthew Henry on Romans 3 →

Cross-references

Topics

Slander Accusation, False

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