Posted by Romans on Saturday, 30 May 2015
Romans 3:3-4
(3) For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
(4) God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
The fact that the chief benefit of being a Jew was being “entrusted with the very words of God” raised another question. What if some did not have faith? This verb “did not have faith” also means “be unfaithful.” This is preferred since the same verb is rendered “entrusted” in verse 2. It is true that some Jews did not believe the promises of God, but also some Jews were unfaithful to their trust. Will their lack of faith (this noun can also mean “unfaithfulness,” which is preferred here) nullify God’s faithfulness? To that possibility Paul responded, Not at all (mē genoito, “Let it not be,” a frequent exclamation by Paul; cf. vv. 6, 31; 6:1, 15; 7:7, 13; 11:1, 11). Though some Jews did not believe or were unfaithful (evidenced by their sinful conduct mentioned in 2:21-23, 25), God remains faithful to His Word (cf. Deut. 7:9; 1 Cor. 1:9; Heb. 10:23; 11:11; 1 Peter 4:19). This concept of God’s faithfulness in spite of Israel’s unbelief is developed more fully in Romans 9-11.
Paul continued, Let God be true and every man a liar. This means, “Let God keep on being true even though every man becomes a liar.” This idea is taken from Psalm 116:11. As still further support, Paul quoted Psalm 51:4.
