Romans 3:2 (ASV)

Passage

Much every way: first of all, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God.

Nearby Context

Romans 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision?

Romans 3:2 Much every way: first of all, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God.

Romans 3:3 For what if some were without faith? shall their want of faith make of none effect the faithfulness of God?

Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "much", "first", "intrusted", and "oracles". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "much" and "first", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 1's "What advantage then hath the Jew or..." into verse 3's "For what if some were without faith...", so "much" and "first" belong inside that flow. In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "much" and "first" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.