Romans 3:4 (DBY)

Passage

Far be the thought: but let God be true, and every man false; according as it is written, So that thou shouldest be justified in thy words, and shouldest overcome when thou art in judgment.

Nearby Context

Romans 3:2 Much every way: and first, indeed, that to them were entrusted the oracles of God.

Romans 3:3 For what? if some have not believed, shall their unbelief make the faith of God of none effect?

Romans 3:4 Far be the thought: but let God be true, and every man false; according as it is written, So that thou shouldest be justified in thy words, and shouldest overcome when thou art in judgment.

Romans 3:5 But if our unrighteousness commend God's righteousness, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak according to man.

Romans 3:6 Far be the thought: since how shall God judge the world?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "justified", "thought", "true", "false", "written", "shouldest", and "words". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "justified" and "thought", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "For what if some have not believed..." into verse 5's "But if our unrighteousness commend God's righteousness...", so "justified" and "thought" 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 "justified" and "thought" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.