Romans 3:4 (DRB)

Passage

But God is true and every man a liar, as it is written: That thou mayest be justified in thy words and mayest overcome when thou art judged.

Nearby Context

Romans 3:2 Much every way. First indeed, because the words of God were committed to them.

Romans 3:3 For what if some of them have not believed? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid!

Romans 3:4 But God is true and every man a liar, as it is written: That thou mayest be justified in thy words and mayest overcome when thou art judged.

Romans 3:5 But if our injustice commend the justice of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust, who executeth wrath?

Romans 3:6 (I speak according to man.) God forbid! Otherwise how shall God judge this world?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "justified", "true", "liar", "written", "thou", "mayest", and "words". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "justified" and "true", 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 of them have..." into verse 5's "But if our injustice commend the justice...", so "justified" and "true" 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 "true" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.