Romans 3:5 (DRB)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

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?

Romans 3:7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie, unto his glory, why am I also yet judged as a sinner?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "injustice", "commend", "shall", "unjust", "executeth", and "wrath". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "injustice" and "commend", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 4's "But God is true and every man..." into verse 6's "I speak according to man God forbid...", so "injustice" and "commend" 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 "injustice" and "commend" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.