Romans 3:5 (GNV)

Passage

Now if our vnrighteousnes comend the righteousnes of God, what shall we say? Is God vnrighteous which punisheth? (I speake as a man.)

Nearby Context

Romans 3:3 For what, though some did not beleeue? shall their vnbeliefe make the faith of God without effect?

Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, and euery man a lyar, as it is written, That thou mightest be iustified in thy words, and ouercome, when thou art iudged.

Romans 3:5 Now if our vnrighteousnes comend the righteousnes of God, what shall we say? Is God vnrighteous which punisheth? (I speake as a man.)

Romans 3:6 God forbid: els how shall God iudge ye world?

Romans 3:7 For if the veritie of God hath more abounded through my lye vnto his glorie, why am I yet condemned as a sinner?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "vnrighteousnes", "comend", "shall", "punisheth", and "speake". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "vnrighteousnes" and "comend", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 4's "God forbid yea let God be true..." into verse 6's "God forbid els how shall God iudge...", so "vnrighteousnes" and "comend" 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 "vnrighteousnes" and "comend" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.