Romans 3:9 (GNV)

Passage

What then? are we more excellent? No, in no wise: for we haue alreadie prooued, that all, both Iewes and Gentiles are vnder sinne,

Nearby Context

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?

Romans 3:8 And (as we are blamed, and as some affirme, that we say) why doe we not euil, that good may come thereof? whose damnation is iust.

Romans 3:9 What then? are we more excellent? No, in no wise: for we haue alreadie prooued, that all, both Iewes and Gentiles are vnder sinne,

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one.

Romans 3:11 There is none that vnderstandeth: there is none that seeketh God.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "excellent", "wise", "haue", "alreadie", "prooued", "both", "iewes", and "gentiles". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "excellent" and "wise", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "And as we are blamed and as..." into verse 10's "As it is written There is none...", so "excellent" and "wise" 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 "excellent" and "wise" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.