Romans 3:5 (LSB)

Passage

But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is the God who inflicts wrath unrighteous? (I am speaking in human terms.)

Nearby Context

Romans 3:3 What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief abolish the faithfulness of God?

Romans 3:4 May it never be! Rather, let God be true and every man a liar, as it is written, “That You may be justified in Your words, And overcome when You are judged.”

Romans 3:5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is the God who inflicts wrath unrighteous? (I am speaking in human terms.)

Romans 3:6 May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world?

Romans 3:7 But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "unrighteousness", "demonstrates", "shall", "inflicts", "wrath", and "speaking". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "unrighteousness" and "demonstrates", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 4's "May it never be Rather let God..." into verse 6's "May it never be For otherwise how...", so "unrighteousness" and "demonstrates" 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 "unrighteousness" and "demonstrates" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.