Romans 3:9 (WEB)

Passage

What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin.

Nearby Context

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

Romans 3:8 Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let us do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.

Romans 3:9 What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one.

Romans 3:11 There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "better", "than", "previously", "warned", "both", "jews", "greeks", and "under". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "better" and "than", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "Why not as we are slanderously reported..." into verse 10's "As it is written There is no...", so "better" and "than" 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 "better" and "than" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.