ROM 3:7 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT But if the truth of God through my lie abounds to his glory, why am I still being judged as a sinner?

UST But then you might say, “Suppose this is true, and my lying further glorifies God and how truthful he is. If that is so, then surely God should not still judge me as if I were sinning!

BSB However, if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why {am} I still condemned as a sinner?

MSB For[fn] if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why {am} I still condemned as a sinner?

BLB But if in my lie, the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?

AICNT But if through my falsehood God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?

OEB But, if my falsehood redounds to the glory of God, by making his truthfulness more apparent, why am I like others, still condemned as a sinner?

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

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For if by my lie the truth of God enhances his glory, why am I still actually being judged as a sinner?

LSV For if the truth of God in my falsehood abounded more to His glory, why am I also yet judged as a sinner?

FBV Someone could say, “Why am I still condemned as a sinner if my lies make the truth of God and his glory more obvious in contrast?”

TCNT [fn]For if through my lie the truth of God abounds to his glory, why am I still being judged as a sinner?

3:7 For ¦ But NA SBL WH

T4T But someone might object and say to me, “The fact that God truly keeps his promises becomes very clear/evident because of my not doing what God has commanded. But the result is that people praise God! So ◄God should no longer say that I should be punished {that he should punish me} on account of my having sinned!/why should God still say that I should be punished {that he should punish me} on account of my having sinned?► [RHQ]

LEB But if by my lying, the truth of God abounded to his glory, why am I also still condemned as a sinner?

BBE But if, because I am untrue, God being seen to be true gets more glory, why am I to be judged as a sinner?

Moff You say, "If my perfidy serves to make the truthfulness of God redound to his glory, why am I to be judged as a sinner?

Wymth If, for instance, a falsehood of mine has made God's truthfulness more conspicuous, redounding to His glory, why am I judged all the same as a sinner?

ASV But if the truth of God through my lie abounded unto his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?

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

YLT for if the truth of God in my falsehood did more abound to His glory, why yet am I also as a sinner judged?

Drby For if the truth of [fn]God, in my lie, has more abounded to his glory, why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

3.7 Elohim

RV But if the truth of God through my lie abounded unto his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?

SLT For if the truth of God in my lying abounded to his glory; why yet am I judged as sinful?

Wbstr For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie to his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

KJB-1769 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
(For if the truth of God hath/has more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? )

KJB-1611 For if the trueth of God hath more abounded through my lye vnto his glory; why yet am I also iudged as a sinner?
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps For yf the trueth of God hath more abounded through my lye, vnto his glory, why am I as yet iudged as a sinner?
(For if the truth of God hath/has more abounded through my lie, unto his glory, why am I as yet judged as a sinner?)

Gnva For if the veritie of God hath more abounded through my lye vnto his glorie, why am I yet condemned as a sinner?
(For if the verity/truth of God hath/has more abounded through my lie unto his glory, why am I yet condemned as a sinner? )

Cvdl For yf the trueth of God be thorow my lye the more excellent vnto his prayse, why shulde I the be iudged yet as a synner?
(For if the truth of God be through my lie the more excellent unto his praise, why should I the be judged yet as a sinner?)

TNT Yf the veritie of God appere moare excellent thorow my lye vnto his prayse why am I hence forth iudged as a synner?
(If the verity/truth of God appear more excellent through my lie unto his praise why am I henceforth judged as a sinner? )

Wycl For if the treuthe of God hath aboundid in my lessyng, in to the glorie of hym, what yit am Y demed as a synner?
(For if the truth of God hath/has aboundid in my lessing, in to the glory of him, what yet am I judged as a sinner?)

Luth Denn so die Wahrheit Gottes durch meine Lüge herrlicher wird zu seinem Preis, warum sollte ich denn noch als ein Sünder gerichtet werden
(Because so the truth God’s through my lie(n)/falsehood more_magnificent becomes to/for his price/prize, why should I because/than still as a sinners directed become)

ClVg Si enim veritas Dei in meo mendacio abundavit in gloriam ipsius: quid adhuc et ego tamquam peccator judicor?[fn]
(When/But_if because the_truth of_God in/into/on mine lie abundavit in/into/on glory of_his/her_own: what still and I as_if sinner judger? )

3.7 Si enim veritas. Interjecta remotione iniquitatis Dei redit Apostolus ad probationem carnalis nitentis probare quod Deus sit iniquus si punit malos, quia si inde gloriosior: quid etiam nunc et non solum in futuro judicor quasi peccator, quod non sum? Vel: Adhuc, id est post conversionem postquam dedit dona indigno. Nam cum ante male mererer ex meis, non erat gloriosior: ac si diceret: Quod ante remissionem videri poterat, post videri non debet, scilicet quod ego peccator judicandus sim, quasi dicat: Certum est quod dimittendi veritas non abundasset in gloriam nisi peccassem.

3.7 When/But_if because the_truth. Interyecta remotione iniquity of_God returns Apostolus to approvesionem carnal/bodily nitentis probare that God be unjust when/but_if punishes I_prefers, because when/but_if therefore/from_there gloriosior: what also now and not/no only in/into/on future judger as_if sinner, that not/no sum? Vel: Still, that it_is after conversionm after he_gave gifts indigno. For/Surely when/with before male mererer from mine, not/no was gloriosior: and when/but_if would_say: That before remission to_seem he_could, after to_seem not/no must, namely that I sinner judgendus yes, as_if let_him_say: Certum it_is that let_gondi the_truth not/no abundasset in/into/on glory except peccassem.

UGNT εἰ δὲ ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ ψεύσματι ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, τί ἔτι κἀγὼ ὡς ἁμαρτωλὸς κρίνομαι?
(ei de haʸ alaʸtheia tou Theou en tōi emōi pseusmati eperisseusen eis taʸn doxan autou, ti eti kagō hōs hamartōlos krinomai?)

SBL-GNT εἰ ⸀δὲ ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ ψεύσματι ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, τί ἔτι κἀγὼ ὡς ἁμαρτωλὸς κρίνομαι,
(ei ⸀de haʸ alaʸtheia tou theou en tōi emōi pseusmati eperisseusen eis taʸn doxan autou, ti eti kagō hōs hamartōlos krinomai,)

RP-GNT Εἰ γὰρ ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ ψεύσματι ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, τί ἔτι κἀγὼ ὡς ἁμαρτωλὸς κρίνομαι;
(Ei gar haʸ alaʸtheia tou theou en tōi emōi pseusmati eperisseusen eis taʸn doxan autou, ti eti kagō hōs hamartōlos krinomai;)

TC-GNT Εἰ [fn]γὰρ ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ ψεύσματι ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, τί ἔτι κἀγὼ ὡς ἁμαρτωλὸς κρίνομαι;
(Ei gar haʸ alaʸtheia tou Theou en tōi emōi pseusmati eperisseusen eis taʸn doxan autou, ti eti kagō hōs hamartōlos krinomai; )

3:7 γαρ ¦ δε NA SBL WH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–8: God is faithful and righteous

In chapter two, Paul spoke about some wrong ideas that the Jews had. In this section, Paul spoke to someone, probably a Jew, who might think that Paul implied that God was unfaithful to his covenant with the Jews. Paul showed that regardless of how God’s people had behaved, God was always faithful to what he said.

Keep in mind that Paul himself was a Jew. He knew how Jews thought, and he knew how to answer their objections.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

God is faithful to his covenant even if his people are not

God keeps his word and does what is right

3:7a–b

However, if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?: This verse is similar to 3:5. Paul was speaking generally of lying making God’s truth more clear. He said my falsehood, but was referring generally to lying. He is probably not confessing a specific sin here.Morris says, “It is essentially the same argument as that in v. 5, but stated this time in terms of falsehood and truthfulness (or ‘truth’).”

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that Paul was confessing that he was lying about something. If that is true in your language, translate in a way that indicates that the meaning is more general. For example:

But if through our falsehood God’s truthfulness is accentuated to the increase of his glory, why are we still being condemned as sinners?

Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” (NIV)

3:7a

However, if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory,

But, if the true words of God are more clear because of my lie, and as a result, he is honored more,
Our^(incl) lies show even more that God’s words/message is true, and so, people honor him more.

However: There is a textual issue in 3:7a: (1) Some Greek manuscripts have the word and/but (BSB, RSV, GNT, NJB, NASB, NLT, REB, ESV). (2) Some Greek manuscripts have the word for (KJV, NET). It is recommended that you follow option (1). There is some contrast here to 3:6b. So some English versions translate the Greek conjunction as However. However, some English versions do not see contrast here and so omit the conjunction. For example:

If my lie increases… (GW)

if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory: Here the word if introduces a situation that is true. If this first part is true, that supports the second part (“why am I still condemned as a sinner?”).

In some languages, using an if-clause would have a different meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of his glory. True? So…

Would you agree that my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of his glory? So…

You would agree that my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of his glory. So…

my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory: The phrase that the BSB translates as my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness is literally “the truthfulness of God is much in my falsehood.” The BSB put the phrase my falsehood before the subject God’s truthfulness, probably for emphasis. But the phrase in the Greek is not emphasized in that way. Follow normal phrase order in your language here. In English here is a more normal word order:

God’s truthfulness abounds to the increase of his glory through/in my falsehood

The Greek tense on this verb usually is translated as past tense. But many English versions use the present tense, because the English present tense is used to indicate a general statement. The lie could refer to being unfaithful to promises (3:3), but here it probably is general, referring to any sin. Consider how to translate this word so that it indicates a general statement.

my falsehood: This phrase is literally “in/through my falsehood.” It indicates that this falsehood caused God’s “truthfulness” to more clearly be seen. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

by means of my falsehood

my falsehood makes God’s truth abundantly clear

my lie increases the glory that God receives by showing that God is truthful (GW)

on account of my lies, the trueness of God’s word is increasingly seenKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

accentuates: This word means “be much.” Here it refers to God’s truth being more clearly shown. Here are other ways to translate this word:

making his truth stand out more clearly (GNT)

highlights (NLT)

abounds (ESV)

In some languages one cannot speak of truthfulness being “accentuated.” If that is true in your language, indicate that people see more and more of God’s truth. For example:

is increasingly seenKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

being more apparentUma Back Translation on TW.

makes it apparent that God’s word is true

God’s truthfulness: Here this phrase refers to God’s words; they are true. Whenever God speaks, he says what is true. In some languages a literal translation is not possible. If that is true in your language, refer to his words being true. For example:

God’s truth (ESV)

showing that God is truthful

the trueness of God’s wordKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

glory: Here this word refers to people praising and honoring God because they recognize his greatness and majesty. Here are other ways to translate this word:

great honor (CEV)

he is honored/praisedKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

3:7b

why am I still condemned as a sinner?

why should God still judge me as guilty for being a sinner?
Let us not say, “Then he should not continue to punish us as wrongdoers!”

why am I still condemned as a sinner?: This is a rhetorical question based on what Paul said in 3:7a. Paul implied here that it was wrong to think that an excuse for sin would be that it increases God’s truth and therefore his glory. Translate this with that meaning. Here are some ways:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
Why should I still be condemned as a sinner? (GNT)
As a statement. For example:
then I should not be judged to be a sinner at all. (NJB)

why am I still condemned: The Greek is literally “why still am even I being judged/condemned.” The Greek word that means “even I” indicates emphasis on the meaning of I. If possible translate this emphasis. For example:

why is it I who is still being condemned

This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause here. For example:

why is God/he still condemning me

still: Here this word indicates that God condemned this person even though his lie caused God’s truth to be shown more clearly and more people honor him (3:7a).

sinner: This word refers to a person who sins.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

εἰ δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ δέ ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ ψεύσματι ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς τήν δόξαν αὐτοῦ τί ἔτι κἀγώ ὡς ἁμαρτωλός κρίνομαι)

But here indicates that what follows is a response to what Paul said in the previous verse. In this verse, Paul is speaking as if he were an unbelieving Jew and is challenging the statement Paul made in the previous verse. See how you translated this in [3:5](../03/05.md).

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

εἰ & ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ ψεύσματι ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, τί ἔτι κἀγὼ ὡς ἁμαρτωλὸς κρίνομαι

Paul is using a hypothetical situation to develop the argument an unbelieving Jew would make. Alternate translation: [suppose the truth of God through my lie abounds to his glory. Then why am I still being judged as a sinner]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

εἰ δὲ ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ ψεύσματι ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ

If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: [But if the truth of God abounds to his glory through my lie]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ Θεοῦ

the truth ¬the ˱of˲_God

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of truth, you could express the same idea with a different form. Alternate translation: [how truthful God is]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ Θεοῦ

the truth ¬the ˱of˲_God

Paul is using the possessive form to describe the truth that characterizes God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [God’s truthfulness]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ ψεύσματι & κἀγὼ ὡς ἁμαρτωλὸς

in ¬the my falsehood & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ δέ ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ ψεύσματι ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς τήν δόξαν αὐτοῦ τί ἔτι κἀγώ ὡς ἁμαρτωλός κρίνομαι)

Here Paul uses my and I to refer to a Jewish person who might give this hypothetical response. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning explicitly. Alternate translation: [when we Jews act falsely … are we … as sinners] or [when we Jews lie … are we … as sinners]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ ψεύσματι

in ¬the my falsehood

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of lie, you could express the same idea with a different form. Alternate translation: [when I act falsely] or [when I lie]

Note 8 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

εἰς τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ

to (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ δέ ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ ψεύσματι ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς τήν δόξαν αὐτοῦ τί ἔτι κἀγώ ὡς ἁμαρτωλός κρίνομαι)

Here, to indicates that this is a result clause. Use a natural way in your language to indicate result. Alternate translation: [with the result that he is glorified]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

εἰς τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of glory, you could express the same idea in a different way. Alternate translation: [to demonstrate how glorious he is] or [to glorify him]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τί ἔτι κἀγὼ ὡς ἁμαρτωλὸς κρίνομαι

why still (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ δέ ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ ψεύσματι ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς τήν δόξαν αὐτοῦ τί ἔτι κἀγώ ὡς ἁμαρτωλός κρίνομαι)

In this clause Paul is not asking for information, but is using this question to express an objection that a Jew might have to what Paul said in the previous verse, which was also repeated in the previous clause. If you would not use a rhetorical question for this purpose in your language, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [surely I should not still be judged as a sinner!]

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἔτι κἀγὼ & κρίνομαι

still (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ δέ ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ ψεύσματι ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς τήν δόξαν αὐτοῦ τί ἔτι κἀγώ ὡς ἁμαρτωλός κρίνομαι)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that “God” does it. Alternate translation: [does God still judge me] or [should God keep on judging me]

Note 12 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἁμαρτωλὸς

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of sinner, you could express the same idea in a different way. Alternate translation: [someone who sins] or [as if I were sinful]

Parallel ROM 3:7

Section 3:1–8: God is faithful and righteous

3:7a–b

3:7a

3:7b