Romans 3:9-20 - The Entire World Guilty Of Sin

⁹ What then? Are we [Jews] any better off [than those Gentiles]? No, not at all, for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks [i.e., Gentiles] alike are under [the power of] sin, ¹⁰ as it is written [Psa. 14:1ff; 53:1ff], "No one [always] does what is right; not even one person. ¹¹ No one understands [everything]. No one looks to God [all the time]. ¹² Everyone has turned away [from God]. All of them have become worthless. No one is [always] kind; no, not even one person." ¹³ [Psa. 5:9 says], "Their throats are like open graves [i.e., they are foul-mouthed]. They have spoken deceitfully." [Psa. 90:3 says], "There is snake venom under their lips [i.e., their words are deadly]." ¹⁴ [Psa. 10:7 says], "Their speech is full of cursing and bitterness." ¹⁵ [Isa. 59:7ff says], "Their feet [take them where they] are quick to commit murder. ¹⁶ Their pathways are strewn with ruin and misery [i.e., caused by them]. ¹⁷ They have not known [how to walk on] a peaceful pathway." ¹⁸ [Psa. 36:1 says], "They do not view God with reverence."

¹⁹ Now we [all] know that everything the law says applies to those who are under [obligation to obey] that law, [Note: Here "the law" appears to refer to the Old Testament Scriptures generally, since Psalms and Isaiah are quoted. See verses 10-18]. This is so that the mouth of every objector may be stopped [i.e., from making excuses for his sin], and thereby bring the entire world under God's judgment [i.e., both Jews and Gentiles]. ²⁰ This is because no human being can be considered right with God by [obeying] the requirements of a law. [Note: It is difficult to determine the exact sense in which "law" is used in these verses. It may be law generally, or the law of Moses specifically. See Bruce, pages 52-58]. For the knowledge of what sin is comes from the law of Moses.