Romans 3

“What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.” Naming Much keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:” Naming Their keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:” Naming Whose keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Their feet are swift to shed blood:” Naming Their keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Destruction and misery are in their ways:” Naming Destruction keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the way of peace have they not known:” The line’s distinctive content terms include known, peace. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is…” Naming Christ and Even keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” Naming Being and Christ keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.