⁹ What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; ¹⁰ as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one …

Here’s the rub: contrary to long-held beliefs, the Jews are not better than the Gentiles. They are not in a more prominent position; they have no special advantage. The Jews have in no way surpassed the Gentiles in righteousness. Having God’s Word and His promises does not protect them from God’s righteous judgment. Paul reached the apex of this part of his argument for the true understanding of God’s righteousness: “… both Jews and Greeks are all under sin” (Paul alternates freely in calling non-Jews either Greeks or Gentiles). It is all out in the open, the logical, unassailable conclusion.

In case the impeccable logic was not convincing enough, Paul turns the Jewish objector to his Scripture, which Jews hold to be the ultimate authority for all things theological, the thing in which they take great pride. Paul cleverly quotes from Psalm 14:1-3, which is repeated virtually verbatim in Psalm 53:1-3, both of which we identify as being authored by David. It was like God was saying through David, “Let me repeat Myself, in case you didn’t get it the first time: there is none righteous, not even among the Jews!” Paul will quickly follow with a number of OT passages showing support for this point.

[Excurses: The English reader will notice the wording of Psalm 14:3 and Psalm 53:3, “There is no one who does good, not even one.” Volumes have been written on what is called “the NT use of the OT.” The NT authors often used the Septuagint version of the OT, that is, the standard Greek translation widely used in the first century. So, our English NT versions of these quotations have gone through two actual translations: Hebrew to Greek to English. Further, the NT writers sometimes interpreted the OT passages for their own use into the contemporary idiom of their readers. At other times they allude to the OT passages without an attempt to give an exact, precise quotation. At any rate, at the risk of over-simplification of what is an involved study, the NT as it stands is inspired by God, and thus however the reference to the OT is used, it is used legitimately as guided by the Holy Spirit.]

Paul’s assertion, “as it is written,” was “rabbi speak” for appealing to the Jews’ ultimate authority. Indeed, Paul always rooted his teaching in the Old Testament Scripture. He even commended those like the Berean Christians on his second missions tour, who “received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”

Lord, I want to be like the Bereans and rely not on reason only but on the Word.