Romans 3:21-26, True Equality (part 1)

The Reason for Displaying His Righteousness from the Perspective of Man (v. 21–24)

Belief in the Faithfulness of Christ (v. 22–24)

Paul now goes on to explain in verses 23–24 why no distinction is made amongst people when it comes to the revelation of God’s righteousness. Verse 23 focuses on their equality of guiltiness for sin and verse 24 centers around their equality in the availability of grace for all people.

Here in verse 23 “for all have sinned,” we again see the word “all,” continuing to emphasize universality (see also 3:9, 10, 11, 12, 19, 20, 22). This verse also acts as a summary the preceding section of 1:18–3:20, much like we see occurring in 5:1 and 8:1 as well (Cranfield, 1:204). The tense of the verb Paul chooses to use for “sin” (ἥμαρτον) leaves the timing of the action ambiguous.[1] He neither emphasizes past actions nor continual actions in the present. Rather his point seems to simply be that sin occurs, pointing more toward the concept of sin as a nature rather than simply actions that take place at certain times.

The next phrase “and fall short of the glory of God” is to be viewed as a parallel statement to “all have sinned.” Much like “the righteousness of God,” “the glory of God” is another important phrase to be considered. God’s glory seems to be directly tied in to the role creation was meant to play. This comes out most specifically in Paul’s use of “glory” (δόξα) in 1 Corinthians 11:7 where he states “man… he is the image and glory (δόξα) of God.” This concept also clearly plays out in Romans. In Romans 1:20 what has been made is an evident display of God’s attributes which 1:23 links to His glory. However because of sin entering the world through Adam (5:12–19), 1:23 makes clear how humanity has exchanged the glory of God for other, lesser, sinful images. Consequently humanity failed to honor God as image bearers, or more literally “give Him glory” (ἐδόξασαν in 1:21).

"Having so drastically defaced the divine image, they have, without exception (no distinction), forfeited the privilege of reflecting His glory" (R.B. Gaffin Jr., "Glory," Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, 348, parenthesis added. In the IVP Bible Background Commentary, Craig Keener suggests the possibility that here Paul refers o to no one living up to God;s standard of justice (420). This would make good sense in the context of God revealing His righteousness. God needs to demonstrate His righteousness through Christ to all humanity because, through the sin of humanity, He was currently being imaged as unrighteous.

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[1] ἥμαρτον is in the aorist tense, leaving the action undefined. “It is an equally true statement that ‘all sin’ (present customary) and ‘all have sinned’ (perfect past action with continuing results). Therefore the choice of the aorist by Paul was used to emphasize one aspect or to possibly say less (or to stress the fact of humanity’s sinfulness) than the present or the perfect would have done” (Wallace, 503).