Romans Chapter 3 Vs. 2

 

God's Righteousness Upheld

Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. Rom 3:2

Much every way:... This answers the questions of Rom. 3:1. Being entrusted with the oracles of God and all the external advantages were not sufficient to save the soul (Rom. 3:21-31; 4:1-25; 8:3-4; Gal. 3:10-14).

By the phrase First of all Paul suggested that he was going to list a number of items, though actually he stated only one. He did this same thing elsewhere (Rom. 1:8; 1Cor. 11:18). In this case the item he stated is the most important and in a sense includes any others that could have been mentioned. The Jews have been entrusted (the Gr. past tense could be rendered “were entrusted”) with the very words (logia, pl. of logos, “word” or “statement”) of God. This can refer to the entire Old Testament but here it probably means just the promises and commands of God. Yet, though in that privileged position, the Jews were unable to live up to God’s standards. Paul asks this question as if another Jew is asking. It seems that the covenant that God made with Abraham (circumcision) is no advantage at all. Paul asks, what is the reason for circumcision, if it does not benefit the Jew? The non-Jew up until the time of Jesus had no chance of learning of the true God. The law was revealed to the natural Jew only at that time. The promises made were for the physical house of Israel until Jesus tore the middle wall of partition down in the temple when He gave His body on the cross for all mankind. The promise of the Messiah was to the physical house of Israel. The physical house of Israel (Jew) was the one taught in the temple the laws of God. They were the privileged few.

oracles of God... This Greek word is logian, a diminutive form of the common New Testament words logos, which is normally translated “word.” These are important sayings or messages, especially supernatural ones.

Here Paul uses the word to encompass the entire Old Testament - the Jews received the very words of the true God. The Jews had a great advantage in having the Old Testament, because it contained the truth about salvation and about the gospel in its basic form. When Paul said “preach the Word”, he meant the oracles of God recorded in scripture.