Romans 3:31
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Original Language Analysis
νόμον
the law
G3551
νόμον
the law
Strong's:
G3551
Word #:
1 of 11
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of moses (including the volume); also of the gospel), or figurat
καταργοῦμεν
Do we
G2673
καταργοῦμεν
Do we
Strong's:
G2673
Word #:
3 of 11
to be (render) entirely idle (useless), literally or figuratively
διὰ
through
G1223
διὰ
through
Strong's:
G1223
Word #:
4 of 11
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
5 of 11
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πίστεως
faith
G4102
πίστεως
faith
Strong's:
G4102
Word #:
6 of 11
persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ
μὴ
God forbid
G3361
μὴ
God forbid
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
7 of 11
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
γένοιτο·
G1096
γένοιτο·
Strong's:
G1096
Word #:
8 of 11
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
ἀλλὰ
yea
G235
ἀλλὰ
yea
Strong's:
G235
Word #:
9 of 11
properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
Cross References
Galatians 2:21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.Matthew 5:17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.Romans 10:4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.Romans 8:4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.1 Corinthians 9:21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.Galatians 2:19For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
Historical Context
This charge plagued Paul: that his gospel undermined Torah, making him a false teacher and antinomian. Paul will spend Romans 4 showing faith establishes law by demonstrating Abraham's justification by faith preceded and grounded the giving of Torah. The law is not enemy but schoolmaster leading to Christ (Galatians 3:24).
Questions for Reflection
- How does faith in Christ's work actually uphold the law rather than undermine it?
- What is the proper role and function of God's law in the life of one justified by faith?
- How do you avoid both legalism (trusting law-keeping for justification) and antinomianism (dismissing law's authority in sanctification)?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Paul addresses a final objection: does justification by faith nullify (katargoumen, καταργοῦμεν, "make void/abolish") the law? Mē genoito (μὴ γένοιτο, "God forbid/may it never be!")—Paul's emphatic rejection. Rather, nomon histanomen (νόμον ἱστάνομεν, "we establish the law").
How does faith establish law?
Far from abolishing law, the gospel establishes law's true function and fulfills its purpose. Jesus came not to abolish but fulfill (Matthew 5:17). Only the gospel honors both law's authority and humanity's inability.