Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
God forbid—literally, "Let it not be," that is, "Away with such a thought"—a favorite expression of our apostle, when he would not only repudiate a supposed consequence of his doctrine, but express his abhorrence of it. "The Scriptures do not authorize such a use of God's name as must have been common among the English translators of the Bible" [HODGE].
yea, let God be—held
true, and every man a liar—that is, even though it should follow from this that every man is a liar.
when thou art judged—so in Psalms 51:4, according to the Septuagint; but in the Hebrew and in our version, "when thou judgest." The general sentiment, however, is the same in both—that we are to vindicate the righteousness of God, at whatever expense to ourselves.
For what if some did not believe?—It is the unbelief of the great body of the nation which the apostle points at; but as it sufficed for his argument to put the supposition thus gently, he uses this word "some" to soften prejudice.
shall their unbelief make the faith of God—or, "faithfulness of God."
of none effect?—"nullify," "invalidate" it.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Romans 3:4:
Ecclesiastes 7:14
Isaiah 5:3
Romans 3:1-2
Romans 3:7-8
1 Corinthians 13:2
1 Timothy 3:16
Titus 1:2
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