Romans 3:3

King James Version (KJV)

For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

Jew. For what - τι γαρ, What then, if some did not believe, etc. If some of the Jewish nation have abused their privileges, and acted contrary to their obligations, shall their wickedness annul the Promise which God made to Abraham, that he would, by an everlasting covenant, be a God to him and to his seed after him? Genesis 17:7. Shall God, therefore, by stripping the Jews of their peculiar honor, as you intimate he will, falsify his promise to the nation, because some of the Jews are bad men?

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

For what if some did not believe? - This is to be regarded as another objection of a Jew. “What then? or what follows? if it be admitted that some of the nation did not believe, does it not follow that the faithfulness of God in his promises will fail?” The points of the objection are these:

(1)The apostle had maintained that the nation was sinful Matthew 13:23; 2 Timothy 3:10; Hosea 2:20.

Of none effect - Destroy it; or prevent him from fulfilling his promises. The meaning of the objection is, that the fact supposed, that the Jews would become unfaithful and be lost, would imply that God had failed to keep his promises to the nation; or that he had made promises which the result showed he was not able to perform.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

The law could not save in or from sins, yet it gave the Jews advantages for obtaining salvation. Their stated ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God and his service, and many favours shown to the children of Abraham, all were means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the conversion of many. But especially the Scriptures were committed to them. Enjoyment of God's word and ordinances, is the chief happiness of a people. But God's promises are made only to believers; therefore the unbelief of some, or of many professors, cannot make this faithfulness of no effect. He will fulfil his promises to his people, and bring his threatened vengeance upon unbelievers. God's judging the world, should for ever silence all doubtings and reflections upon his justice. The wickedness and obstinate unbelief of the Jews, proved man's need of the righteousness of God by faith, and also his justice in punishing for sin. Let us do evil, that good may come, is oftener in the heart than in the mouth of sinners; for few thus justify themselves in their wicked ways. The believer knows that duty belongs to him, and events to God; and that he must not commit any sin, or speak one falsehood, upon the hope, or even assurance, that God may thereby glorify himself. If any speak and act thus, their condemnation is just.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

3. Did not believe. Or, “were without faith,” or “were unfaithful.” There is a basic similarity between the Greek words usually translated “believe,” “belief,” and “faith” in the KJV. “Believe” is pisteuo. “Belief” is pistis. “Faith” is also from pistis. “Not believe” is apisteÅÂ. “Unbelief” is apistia.

The reference is doubtless to the lack of belief and faith in God’s revelation and especially to the lack of faith in Jesus, the promised Saviour. There is perhaps a reference to the general unfaithfulness among the Jews, their failure to live up to the knowledge and instruction with which they had been entrusted. Paul does not say that all Jews were faithless or unfaithful. “Some of the branches were broken off” (see on ch. 11:17). However, “some” (tines) may represent the great majority (cf. Heb. 3:16).

Unbelief. Or, “lack of faith.”

Make Ã¢â‚¬Â¦ without effect. Gr. katargeÅÂ, “to make null and void.” This word occurs frequently in Paul’s epistles and is variously rendered in the KJV as “make void” (Rom. 3:31), “bring to nought” (1 Cor. 1:28), “put away” (1 Cor. 13:11), “abolished” (Eph. 2:15), “ceased” (Gal. 5:11), etc. The basic meaning is “to make idle.” The failures of the Jews do not imply that God failed to keep His promises to them. The promise of salvation is still valid, but always and only to those who have faith (Rom. 1:16). In our time some may be tempted to regard the long delay in the return of Christ as a failure on God’s part to fulfill His promises to His people. But the promises of God are conditional (see on Eze. 12:27). It is our own sin and lack of faith that have made it impossible for God to fulfill His promise of a soon return. The same sins that shut out ancient Israel from the land of Canaan have delayed the entrance of modern Israel into the heavenly Canaan. “In neither case were the promises of God at fault. It is the unbelief, the worldliness, unconsecration, and strife among the Lord’s professed people that have kept us in this world of sin and sorrow so many years” (Ev 696). See Vol. IV, pp. 30-34.

The faith of God. Or, “the faithfulness of God,” that is, God’s fidelity to His promises. On the faithfulness of God see 2 Tim. 2:13; Heb. 10:23; 11:11; 1 John 1:9.

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Romans 3:3