Works of the Flesh 

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“But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.”

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Scrivener's Textus Receptus 1894
10 καθὼς γέγραπται ὅτι Οὐκ ἔστι δίκαιος οὐδὲ εἷς· 11 οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ συνίων, οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ ἐκζητῶν τὸν Θεόν· 12 πάντες ἐξέκλιναν, ἅμα ἠχρειώθησαν· οὐκ ἔστι ποιῶν χρηστότητα, οὐκ ἔστιν ἕως ἑνός· 13 τάφος ἀνεῳγμένος ὁ λάρυγξ αὐτῶν, ταῖς γλώσσαις αὐτῶν ἐδολιοῦσαν· ἰὸς ἀσπίδων ὑπὸ τὰ χείλη αὐτῶν 14 ὧν τὸ στόμα ἀρᾶς καὶ πικρίας γέμει 15 ὀξεῖς οἱ πόδες αὐτῶν ἐκχέαι αἷμα 16 σύντριμμα καὶ ταλαιπωρία ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν, 17 καὶ ὁδὸν εἰρήνης οὐκ ἔγνωσαν 18 οὐκ ἔστι φόβος Θεοῦ ἀπέναντι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν.

Romans 3:13-18

10 "As it is written-γέγραπται (gegraptai)-to be written), There is-ἔστι (esti)-'to be') none-Οὐκ (Ouk)-no, not) *righteous-δίκαιος (dikaios)-right, righteous, just), no not-οὐδὲ (oude)-not even) one: 11 There is none *that understandeth-συνίων (sunion)-to learn by enquiry), there is none *that seeketh after-ἐκζητῶν (ekzeton)-to seek out, to search out) God. 12 They are all-πάντες (pantes)-all, every, the whole) gone out of the way-ἐξέκλιναν (exeklinan)-to bend or incline out, (metaphorically and absolutely, to turn (oneself) away)), they are together-ἅμα (hama)-together with) become unprofitable-ἠχρειώθησαν (echreiothesan)-to become useless, worthless), there is none that doeth-ποιῶν (poion)-to do) good-χρηστότητα (chrestoteta)-usefulness, kindness, (i.e. morally, excellence (in character or demeanor):—gentleness, good(-ness), kindness)), no not one. 13 Their throat-λάρυγξ (larugx)-the throat) is an open-ἀνεῳγμένος (aneogmenos)-to open) sepulchre-τάφος (taphos)-burying place, a grave), with their tongues-γλώσσαις (glossais)-a tongue, language) they have used deceit-ἐδολιοῦσαν (edoliousan)-to deceive, to use a bait, guile), the poison of Asps-ἀσπίδων (aspidon)-an asp, kind of viper) is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full-γέμει (gemei)-to be full, filled, full) of cursing-ἀρᾶς (aras)-a curse, cursing, (i.e. an imprecation, curse, malediction)) and *bitterness-πικρίας (pikrias)-sharpness, bitterness, (e.g. bitter gall)): 15 Their feet are swift-ὀξεῖς (oxeis)-sharp, swift, acute) to shed-ἐκχέαι (ekcheai)-to pour out, shed forth) *blood-αἷμα (haima)-blood, (by implication: blood shed, to be shed by violence, slay, murder)). 16 Destruction-σύντριμμα (sumtrimma)-a breaking together, (i.e. calamity, ruin, destruction)) and *misery-ταλαιπωρία (talaiporia)-grievous misery, (i.e. trouble, calamity, misery)) are in their ways-ὁδοῖς (hodois)-properly: a way, road, journey, custom, (by implication: a course of conduct)): 17 And the way-ὁδὸν (hodon)-properly: a way, road, journey, custom, (by implication: a way (i.e. manner) of thinking, feeling, deciding)) of *peace-εἰρήνης (eirnens)-peace, unity, concord) *have they not known-ἔγνωσαν (egnosan)-to know, (i.e. understand, perceive)). 18 There is-ἔστι (esti)-'to be') no-οὐκ (ouk)-no, not) *fear-φόβος (phobos)-fear, terror (i.e. reverential fear)) of God before-ἀπέναντι (apenanti)-from over-against, (from in front, i.e. opposite, before or against:—before, contrary, over against, in the presence of, in the sight of)) their eyes."

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• *example of Greek word: δίκαιος (dikaios)-righteous click: 1 Peter 3:18

• *example of Greek word: συνίων-that understandeth click: Matthew 13:23 (understandeth)

• *example of G1567: (ἐκζητῶν-that seeketh after) click: Hebrews 11:6 (ἐκζητοῦσιν-diligently seek)

• *example of Greek word: πικρίας (pikrias)-bitterness click: Acts 8:23

• *example of Greek word: αἷμα (haima)-blood click: Matthew 27:4

• *example of G5004: (ταλαιπωρία-misery) click: James 5:1 (ταλαιπωρίαις-miseries)

• *example of Greek word: εἰρήνης (eirnens)-peace click: Luke 1:79

• *example of Greek word: ἔγνωσαν-have they known click: John 16:3 (they have known)

• *example of Greek word: φόβος (phobos)-fear click: Acts 5:5

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• it is written-γέγραπται: Verb, Perfect, Passive, Indicative, 3rd Person, Singular: As ["it-HAS-been-WRITTEN"],

• There is-ἔστι: Verb, Present, (No voice stated), Indicative, 3rd Person, Singular: ["IS"//"there-is"] none righteous, no not one: 

• There is-ἔστιν: Verb, Present, (No voice stated), Indicative, 3rd Person, Singular: ["IS"//"there-is"] none

• that understandeth-συνίων: Verb, Present, Active, Participle, Nominative, Singular, Masculine: ["one-understandING"],

•  there is-ἔστιν: Verb, Present, (No voice stated), Indicative, 3rd Person, Singular: ["IS"//"there-is"]  none

• that seeketh after -ἐκζητῶν: Verb, Present, Active, Participle, Nominative, Singular, Masculine: ["one-OUT-SEEKING"//"one-seeking-out"]  God. all

•  They are gone out of the way-ἐξέκλιναν: Verb, Aorist, Active, Indicative, 3rd Person, Plural: ["avoid-him"] , together

• they are become unprofitable-ἠχρειώθησαν: Verb, Aorist, Passive, Indicative, 3rd Person, Plural: ["they-were-useless"],

• there is-ἔστι: Verb, Present, (No voice stated), Indicative, 3rd Person, Singular: ["IS"//"there-is"] none

• that doeth-ποιῶν: Verb, Present, Active, Participle, Nominative, Singular, Masculine: ["one-DOING"] good, no not one. Their throat

• is an open-ἀνεῳγμένος: Verb, Perfect, Passive, Participle, Nominative, Singular, Masculine: ["HAVING-been-UP-OPENED"//"having-been-opened"]  sepulchre, with their tongues

• they have used deceit-ἐδολιοῦσαν: Verb, Imperfect, Active, Indicative, 3rd Person, Plural: ["THEY-deFRAUD"], the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth

• is full-γέμει: Verb, Present, Active, Indicative, 3rd Person, Singular: ["IS-beING-REPLETE"] of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift

• to shed-ἐκχέαι: Verb, Aorist, Active, Infinitive: ["TO-POUR-OUT"//"to-shed"] blood. Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace

• they have known-ἔγνωσαν: Verb, Second-Aorist, Active, Indicative, 3rd Person, Plural: ["THEY-KNOW"] not.

• There is-ἔστι: Verb, Present, Active, Indicative, 3rd Person, Singular: ["IS"//"there-is"] no fear of God before their eyes.

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***As it is written — See Psalms 14:1-3; from which this and the two following verses are taken. There is none righteous — This is true, not only of the Jews, but of the Gentiles; of every soul of man, considered in his natural and practical state, previously to his receiving the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no righteous principle in them, and, consequently, no righteous act can be expected from them; see on Romans 3:12. God himself is represented as looking down from heaven to see if there were any that feared and sought after him; and yet he, who cannot be deceived, could find none! And therefore we may safely conclude there was none to be found. They are all gone out of the way — παντες εξεκλιναν, they have all diverged from the right way, they have either abandoned or corrupted   the worship of God: the Jews, in forsaking the law and the prophets, and the Gentiles, in acting contrary to the law which God had written on their hearts. And the departure of both from the truth proves the evil propensity of human nature in general. They are together become unprofitable — 

ηχρειωθησαν. They are useless, good for nothing; or, as the Hebrew has it, נאלחו neelachu, they are putrid: he views the whole mass of mankind as slain and thrown together, to putrefy in heaps. This is what is termed the corruption of human nature; they are infected and infectious. What need of the mercy of God to save from such a state of degeneracy! There is none that doeth good — In Romans 3:10 it is said, There is none righteous; here, There is none that doeth good: the first may refer to the want of a righteous principle; the second, to the necessary consequence of the absence of such a principle. If there be no righteousness within, there will be no acts of goodness without.-(Adam Clarke Commentary). SL

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***There is none righteous, no, not one.- The words that follow in the next eight verses, prove this assertion. What then becomes of the rabbinical boasts of keeping the law? Paul, fighting with Jehovah’s sword, always vanquished his foes. There is none that understandeth.- Ignorance and contempt of devotion are the general sources of ruin to the human kind. The flood of divine light is poured out to aid us in the conquest of vice. Their throat is an open sepulchre.- “They drink iniquity like water.” Job 15:16. The selfish man swallows down riches unlawfully gained, but God will force him to vomit them up again. Job 20:15. These are the unclean things which enter the heart, and defile the man.-(Sutcliffe's Commentary). SL

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***Their throat — Is noisome and dangerous as an open sepulchre. Observe the progress of evil discourse, proceeding out of the heart, through the throat, tongue, lips, till the whole mouth is filled therewith. The poison of asps — Infectious, deadly backbiting, tale-bearing, evil-speaking, is under (for honey is on) their lips. An asp is a venomous kind of serpent. Psalms 5:9; Psalm 140:3.-(Wesley's Explanatory Notes). SL

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They are together become unprofitable.—Here the adjective is used to express a state of moral corruption and depravity. “Together” means “altogether;” “the whole mass of mankind, with one consent, has fallen to ruin.” Their throat is an open sepulchre—i.e., their speech is at once corrupt and corrupting. It is compared to a “yawning grave”—not merely to a pit into which a man may fall, but to a sort of pestiferous chasm-[(def. abyss)] yawning and ravening, as it were, after its prey. They have used deceit.—Strictly, they were deceiving; a continued action brought up to the present time. Bitterness.—Malignity; from the notion that venom was contained in the gall. (Comp. Acts 8:23.)-(Ellicott's Commentary). SL

 ***There is no fear of God before their eyes "...This verse is a quotation from Psalms 36:1, and seems to be presented here as a climax of all the wickedness already documented. Where there is no fear of God in the hearts of people, there is no practical restraint of any kind upon their deeds. The unregenerated man who does not fear God or, for that matter, even believe that God exists - such a man quickly proves what a vicious and unprincipled beast the natural man becomes, once he has drifted, or fallen, beyond the reach of heavenly influence.-(Coffman Commentaries). SL

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***These verses are a general statement of the condition of mankind. Wherever man goes, he leaves a trail of destruction and misery behind him. Human wickedness continually inflicts injury on others. Even when they are clearly shown the “path of Peace,” they make themselves blind to it. Nor have they learned to fear God. This both sums up and explains why man is under the power of sin. When God is not feared [respected, worshiped], nothing else is; and with the final barrier down, sin comes in like a flood! Paul has proved from the Scriptures that no man is righteous!-(The Bible Study New Testament). SL

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***There are so many who seek to sort of promote and exalt their own righteous works, their own goodness, and there are many people who are daring to come before God on the basis I am a good person or I am a moral person. It is interesting to me today that the Jewish people, for the most part, are seeking an acceptance by God on the basis of their good works.-(Chuck Smith Commentary). SL

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