Rom 3:19 | TNotes | STEP | 3:19 Paul speaks of the entire Old Testament as the law (see also 1 Cor 9:8 , 9 ; 14:21 , 34 ; Gal 4:21 ). • Those to whom it was given (literally those in the law ) were the Jews, who were given the Scriptures. • How can Paul conclude that the entire world is guilty before God on the basis of evidence from the Old Testament that Jews are sinful? He argues from the greater to the lesser, a standard Jewish rhetorical technique: If the law shows that the Jews, God’s own people, are guilty, then how much more are the Gentiles, who have not had the benefit of God’s instruction, also guilty.

b1 Cor 9:8►

fGal 4:21►

‏ Romans 3:19

3:19 ^a Paul speaks of the entire Old Testament as the law (see also 1 Cor 9:8 ^b, 9 ^c; 14:21 ^d, 34 ^e; Gal 4:21 ^f).

• Those to whom it was given (literally those in the law) were the Jews, who were given the Scriptures.

• How can Paul conclude that the entire world is guilty before God on the basis of evidence from the Old Testament that Jews are sinful? He argues from the greater to the lesser, a standard Jewish rhetorical technique: If the law shows that the Jews, God’s own people, are guilty, then how much more are the Gentiles, who have not had the benefit of God’s instruction, also guilty.