Romans 3:23 Text
King James Version (KJV)
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
World English Bible (WEB)
for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
What Romans 3:23 Means
Paul states that everyone has sinned, and everyone falls short of God's glory. He has just spent two chapters arguing that Jews and non-Jews alike are guilty, so the 'all' is deliberate: no group is exempt. 'Sinned' points to missing the mark, and 'come short' (KJV) or 'fall short' (WEB) pictures an archer whose arrow drops before the target. The glory of God can mean God's own splendor, or the honor and likeness to God that humans were made to reflect. Taken alone, the verse can sound merely bleak, but Paul does not stop there. The next verse says people are justified freely by grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. The bad news is stated so that the good news of forgiveness stands out clearly.
Context of Romans 3:23
Paul, an apostle of Jesus, wrote this letter to the Christians in Rome, probably around the mid-50s AD, while he was staying in Greece. In the opening chapters he argues that no one can be made right with God by his or her own moral record. This verse is the summary of that case, and verses 24 to 26 turn to God's gift of righteousness through faith in Jesus. To read the whole book, see random verse from Romans.
How to Apply Romans 3:23
Knowing that everyone falls short can free you from both pride and despair. You do not need to compare yourself favorably to others, and you do not need to hide your failures from God. Consider telling him one thing you regret today, and receive the forgiveness that the next verse describes.
Related Verses
- Romans 3:24 – Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
- Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- Ephesians 2:8 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Looking for more verses on this theme? Browse Bible Verses About Forgiveness, each with a short note on its context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'fall short of the glory of God' mean?
It means that no human fully lives up to the character and purpose God intended. Paul uses the picture of missing a target to say that everyone, however good, is unable to reach God's standard.
Does Romans 3:23 mean God hates everyone?
No. Paul says it to show why everyone needs grace. In the very next verse he says that people are justified freely by God's grace through Jesus, so the verse leads to forgiveness, not to rejection.
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