Romans 3:9 Meaning: Are We Better? Paul's Surprising Answer

Two Greek verbs carry the weight of this verse. The first is proechometha, translated as ‘are we better.’ It comes from a word meaning to hold oneself before others, to claim a superior place. Paul asks if Jews can claim to stand ahead of Gentiles. His answer is a strong double negative: ou pantōs, not at all, by no means.

The second verb is proētiasametha, which means to bring a formal accusation against someone. Paul is not speculating; he is saying a charge has already been filed. He refers back to his arguments in Romans 1 and 2 where he showed that both groups are guilty.

Finally, the noun hamartia (sin) originally meant missing a target. But Paul uses it to describe a condition we are under, like a weight pressing down or a ruler controlling us. It is not just bad choices; it is a power we cannot escape on our own.

Reformed commentator John Calvin noted that Paul strips Jews of any claim to personal worthiness while still affirming that their privileges were gifts of God’s goodness. Wesleyan commentator Adam Clarke emphasized that both Jews and Gentiles owe their salvation to mere mercy alone. Anglican commentators point out that the grammar of ‘under sin’ suggests falling from an original ideal state, a condition affecting every descendant of Adam. Across these traditions, the agreement is clear: religious privilege never lifts anyone above the universal problem of sin.

A common mistake is to think Paul is denying that Jews had any advantage at all. He already said in verse 2 they had ‘much every way,’ especially the oracles of God. In fact, Paul is not denying those privileges; he is denying that they make anyone better off in the matter of being right with God. Privilege does not equal moral or spiritual superiority.

This verse asks you to stop comparing. Maybe you grew up in a Christian home; maybe you didn’t. Maybe you have never cheated on anything; maybe you have. Paul says all of us share the same basic problem: we are under sin. This week, when you feel tempted to look down on someone whose life looks messier than yours, remember the charge. And when you feel hopeless about your own failures, remember the charge is the same for everyone, which means the remedy is the same too. The good news is only a few verses away.