Spice Mines of Kessel

Here is a short devotional I wrote on Romans 3:23. It compares the scripture from seven different translations. Then, it gives a short, two paragraph commentary on the verse. It is also downloadable in PDF format on the Spices page.

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Romans 3:23

for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
-American Standard Version
For all have done wrong and are far from the glory of God;
-Bible in Basic English
All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.
-Contemporary English Version
Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God’s glory.
-God’s Word Translation
since all have sinned and continue to fall short of God’s glory.
-International Standard Version
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
-King James Version
For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
-New Living Translation

Examine each translation of Romans 3:23 above. Notice how they all are so much alike, despite being completely different translations. Each of them contain the two main parts to the scripture: 1) all have sinned, and 2) all are short of God’s glory. Even though it has only two parts, so much is contained within this scripture. It establishes man’s fallen state, places no person above or beyond sin, demonstrates that man is the lesser to God, and pronounces God’s glory. Romans 3:23 bears a truth we must all accept: sin is in our very nature. Naturally, no man has the ability or even the will to escape sin. The only sinless being is the Triune Being—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

We become bound by our foolish acts of sin for which the wages are no less than death. Christ Jesus our Lord and Redeemer came so that we may have everlasting life and be freed from the bondage of sin.[1] We must repent of our sins. We must turn our hearts from the seekings of the flesh and set them to the ways of Christ. For it is by God’s infinite grace that we may be forgiven of our transgressions—“being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”[2]

-Soli Deo Gloria

[1] Romans 6:23 – The payment for sin is death, but the gift that God freely gives is everlasting life found in Christ Jesus our Lord.
[2] Romans 3:24 – being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;