Read:
Reflect:
For Reflection: This section marks the conclusion of Paul’s teaching on the universality of sin - good news coming tomorrow. A lot of no-one’s, alls and not even one’s here. Paul buttresses his teaching and gives authority to his arguments by calling in David as his witness (10-18). Are ALL unrighteous apart from Christ?
Lagniappe:
Psalms 53:1-3
None Is Righteous
9 What then? Are we any better off?[a] No, not at all, for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin, 10 as it is written:
“There is no one who is righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who has understanding;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
there is no one who shows kindness;
there is not even one.”
13 “Their throats are opened graves;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of vipers is under their lips.”
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery are in their paths,
17 and the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that, whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For no human will be justified before him by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.