“Why not say–as some slanderously claim that we say–‘Let us do evil that good may result’? Their condemnation is just!” (Romans 3:8).
A person who attempts to discredit someone by misrepresenting something he or she said is someone who employs an ancient strategy that dates back to the Garden of Eden. For instance, consider the serpent’s claim regarding the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in Genesis chapter three.
When told that certain death would result for those who chose to partake of that fruit, the serpent replied, “…’You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’” (Genesis 3:4-5). That was a lie, and a clear misrepresentation of God’s warning to Adam in Genesis 2:16-17.
Another spiritual misrepresentation appears here in Romans 3:7-8. The following source draws our attention to the contrast that exists between Jesus’ teachings and those who suggest that we should “…do evil that good may result”…
“It does not take an accomplished theologian to see that this is not true Christianity. Think, for example, how Jesus insisted on a radical change of behavior for all who would follow him. He said, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me’ (Luke 9:23).
He admonished those whose ‘faith’ was only verbal… Furthermore, he told the Jews of his day, ‘… unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven’ (Matt. 5:20).” (1)
Regrettably, Paul the Apostle had little control over what others did with his message. Thus, there were some who chose to slander him by distorting his teachings. Paul documented one such example here in Romans 3:8. A similar example occurred in 1 Corinthians 5:9-10, where he sought to correct an erroneous application of his teaching concerning interpersonal relationships.
Other examples were cited by the Apostle Peter who wrote of “…our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:15-16).
As another source comments, “Tragically, the apostle’s gospel message of salvation by grace through faith alone had been perverted by his opponents who argued it provided not only a license to sin, but outright encouragement to do so (5:20; 6:1, 2).” (2) Therefore, we should be mindful of Paul’s parting observation regarding those who deliberately misrepresent such teachings: “…They are condemned, and that’s what they deserve” (GW).
(1) Boice, J. M. (2005). Romans: Justification by Faith (Romans 1-4). Baker Books. [p.287]
(2) John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Ro 3:8.