“as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one'” (Romans 3:10 ESV).
A common thread runs through the appraisal that begins here in Romans 3:10 and continues into verse eighteen. That thread involves various aspects of the human body. For instance, the throat, tongue, and lips are mentioned in Romans 3:13. A reference to the mouth appears in verse fourteen, while the feet and eyes are noted in verses fifteen and eighteen.
These references are far from trivial, for they serve to illustrate the extent of human unrighteousness. For instance, our text from this portion of Romans is strikingly similar to the depiction of humanity that defined the era immediately preceding Noah’s flood…
“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart” (Genesis 6:5-6).
The following commentators offer some additional insight concerning this passage and the verses that follow…
“It is a terrible description of human nature in its Christless state. Vaughan has pointed out that these Old Testament quotations describe three things. (i) A character whose characteristics are ignorance, indifference, crookedness and unprofitableness. (ii) A tongue whose notes are destructive, deceitful, malignant. (iii) A conduct whose marks are oppression, injuriousness, implacability. These things are the result of disregard of God.” (1)
So, these verses present us with a stark depiction of the human race, an image of humanity that is not as it should be. We can attribute that condition to an internal human nature that naturally rebels against its Creator and the external actions that follow as a result. Consider the following description that is given to us in the next verse…
“There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God” (Romans 3:11)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus is quoted as saying, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will rise him up in the last day” (John 6:44). In John 14:6, He added, “…’I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'” In light of these Scriptures, we should be diligent to pray that God will draw others to Christ. If left to ourselves, Romans 3:11 tells us there are none who will seek after Him.
We’ll explore the ramifications of Romans 3:11 at greater length in our next study.
(1) Barclay, William. “Commentary on Romans 2”. “William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dsb/romans-2.html. 1956-1959.