Romans 10:3 Meaning and Explanation
“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Not knowing the righteousness God provides, they tried to build their own and so failed to submit to His.
What Does Romans 10:3 Mean?
Paul now explains the gap he named in the previous verse. He sets two kinds of righteousness side by side: the righteousness that comes from God as a gift, and a righteousness people labor to construct on their own. Missing the first, they busied themselves with the second, and in doing so refused the very thing God offered.
At the root of the problem is not laziness but pride that will not bend. To receive God's righteousness, a person must lay down the claim to manufacture their own. The word 'submitted' is telling: the issue is the will. We are all tempted to present God with our achievements rather than receive His gift. The gospel asks us first to stop building and open our hands.
Romans 10:3 in the Original Language
dikaiosyne (δικαιοσύνη), 'righteousness' -- being made right with God, both His gift and the standing it gives.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 10:3
What does Romans 10:3 mean?
Not knowing the righteousness God provides, they tried to build their own and so failed to submit to His.