Romans 3:31 (KJV)

What does Romans 3:31 mean?

Romans 3:31 says that faith in God does not cancel out the law; instead, faith upholds and confirms the law’s true purpose. Paul insists that trusting God does not mean ignoring or discarding the law, but rather gives the law its rightful place.

Paul is writing to believers in Rome, many of whom are wondering how faith in Jesus relates to the Jewish law. Some might think that faith makes the law useless, but Paul strongly rejects this idea. He wants his readers to see that faith and the law are not enemies; faith actually honors what the law was always meant to do.

The Greek behind Romans 3:31

• καταργέω (katargeō, "make void" or "nullify"): This word means to make something powerless or ineffective. Paul uses it to ask if faith makes the law useless, which he firmly denies.
• μὴ γένοιτο (mē genoito, "God forbid"): This is a strong Greek phrase expressing absolute rejection, almost like saying, "Absolutely not!" or "May it never be!"
• ἱστάνω (histēmi, "establish"): This word means to set up, confirm, or make firm. Paul says faith "establishes" the law, meaning it gives the law its proper foundation and role.

Why Romans 3:31 matters

• Romans 3:31 clears up the misunderstanding that faith in Jesus means the law no longer matters or has been thrown out.
• The verse shows Paul’s careful balance: he does not pit faith against the law, but explains how faith fulfills the law’s deeper intention.
• This statement ties together Paul’s earlier arguments about faith and righteousness, showing that God’s way of making people right does not ignore the law but brings out its true meaning.