God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

ROMANS 3:6KJV
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Romans 3:6 (KJV)

What does Romans 3:6 mean?

Romans 3:6 rejects the suggestion that God would be unfair to punish human wrongdoing. Paul’s question assumes that God is qualified to judge the world, so calling God unfair would undermine that judgment.

After the objection in verse 5, Paul answers with a forceful refusal and a question. The question invites his hearers to consider what the objection would imply about God’s judgment of everyone.

The Greek behind Romans 3:6

  • “God forbid” — μὴ γένοιτο (mē genoito): This phrase carries the sense of “may it never be.” The KJV uses “God forbid” to express Paul’s strong rejection.
  • “world” — κόσμος (kosmos): The word can refer to the world or its inhabitants. Here, it points beyond the particular people in Paul’s immediate discussion to the world as a whole.

Why Romans 3:6 matters

  • Paul treats the objection as a serious challenge to God’s role as judge. His question, “how shall God judge the world?”, asks what would follow if the charge in verse 5 were accepted.
  • The argument reaches beyond one group. The phrase “judge the world” broadens the discussion from the objection about human wrongdoing to God’s judgment of humanity.

Where else these words appear

“then” Greek G1893 · used in 26 verses

  • Matthew 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
  • Romans 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
  • Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

“shall” Greek G2919 · used in 98 verses

  • Matthew 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
  • Acts 20:16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
  • 1 Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

“how” Greek G4459 · used in 100 verses

  • Matthew 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
  • Luke 11:18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
  • Acts 8:31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.