Romans 3:8

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Why not say—as some slanderously claim we say—"Let us do evil so that good may result"? Their condemnation is just.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ μή, (καθὼς βλασφημούμεθα, καὶ καθώς φασίν τινες ἡμᾶς λέγειν,) ὅτι Ποιήσωμεν τὰ κακὰ, ἵνα ἔλθῃ τὰ ἀγαθά; ὧν τὸ κρίμα ἔνδικόν ἐστιν.

Transliteration

Kai mē, (kathōs blasphēmoumetha, kai kathōs phasin tines hēmas legein,) hoti Poiēsōmen ta kaka, hina elthē ta agatha? hōn to krima endikon estin.

Grammar Details

• *Kai*: conjunction - and
• *mē*: negative particle - not
• *kathōs*: adverb - just as/according as
• *blasphēmoumetha*: verb, present passive, 1st person plural - we are blasphemed/slandered
• *kai*: conjunction - and
• *phasin*: verb, present active, 3rd person plural - they say
• *tines*: indefinite pronoun, nominative, masculine, plural - some
• *hēmas*: pronoun, accusative, plural - us
• *legein*: verb, present active infinitive - to say
• *hoti*: conjunction - that
• *Poiēsōmen*: verb, aorist active subjunctive, 1st person plural - let us do
• *ta kaka*: adjective, accusative, neuter, plural - the evil things
• *hina*: conjunction - so that/in order that
• *elthē*: verb, aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person singular - may come
• *ta agatha*: adjective, nominative/accusative, neuter, plural - the good things
• *hōn*: relative pronoun, genitive, masculine, plural - of whom
• *to krima*: noun, nominative, neuter, singular - the judgment/condemnation
• *endikon*: adjective, nominative, neuter, singular - just/righteous
• *estin*: verb, present active, 3rd person singular - is

Word Meanings

• *blasphēmoumetha*: are blasphemed/are slandered/are spoken against
• *phasin*: say/claim/assert
• *Poiēsōmen*: let us do/may we do/should we do
• *kaka*: evil things/bad things/harmful things
• *agatha*: good things/benefits/blessings
• *krima*: judgment/condemnation/sentence
• *endikon*: just/righteous/deserved/fair

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And not rather, (as we be slandeusly reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And why not say, (as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say,) 'Let us do evil that good may come'? Their condemnation is just.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  and why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), {G3754} Let us do evil, that good may come? whose condemnation is just.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And not rather,(as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  and saye not rather (as men evyll speake of vs and as some affirme that we saye) let vs do evyll that good maye come therof. Whose damnacion is iuste.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  & not rather to do thus (as we are euell spoken of, and as some reporte, that we shulde saye) Let vs do euell, yt good maye come therof. Whose danacio is inste.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And (as we are blamed, & as some affirme, that we say) why doe we not euil, that good may come thereof? whose damnation is iust.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And not rather (as men speake euyll of vs, and as some affirme that we say) let vs do euyll, that good may come therof? Whose dampnation is iuste.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And not [rather], (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), "Let us do evil, that good may come?" Those who say so are justly condemned.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and not, as we are evil spoken of, and as certain affirm us to say -- `We may do the evil things, that the good ones may come?' whose judgment is righteous.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil, that good may come? whose condemnation is just.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil, that good may come? whose condemnation is just.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Let us not do evil so that good may come (a statement which we are falsely said by some to have made), because such behaviour will have its right punishment.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), "Let us do evil, that good may come?" Those who say so are justly condemned.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  And why not say,“Let us do evil so that good may come of it”?– as some who slander us allege that we say.(Their condemnation is deserved!)

Referenced Verses

• Rom 6:1 : 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase?
• Rom 6:15 : 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Certainly not!
• Rom 7:7 : 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, 'You shall not covet.'
• 1 Pet 3:16-17 : 16 Yet do so with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are maligned, those who accuse your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
• Jude 1:4 : 4 For certain people have secretly slipped in among you—those who were written about long ago as being destined for this condemnation. They are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into a license for immorality and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
• Matt 5:11 : 11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
• Rom 5:20 : 20 Now the law was brought in so that the trespass might increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more.