---
title: Romans 3:23
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/romans-3-23/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/romans-3-23.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Romans 3:23
testament: NT
section: Letters
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Romans 3:23

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

## JW Usage

JWs acknowledge universal sinfulness but treat it as the starting point for a works-based recovery programme. Because all have sinned, all must now earn their way back through accurate knowledge, field service, meeting attendance, and organisational loyalty. The verse is used to establish the problem, but the Watchtower's solution adds conditions that Paul's own argument explicitly excludes.

## Protestant Usage

Romans 3:23 is the hinge of Paul's prosecution. After establishing that both Gentiles (Romans 1:18–32) and Jews (Romans 2:1–29) stand guilty, he delivers the verdict: "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." The very next verse provides the remedy: "being justified as a free gift by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24). Paul's solution to universal sin is not a performance programme but a gift received through faith (Romans 3:28). Romans 2:13 — "the doers of the law will be justified" — states a principle Paul himself says no one meets (3:10, 3:20). The doers of the law would be justified if there were any. That is why we need Christ's righteousness credited to us.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [Grace vs Works](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/romans11-grace.md) — Romans 11:6 in the NWT [Salvation]
- [Repentance and Faith — The Two-Question Gospel Pivot](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/repentance-faith-gospel.md) — Acts 20:21 / Ephesians 2:8–9 / Acts 16:31 [Salvation]
- [Doers of the Law — Romans 2:13](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/romans2-13-doers-justified.md) — Paul's principle vs Paul's conclusion [Salvation]
- [Judgment According to Works](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/judgment-according-to-works.md) — Matthew 25, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20 — evidence or basis? [Salvation]
- [Ministers of a New Covenant](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/new-covenant-2cor3-direct-mediation.md) — 2 Corinthians 3:6, 18 — Paul's 'us' has no asterisk [Salvation]