---
title: Romans 3:26
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/romans-3-26/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/romans-3-26.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Romans 3:26
testament: NT
section: Letters
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Romans 3:26

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

## NWT Wording of the Key Phrase

- NWT (2013 revision): "so that he might be righteous even when declaring righteous the man who has faith in Jesus"

## JW Usage

Watchtower commentary takes Romans 3:26 as describing how Jehovah's righteousness is upheld in declaring sinners righteous. The verse confirms that justice and mercy are reconciled at the cross — but on the JW reading, the declaration of righteousness is a pronouncement about a person's standing as Jehovah's friend, not the imputation of Christ's righteousness to the sinner. The believer's ongoing obedience cooperates with the verdict.

## Protestant Usage

Romans 3:26 contains the central paradox the cross resolves: God is "righteous even when declaring righteous the man who has faith in Jesus." The Greek dikaios kai dikaiounta — "just AND the justifier." A judge who waives the penalty is unjust; a judge who enforces the penalty damns everyone. The cross is the only path through the dilemma: Christ pays the penalty, justice is fully satisfied, mercy is fully extended. And the NWT's own "declaring righteous" is forensic — a legal verdict declared, not a moral character developed. This is exactly what the Reformation called justification by faith: God credits Christ's righteousness to the believer who has faith, and on that basis declares the sinner righteous in his sight.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [Just AND Merciful — How the Cross Solves the Problem](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/just-and-merciful.md) — Romans 3:26 / Exodus 34:6–7 [Salvation]