Romans 3:12

Out of the way. A citation from Ps. 14:3 agreeing exactly with the LXX (where it appears as Ps. 13:3; see Vol. III, p. 627).

Become unprofitable. The equivalent Hebrew expression in the psalm quoted means “to be corrupt” (see on Ps. 14:3). The Greek means “to become useless.”

Good. Gr. chrestotes. In the NT this word occurs only in Paul’s writings. It is translated “kindness” in Eph. 2:7; Col. 3:12, and “gentleness” Gal. 5:22, where it is listed among the fruits of the Spirit. The word may be defined as a kindly disposition toward one’s neighbor. When men have no desire to know God, and their understanding has become darkened, they do not have this kindly disposition (see Rom. 1:28-31).

No, not one. It might be objected that the Bible and history record the lives of many noble men and women who have lived righteously, in the fear of the Lord. After this statement the psalmist himself refers to “the generation of the righteous” (Ps. 14:5).

Paul’s own disciple and companion, Luke (see on Acts 16:10), does not hesitate to say that Zacharias and Elisabeth were “both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6). But “the generation of the righteous” would be quick to agree with Paul that “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23) and that they constitute no exception to his description of general sinfulness. They would be the first to acknowledge that they once were under the dominion of sin and that the righteousness they now enjoy has come from God through faith.