Romans 3:2

Chiefly. Or, “first of all.” Paul mentions only one advantage in this passage, and does not go on to enumerate others. He answers the question more fully in ch. 9:4, 5.

Unto them were committed. Or, “they were entrusted with” the oracles (see below).

Oracles. Gr. logia, literally, “brief sayings.” The word occurs only four times in the NT (see Acts 7:38; Heb. 5:12; 1 Peter 4:11). In this context Paul evidently uses it to denote the OT Scriptures, though he may have been referring in particular to God’s promises and commands to His people Israel. The first advantage the Jews enjoyed was that they had been entrusted with the direct revelation of God concerning the divine will for man. This was a great honor and privilege and carried with it a corresponding obligation to share this divine revelation with the rest of the world (see Deut. 4:6-8). Had the Jews recognized and appreciated the privilege and responsibility with which they had been entrusted, God could have worked through them for the salvation of the world (see Vol. IV, p. 26).