Rom 3:23 PANTES GAR hHMARTON KAI *hUSTEROUNTAI* THS DOXHS TOU

Jonathan Robie (jwrobie@mindspring.com)
Mon, 31 Mar 1997 11:57:32 -0500

I was struck by the present participle hUSTEROUNTAI in this verse, and hope
I'm not overinterpreting it:

Roma 3:22 (GNT) DIKAIOSUNH DE QEOU DIA PISTEWS IHSOU CRISTOU EIS PANTAS TOUS
PISTEUONTAS. OU GAR ESTIN DIASTOLH, 23 PANTES GAR hHMARTON KAI hUSTEROUNTAI
THS DOXHS TOU QEOU 24 DIKAIOUMENOI DWREAN TH AUTOU CARITI DIA THS
APOLUTRWSEWS THS EN CRISTW IHSOU:

A present participle presents the action during its course, so I would think
that this verse should be interpreted "for all sinned, and fall short of the
glory of God", not "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of
God". We still fall short. All of us. Even if we no longer sinned, we still
fall short because we *have* sinned; there is no distinction between Jew and
Gentile here - we are both justified as a gift by his grace. We fall short
and we are justified as a gift - both statements are present participles,
and refer to the same PANTES.

Is this a valid interpretation?

Also, I assume that DIKAIOUMENOI has true passive force here, but
hUSTEROUNTAI has middle force. Am I on target here?

Thanks!

Jonathan

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