Romans 3:11

11 there is no man understanding [there is not a man understanding], neither seeking God.

Romans 3:11 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 3:11

There is none that understandeth
This is rightly concluded, from what the Psalmist says, ( Psalms 14:2 ) , "The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men", on all the children of men, Jews and Gentiles, "to see if there were any that did understand"; and it appears, upon this survey of them, there was not one understanding person among them: man thinks himself a very wise and understanding creature, though he is born a very ignorant one: true indeed, he has not lost by sin the natural faculty of the understanding, so as to become like the horse and mule, which are without any; and it must be allowed, that natural men have some understanding of things natural, civil, and moral; though there is none that understands even these, as Adam did: but then they have no understanding of things spiritual; no spiritual knowledge of God; no true sense of themselves, their sin and misery; nor do they truly know the way of salvation by Christ; nor have they any experience of the work of the Spirit of God upon their souls; nor any experimental knowledge of the doctrines of the Gospel: no man can understand these of himself, by the mere strength of reason, and light of nature; nor can even a spiritual man fully understand them in this life; in consequence of this account and character of men it follows, that

there is none that seeketh after God;
that worships him in Spirit and in truth, or prays to him with the Spirit, and with the understanding; who seek him chiefly, and in the first place, with their whole hearts, earnestly, diligently, and constantly; who seek him in Christ, and under the assistance of the Spirit; who seek after the knowledge of God in Christ, communion with him through the Mediator, or his honour and glory.

Romans 3:11 In-Context

9 What then? Surpass we them? Nay; for we have showed by skill, that all both Jews and Greeks be under sin, [+What therefore? Pass we them? Nay; for we have showed by skill, the Jews and Greeks all to be under sin,]
10 as it is written, For there is no man just [For there is not any man just];
11 there is no man understanding [there is not a man understanding], neither seeking God.
12 All bowed away, together they be made unprofitable; there is none that doeth good thing, there is none till to one [there is not till to one].
13 The throat of them is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they did guilefully; the venom of snakes is under their lips [+with their tongues they did guilefully, or treacherously; the venom of snakes, that is asps, is under their lips].
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.