No, there is no doctrinal statement on these verses in Romans 3. However, we approach Romans 3 KNOWING that man is NOT totally corrupted - but merely wounded. Also, when further exploring Romans 3, something that you as a Protestant are quite capable of doing WITHOUT Rome, should be able to see what I am talking about. I have already detailed this to you quite extensively a few months ago before entering therapy!
Succinctly, Paul quotes from the Psalms. These VERY PSALMS ALSO speak of righteous people, as well. Thus, Paul AND the Psalms talk about wicked men, not one of them turn to the Lord. But in the same Psalm, they also speak of the righteous men that DO. Surely, Paul knew this. Thus, I contend that Paul did NOT mean that ALL men literally are wicked - he would be contradicting Scriptures. Paul utilizes Scripture in context. Thus, when he quotes it, he realizes that he is also using the background of his quotes to portray something. Furthermore, note in Chapter 2 what Paul says about the Gentiles. These are strange words - that they follow the Law written on their hearts, that they are spiritually circumcised, etc, IF ALL men are wicked!
Clearly, in context, Paul is saying that Jewish customs and their national heritage does not save a man - which is NOT what the Judaizers thought... FAITH in God does. The Jews thought that the Gentiles should be circumcised. Remember this is one of the big problems Paul had with the Jewish Christians, right? Paul is saying that one didn't have to become a Jew FIRST to have faith! This faith can even be exercised by Gentiles, as Ch. 2 describes. This faith, of course, is from the Spirit, who is the Author of the Law on our hearts! The problem is your paradigm that sees all men as evil, and thus, you overlook the context of Romans 3 and the Psalms that it quotes.
Is this interpretation from the Catholic Church? Not necessarily. We have a particular paradigm that we have been taught. Part of this is that ALL men are NOT wicked or will refuse to turn to God. Clearly, the Scriptures refute that idea over and over by mentioning righteous people. Thus, when we hear your interpretation of Romans 3, we know it is false. Not because Rome has passed out a commentary on Romans to us, but because it doesn't fit in with the "traditions passed down". But even a non-Christian would see my point of view and disagree that Paul could have meant all people are evil, because they would only have to read a few of the Psalms that deny this idea - which Paul quotes from.
Many of you must have thought that some wicked Jews were sinless
HUH??
Regards
"Succinctly, Paul quotes from the Psalms. These VERY PSALMS ALSO speak of righteous people, as well. Thus, Paul AND the Psalms talk about wicked men, not one of them turn to the Lord. But in the same Psalm, they also speak of the righteous men that DO."
I recited the 51st Psalm with the priest just last night. Kosta knows what THAT means! :)
Uh, man is not wounded. He is DEAD. Demised. An ex-parrot. The Holy Spirit is the only one who can make him ALIVE (Quicken) to Christ to where he will choose Christ.
Genesis 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Genesis 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
Job 15:14-16 What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
Psalms 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Do you think that Paul is saying that all righteous men never sinned? The verse says that all HAVE sinned. In fact even righteous men still sin. Paul knew about David, among dozens of other examples of righteous men.
Clearly, in context, Paul is saying that Jewish customs and their national heritage does not save a man - which is NOT what the Judaizers thought... FAITH in God does. The Jews thought that the Gentiles should be circumcised. Remember this is one of the big problems Paul had with the Jewish Christians, right?
Sure, and a common theme of Paul was that following the law to the best of our ability is not what saves. Not one of us can do it. Thus, ALL (meaning ALL) have sinned. That fits perfectly with Paul's message.
This faith can even be exercised by Gentiles, as Ch. 2 describes. This faith, of course, is from the Spirit, who is the Author of the Law on our hearts! The problem is your paradigm that sees all men as evil, and thus, you overlook the context of Romans 3 and the Psalms that it quotes.
If you believe that faith is truly from the Spirit, and I know you do, then that does not contradict the notion that all men are evil and totally lost without specific and total action by God. He removes from us the nature that is wholly evil and gives us a new nature.
But even a non-Christian would see my point of view and disagree that Paul could have meant all people are evil, because they would only have to read a few of the Psalms that deny this idea - which Paul quotes from.
I don't see how any non-Christian could come away from the Bible with the idea that all men who are called righteous were sinless from birth.
FK: "Many of you must have thought that some wicked Jews were sinless."
HUH??
That is what I'm supposing Paul must have meant if he took your view. My point is that his statement would have been utterly pointless if all he meant was that wicked men sin. Therefore, since all Jews knew that some were righteous, some must have thought that some wicked Jews were sinless. Paul was there to teach them that "no", in fact, only the wicked Jews sinned. This makes no sense as a teaching to me.
I'm saying that Paul's statement has profound meaning if he was saying that since ALL have sinned, it is a waste of time to attempt to enter Heaven by doing one's best to follow the Law. Many Jews certainly did believe that, as you pointed out.