Romans 3:2

3:2 Actually, there are many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

Nehemiah 9:13-14

9:13 “You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You provided them with just judgments, true laws, and good statutes and commandments. 9:14 You made known to them your holy Sabbath; you issued commandments, statutes, and law to them through Moses your servant.

Psalms 147:19

147:19 He proclaims his word to Jacob,

his statutes and regulations to Israel.

Ezekiel 20:11-12

20:11 I gave them my statutes and revealed my regulations to them. The one who carries them out will live by them! 20:12 I also gave them my Sabbaths 10  as a reminder of our relationship, 11  so that they would know that I, the Lord, sanctify them. 12 

John 1:17

1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but 13  grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ.

tn Grk “much in every way.”

tc ‡ Most witnesses (א A D2 33 Ï) have γάρ (gar) after μέν (men), though some significant Alexandrian and Western witnesses lack the conjunction (B D* G Ψ 81 365 1506 2464* pc latt). A few mss have γάρ, but not μέν (6 1739 1881). γάρ was frequently added by scribes as a clarifying conjunction, making it suspect here. NA27 has the γάρ in brackets, indicating doubt as to its authenticity.

tn Grk “they were.”

tn The referent of λόγια (logia, “oracles”) has been variously understood: (1) BDAG 598 s.v. λόγιον takes the term to refer here to “God’s promises to the Jews”; (2) some have taken this to refer more narrowly to the national promises of messianic salvation given to Israel (so S. L. Johnson, Jr., “Studies in Romans: Part VII: The Jews and the Oracles of God,” BSac 130 [1973]: 245); (3) perhaps the most widespread interpretation sees the term as referring to the entire OT generally.

tn Heb “by the hand of.”

sn The laws were given at Mount Sinai.

tn Heb “the man.”

tn Heb “does.”

tn The wording and the concept is contained in Lev 18:5 and Deut 30:15-19.

10 sn Ezekiel’s contemporary, Jeremiah, also stressed the importance of obedience to the Sabbath law (Jer 17).

11 tn Heb “to become a sign between me and them.”

12 tn Or “set them apart.” The last phrase of verse 12 appears to be a citation of Exod 31:13.

13 tn “But” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the implied contrast between the Mosaic law and grace through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 seems to indicate clearly that the Old Covenant (Sinai) was being contrasted with the New. In Jewish sources the Law was regarded as a gift from God (Josephus, Ant. 3.8.10 [3.223]; Pirqe Avot 1.1; Sifre Deut 31:4 §305). Further information can be found in T. F. Glasson, Moses in the Fourth Gospel (SBT).