Romans 3:2

3:2 Actually, there are many advantages. ¹  First of all, ²  the Jews ³  were entrusted with the oracles of God. ⁴ 

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 ⁵  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 ⁶  and revealed my regulations to them. The one ⁷  who carries ⁸  them out will live by them! ⁹  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.

[3:2]  ¹ tn Grk “much in every way.”

[3:2]  ² 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.

[3:2]  ³ tn Grk “they were.”

[3:2]  ⁴ 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.

[9:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “by the hand of.”

[20:11]  ⁶ sn The laws were given at Mount Sinai.

[20:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “the man.”

[20:11]  ⁸ tn Heb “does.”

[20:11]  ⁹ tn The wording and the concept is contained in Lev 18:5 and Deut 30:15-19.

[20:12]  ¹⁰ sn Ezekiel’s contemporary, Jeremiah, also stressed the importance of obedience to the Sabbath law (Jer 17).

[20:12]  ¹¹ tn Heb “to become a sign between me and them.”

[20:12]  ¹² tn Or “set them apart.” The last phrase of verse 12 appears to be a citation of Exod 31:13.

[1:17]  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).