Romans 3:23

πάντες γὰρ … τ. θ. resumes Romans 1:19 to Romans 3:20. ἥμαρτον is the ‘constructive’ or summary aorist, “which regards the whole action simply as having occurred, without distinguishing any steps in its progress” (Moulton, p. 109; cf. Burton, M. T. § 54), and so should be translated by the perfect ‘have sinned,’ and is naturally coordinate with the durative present, describing the actual state; see on Romans 2:12.

ὑστεροῦνται. The middle of this verb seems to imply, not merely to fall short of a goal (act.), but to be lacking in something of which the need is felt or at least obvious. Cf. Matthew 19:20 with 1 Corinthians 8:8 and 2 Corinthians 11:5 with Philippians 4:12; Hebrews 12:15 : ‘comes short of, A.V., ‘fall short of, R.V. both therefore seem inadequate translations. Perhaps ‘lack’ will do. Their lives and characters obviously show the lack of ‘the glory of GOD.’

τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ consequently = that exhibition of GOD in their own character, which is man’s proper work: implying the idea of Genesis 1:26-27; cf. 1 Corinthians 11:7; 2 Corinthians 3:18, and Irenaeus, “vivens homo gloria Dei,” and probably infra, Romans 5:2 and n. 1 Corinthians 6:20. See S. H. ad lo[109] GOD is not seen in them as He ought to be seen. The same thought is expressed by the verb in Romans 1:21. See n. on Romans 2:7.

[109] ad loc ad locum