What did Paul mean by 'chiefly' in Romans 3:2?
Paul meant 'chiefly' as the foremost or primary advantage, not the worst. The Jews' greatest blessing was that they had the Word of God. The term shares the root of 'protos,' meaning first or chief, so it should not be defined as something wicked or evil.
Les explains that in Romans 3:1 Paul asks what advantage the Jew had and what profit circumcision gave. The answer is 'Much, every way.' They were the covenant people, had the temple, the priesthood, and the blessings of Jehovah God. Then Paul says 'chiefly' because the most prestigious thing they had going for them was the Word of God. Les stresses that 'chiefly' does not mean the worst thing about them; it means the best. He connects this to the Greek word 'protos' (same root) in 1 Timothy 1:15, where Paul calls himself the leader or head of the line of sinners—first to be saved by such grace—not something wicked or evil. Thus 'chiefly' means primarily, above all, the chief advantage.
Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
More Questions
What was the chief advantage of the Jew in Romans 3:1-2?
The chief advantage of the Jewish people was that the Word of God was committed to them.