Yes — the Jews had much advantage in every way, chiefly because God committed His Word to them.
Paul’s question in Romans 3:1 asks what advantage the Jew has and what profit there is in circumcision. His answer in verse 2 is “Much every way,” but the chief advantage was that unto them were committed the oracles of God—the Word of God. Les Feldick emphasizes that this was the most important of all their privileges.
Romans 3:1-2 — This is the exact passage in question; it asks what advantage the Jew has and answers that it was chiefly the oracles of God.
The Apostle Paul asks in Romans 3:1, “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?” He answers in the very next verse, “Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.” So the Bible’s direct answer is that the Jews had great advantage in every way, and the leading advantage was that God had entrusted His Word to them.
Les Feldick points to Romans 3:1-2 and explains that the Jews “had all kinds of things going for them.” They had the covenant promises, the Old Testament, the prophets, the Psalms, the temple, and the priesthood. God also gave them the worship, the civil law, and the whole system of law. Yet the primary thing—the “chief” advantage—was that they had the oracles of God, the Word of God. Les also notes that Israel, having had the Word for centuries, ignored it and refused to believe it, which is why God dealt so severely with them. He further applies the passage by showing that in the present age a Jew has no advantage over a Gentile in salvation.
In Romans 3:2, Paul calls the Jewish advantage chiefly “the oracles of God.” Les Feldick clarifies that these oracles are the Word of God—the entire Old Testament, including the prophets and Psalms—and that every word in the Bible comes through the nation of Israel. The temple and priesthood were also part of their advantages, but the Word of God was the most important.
Les Feldick teaches that because Israel had received the Word of God for centuries and ignored it, God came down hard on the nation in their unbelief. Circumcision and the law were profitable if kept, but Israel ignored its exalted position. This proved that the old Adamic nature was just as evident in the Jew as in the Gentile.
Les Feldick teaches that in the present age a Jew is under no different situation than a Gentile so far as God is concerned. Salvation is offered on a level playing field; a Jew does not have an advantage over a Gentile, nor is a Jew disadvantaged. Both are alike under sin and in need of salvation.
Why Paul Called Himself the "Chief of Sinners" — 1 Timothy 1:15 Explained
In fact, I looked it up in a Greek dictionary. And that's what this word protos really meant. It meant prestigious. Someone who was in leadership. Someone who was at the head of the line. That's what the word meant. It didn't mean the worst. And so that's the way it's used here.
The Chief Advantage (Romans 3:1-2)
Les directly quotes Romans 3:1-2 and says that although the Jews had all kinds of things going for them, the primary advantage was that the Word of God was committed to them.
The Word of God Came Through Israel
Les explains that “unto them were committed the oracles” means every word in the Bible comes through the nation of Israel.
Advantages Under the Law
Les lists what the Jews had going for them—priesthood, worship, civil law, and the whole system of law—yet says it practically accomplished nothing in changing the Adamic nature.
Temple, Priesthood, Prophets, and Psalms
Les answers the Romans 3 question by saying the Jews had covenant promises, the Old Testament, the prophets, the Psalms, the temple, and the priesthood going for them, but the most important was having the oracles of God.
Profitable but Ignored
Les says it was absolutely profitable to be a Jew because they had the Word of God, but they ignored all of it and their exalted position.
No Advantage in This Age
Les explains that today a Jew is under no different situation than a Gentile; there is no advantage or disadvantage salvation-wise.
God Dealt with Jew-Only in Past Ages
Les notes that from Abraham through the Old Testament and into the New, God dealt primarily with the Jew only, which provides background for why the Jewish advantage mattered.
Romans 3:1: What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
Paul asks the very question this page answers—what advantage the Jew had.
Romans 3:2: Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
This is Paul’s direct answer: the Jews had advantage in every way, chiefly because the Word of God was committed to them.
Romans 3:2 says, “Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.” So the Bible’s answer is that the chief advantage was that God had committed the Word of God to them. Les Feldick teaches that this was the most important privilege over and above the temple, priesthood, and covenant promises.
Les Feldick says the Jews had the covenant promises, the Old Testament, the prophets, the Psalms, the temple, and the priesthood. He also mentions the worship and the civil law, along with the whole system of law, as things they had going for them.
Les Feldick teaches that in the present age a Jew is under no different situation than a Gentile so far as God is concerned. Salvation is offered on a level playing field; a Jew has no advantage over a Gentile, nor is one disadvantaged.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Called Himself the "Chief of Sinners" — 1 Timothy 1:15 Explained