Yes — being a Jew carried real advantage, and the chief one was that Israel was entrusted with the oracles of God (Romans 3:1-2).
Paul asks, "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?" and answers, "Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God." Les Feldick explains that this chief advantage was the Word of God being committed to Israel, while also noting that Israel had many other national blessings. However, this advantage did not carry over into a special advantage in personal salvation, since Jew and Gentile are both under sin.
Romans 3:1-2 — This is the key passage where Paul directly asks and answers the question about the Jew's advantage, pointing chiefly to the oracles of God.
Romans 3:1 opens with Paul's question, "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?" Verse 2 gives the direct answer: "Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God." This passage makes clear that the advantage of being a Jew is not denied; rather, it is affirmed emphatically. The primary aspect of that advantage is that God entrusted His Word — the oracles — to the nation of Israel.
Les Feldick centers on Romans 3:1-2, noting that Paul writes these words after Israel had been blinded and yet still answers "much, every way." He stresses that the chief advantage was that the Jews were committed the oracles of God, which he defines as the Word of God. Alongside that chief advantage, Les lists Israel's other blessings: they were the covenant people, had the temple, the priesthood, the blessings of God, the Old Testament, the prophets, the Psalms, the worship, the civil law, and the whole system of law. Les also explains that Israel's possession of the Word of God made their unbelief worse, because they had ignored and refused to believe it for centuries. The conclusion he draws from Romans 3 is that even though Israel was different, the old Adamic nature was just as evident in a son of Abraham as in a Gentile. In this present age, a Jew has no advantage over a Gentile in salvation; both are under sin and need salvation on the same level playing field. And from Romans 9, Les points out that being physically descended from Abraham did not make someone a child of God.
In Romans 3:2, Paul says the chief advantage of the Jew is that "unto them were committed the oracles of God." Les Feldick identifies these oracles simply as the Word of God. Israel had been given God's Word for centuries, which made their unbelief all the more serious.
Les lists the many advantages the Jewish people had going for them: they were the covenant people, they had the temple, the priesthood, the blessings of God, the Old Testament, the prophets, the Psalms, the worship, the civil law, and the whole system of law. Yet Paul's answer to the advantage question is that the most prestigious thing they had was the Word of God.
No. Les teaches that the conclusion of Romans 3 is that the old Adamic nature is just as evident in a son of Abraham as it is in a Gentile. A Jew today stands under no different situation than a Gentile as far as God is concerned. Salvation is offered on the same level playing field; a Jew has neither an advantage nor a disadvantage in salvation.
Les points out that even though the Jews had the Scriptures, the Word of God, and the priesthood, they were wrapped in unbelief. A person cannot say that because he is of a particular genealogy, nationality, or race, he is a child of God. Faith, not genealogy, is what matters.
Israel had the Word of God for centuries, but they ignored it and refused to believe it. That is why God came down so hard on the nation in their unbelief. The whole system that God gave them accomplished practically nothing, and so Romans 3 brings the conclusion that both Jew and Gentile are alike under sin.
Les notes that the mentality of the Jew, well into Paul's ministry, was that they were the only ones who had access to God. The thought of putting the Gentile in that same category was anathema to them. This is why the equality of Jew and Gentile in Romans was such a radical truth.
God’s Covenant with Abraham: Genesis 12 Bible Study Explained
Now, as Bible believers, we have to get a good understanding of what God really said. I was encouraged some time ago when the Daily Oklahoman interviewed our own Senator Nichols. And Senator Nichols, a devout Roman Catholic, and he said in his interview that even though his own church did not see things as he did, yet he had to stand on the biblical premise that the nation or the people that will …
The Chief Advantage: The Oracles of God
Les explains that after Israel was blinded, Paul still answers that the Jew has much advantage in every way, chiefly because the Word of God was committed to them.
Israel's Privileges and the Chief Thing
Les lists Israel's advantages — covenant people, temple, priesthood, blessings of God — but says the chief advantage was possessing the Word of God.
Jewish Advantage Proves the Adamic Nature
Les teaches that even with all their advantages, Israel's failure proved the old Adamic nature is the same in a Jew as in a Gentile.
No Advantage in Salvation Today
Les shows from Romans 10 that in this present age a Jew has no advantage over a Gentile in salvation — both are under sin and saved the same way.
The Most Important Advantage: The Oracles of God
Les emphasizes that although Israel had covenant promises, the Old Testament, the temple, and the priesthood, the most important advantage was having the oracles of God.
Genealogy Does Not Make a Child of God
Les teaches that being physically descended from Abraham did not make the Jews children of God; they had the Scriptures but were wrapped in unbelief.
Jewish Mentality About Access to God
Les explains that Jews thought they were the only ones with access to God and could not accept Gentiles being in the same category.
Romans 3:1: What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
Paul poses the exact question being answered on this page.
Romans 3:2: Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
Paul's direct answer: the chief Jewish advantage was being entrusted with God's Word.
Romans 9:16: So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Les cites this verse to show that being a child of God does not come from human will or genealogy.
In Romans 3:1-2, Paul says the Jew has much advantage in every way, chiefly because the oracles of God — the Word of God — were committed to them. Les Feldick explains that Israel also had other privileges like the temple, priesthood, and covenant promises.
No. In this present age, a Jew is under no different situation than a Gentile regarding salvation. Both are alike under sin, and salvation is offered on the same level playing field.
Israel had the Word of God for centuries but ignored it and refused to believe it. That is why God came down so hard on the nation in their unbelief.
Israel had the covenant promises, the temple, the priesthood, the Old Testament, the prophets, the Psalms, the blessings of God, the worship, the civil law, and the whole system of law.
Watch the Teaching: God’s Covenant with Abraham: Genesis 12 Bible Study Explained