“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
Therefore no one will be declared righteous before God by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. The conclusion: the law cannot justify (dikaioo) any human being. Its function is not to save but to expose—to make human beings aware of their sin. The law is a mirror revealing the corruption it cannot cure. This establishes that righteousness must come from elsewhere.
Church Fathers on Romans 3:20
“For by the Law is the knowledge of sin.” He springs upon the Law again, with forbearance however (for what he says is not an accusation of it, but of the listlessness of the Jews). Yet nevertheless he has been earnest here with a view (as he was going to introduce his discourse about faith) to show its utter feebleness. For if you boast in the Law, he means, it puts you to the greater shame: it solemnly parades forth your sins before you. Only he does not word it in this…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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