Romans 3:1

What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?

(v1, NIV)

The last chapter was focused on the Jews and legalists. At the beginning we saw how they were hypocrites. Paul moves on to talk about how God will give to each according to what he has done. The thing is that even though they were Jews and had the law, they were missing the point. They may have bragged about the law, but they dishonor God by breaking the law. Even though they had been circumcised and boasted in it, their circumcision was being undone by the breaking of the law. This whole chapter just seems to undo all the Jews boasted in. It almost seems as if there is really no point or no value in being a Jew or being circumcised. And so, this is what Paul addresses. Paul brings to light the question that they may have in their heads as a result of what he was talking about in the previous chapter. Paul begins this and we'll see how Paul addresses this in the verses to come. To say the very least, there is value in being a Jew or being circumcised.