Romans 3:17
“The way of peace, they haven’t known.””
What does Romans 3:17 mean?
This comes near the end of Paul's argument that all people, both Jews and Gentiles, have fallen short of God's standards. He's quoting from Isaiah to show how humanity's sinfulness shows up in broken relationships and violence—we don't know how to live at peace with God or with each other. The point isn't that peace is impossible, but that we can't earn it or find it on our own through following rules or being "good enough." That's why Paul is building toward his message that peace comes as a gift through trusting in Jesus rather than through our own efforts.