3
1 Then
what advantage
does the Jew
have? Or what
is the profit
of circumcision?
2 Much
in every way!
Because first of
all, they were
entrusted with
the revelations of
God.
3 For
what if some
were without faith?
Will their lack
of faith nullify
the faithfulness
of God?
4 May
it never be!
Yes, let God
be found true,
but every man
a liar. As
it is written,
“that you might
be justified in
your words,
and might prevail
when you come
into judgment.”
5 But
if our unrighteousness
commends the
righteousness of
God, what will
we say? Is
God unrighteous who
inflicts wrath? I
speak like men
do.
6 May
it never be!
For then how
will God judge
the world?
7 For
if the truth of
God through my
lie abounded to
his glory, why
am I also
still judged as
a sinner?
8 Why
not (as we
are slanderously reported,
and as some
affirm that we
say), “Let’s do
evil, that good
may come?” Those
who say so
are justly condemned.
9 What
then? Are we
better than they?
No, in no
way. For
we previously warned both
Jews and Greeks
that they are
all under sin.
10 As
it is written,
“There is no
one righteous;
no, not one.
11 There
is no one
who understands.
There is no
one who seeks
after God.
12 They
have all turned
away.
They have together
become unprofitable.
There is no
one who does
good,
no, not so much
as one.”
13 “Their
throat is an open
tomb.
With their
tongues they
have used deceit.”
“The poison
of vipers is under
their lips.”
14 “Their
mouth is full
of cursing and
bitterness.”
15 “Their
feet are swift
to shed blood.
16 Destruction
and misery are
in their ways.
17 The
way of peace,
they haven’t known.”
18 “There
is no fear
of God before
their eyes.”
19 Now
we know that
whatever things
the law says,
it speaks to
those who are
under the law,
that every mouth
may be closed,
and all the
world may be
brought under
the judgment of
God.
20 Because
by the works
of the law,
no flesh will
be justified in
his sight; for
through the law
comes the
knowledge of sin.
21 But
now apart from
the law, a
righteousness of
God has been
revealed, being
testified by the
law and the
prophets;
22 even
the righteousness
of God through
faith in Jesus
Christ to all
and on all
those who believe.
For there is
no distinction,
23 for
all have sinned,
and fall short
of the glory
of God;
24 being
justified freely
by his grace
through the redemption
that is in
Christ Jesus,
25 whom
God sent to
be an atoning sacrifice
through faith in
his blood, for a
demonstration of
his righteousness
through the passing
over of prior sins,
in God’s forbearance;
26 to
demonstrate his
righteousness at
this present time,
that he might
himself be just
and the justifier
of him who
has faith in
Jesus.
27 Where
then is the
boasting? It is
excluded. By what
kind of law?
Of works? No,
but by a
law of faith.
28 We
maintain therefore
that a man is
justified by faith
apart from the
works of the
law.
29 Or
is God the
God of Jews
only? Isn’t he
the God of
Gentiles also? Yes,
of Gentiles also,
30 since
indeed there is
one God who
will justify the
circumcised by
faith and
the uncircumcised through
faith.
31 Do
we then nullify
the law through
faith? May it
never be! No,
we establish the
law.